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Uneven Sides

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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 07:03 PM
  #1  
Ron_90's Avatar
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From: Baltimore, Maryland
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Open
Uneven Sides

1990 Camaro RS 305 TBI. Looks like my car is either sagging on the passenger's side, or weighted down on the driver's side (I haven't gotten a chance to measure).

Currently it's looking to me like the passenger's side is sagging- the rear seat isn't latching (passenger's side), there's a larger gap between the hatchback and the quarter panel on the passenger's side, and the passenger's seat seems to be slightly tilted to the side.
What is my problem, and how should I go about rectifying it?
Car has never been in a registered accident and was very well taken care of by the first owner and was relatively well taken care of by the second owner.
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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 07:43 PM
  #2  
Project 3.4 Camaro's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: PA
Car: 1996 Camaro, 1985 Camaro
Engine: 3.8, 3.4
Transmission: WC T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23(?), 3.42
Re: Uneven Sides

Sounds like the car may be twisted, but I would try replacing the springs, could be you just have a worn spring or two, and it is flexing due to sitting at uneven heights at each corner.
Unibodies are notorious for lack of rigidity.
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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 07:53 PM
  #3  
89rs454's Avatar
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From: USA
Car: 1989 SS
Engine: LT1+1500$ hooker exhaust
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 bogger
Re: Uneven Sides

Get shocks and springs and park on an even service.
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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 08:24 PM
  #4  
Ron_90's Avatar
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From: Baltimore, Maryland
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Open
Re: Uneven Sides

Didn't consider the springs. I'll take some measurements tomorrow and see what everything's like, but if it's the springs then it would only be one spring- the one on the passenger's rear axle.
After I finish the engine and gear swap I'll add some subframe connectors.
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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 08:28 PM
  #5  
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From: USA
Car: 1989 SS
Engine: LT1+1500$ hooker exhaust
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 bogger
Re: Uneven Sides

Sagging stock springs is a common problem.
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Old Oct 22, 2011 | 08:57 PM
  #6  
Ron_90's Avatar
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From: Baltimore, Maryland
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Open
Re: Uneven Sides

Anddd thank you guys, you're right. It's the springs. I just measured - there's a 1/2" difference between the driver and passenger's sides
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Old Oct 23, 2011 | 12:26 AM
  #7  
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From: Western Washington
Car: 86 T/A
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Uneven Sides

I'd look more closely for collision related damage. I have a hard time believing weak springs would cause gaps to open up and seats to twist and misalign on a unibody car.
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Old Oct 23, 2011 | 09:07 AM
  #8  
Ron_90's Avatar
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From: Baltimore, Maryland
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Open
Re: Uneven Sides

Not for me. I've seen a few posts from other members around here with the same problem but didn't get a conclusive answer, even though in hindsight I should have been able to guess it was the springs.
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Old Oct 23, 2011 | 09:17 AM
  #9  
Hipster's Avatar
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Re: Uneven Sides

If it's the springs , should be able to put a jack under the low corner and seat will latch but.. sounds as if there is other damage, not everything makes it to carfax, the back half of these cars are fairly stiff, the front half floppy. I'd look for other signs of damage, is the hatch glass fairly even to the roof line, a mashed rocker below the car behind the ground fx ,damage at the left rear behind the bumper, pull some weatherstip under the hatch or at the door to see if it ever had a quarter put on it.

I don't see a spring sagging 2 inches twisting the car enough to prevent the seat from latching
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Old Oct 23, 2011 | 09:30 AM
  #10  
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From: Baltimore, Maryland
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Open
Re: Uneven Sides

It's not sagging 2 inches, its sagging a half an inch. It's just appeared to have gotten worse because my car's been parked in the driveway for the past week and a half, not in the level street. Nevertheless, I'll check those problem spots
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Old Oct 23, 2011 | 10:16 AM
  #11  
Ron_90's Avatar
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From: Baltimore, Maryland
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Open
Re: Uneven Sides

Pics:






(call me paranoid, but when looking at it in person, this is slightly larger than on the driver's side)









But in the meantime I'm going to go out and work on removing the A/C and smog... let me know what you're thinking

Last edited by Ron_90; Oct 23, 2011 at 10:20 AM.
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Old Oct 25, 2011 | 01:16 PM
  #12  
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From: Baltimore, Maryland
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 Open
Re: Uneven Sides

Guess it's just springs then?
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 02:14 AM
  #13  
hamaf's Avatar
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From: Finland
Car: Camaro RS
Engine: GMPP 350 HO 330hp
Transmission: TCI Streetfighter TH-700R
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Uneven Sides

Originally Posted by Ron_90
Guess it's just springs then?
its the seat. I had bent front seats.

Last edited by hamaf; Aug 9, 2012 at 02:19 AM.
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Old Aug 9, 2012 | 02:34 AM
  #14  
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From: St. Croix Falls WI
Car: 82 firebird
Engine: a few
Transmission: th350
Axle/Gears: wondering this myself
Re: Uneven Sides

ive seen bent seats many times from people pushing on them as they get in
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