Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Why does it sit higher after jacking?

Old Jan 19, 2001 | 09:46 PM
  #1  
Josh 91RS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
From: pleasanton, ca usa
Why does it sit higher after jacking?

I had my car jacked up today...i put it on jack stands, then jacked up the tranny to replace the tranny mount. When i lowered the car it sat higher then before...it was very noticeable visually, plus i knew it was sitting higher cause i could fit the jack under no problem where as before i had to use a spare tire jack to get it up enough to fit the floor jack under. Is this just cause its got old shocks and stuff or what? After i pulled the car into my driveway it looks ok now....So did i screw anything up???
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2001 | 09:54 PM
  #2  
Vader's Avatar
Moderator
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 19,651
Likes: 309
Josh,

That is completely normal (at least at the front end).

When you raised the car, the front suspension was allowed to fully relax to the lowest position. When this happens, the swingarms (lower control arms) swing the bottoms of the front wheels inward slightly. When the car is lowered, the tires are the first thing to contact the ground. As the weight of the car transfers back to the suspension, the tires are pushed outward. The sidewalls of the tires tend to push inward against the weight, holding the car slightly higher than it would normally be.

The first time you move the car a few feet, the tires relax to their normal positions and everything equalizes, so the springs alone are holding the weight of the car. This won't damage anything unless you have nylon belted tires and leave it that way for several weeks.

Don't freak, dude!

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"I'm gonna talk about some freaky sheet now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
KaleCo Auto Parts
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2001 | 10:23 PM
  #3  
Josh 91RS's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
From: pleasanton, ca usa
Cool, thanks vader...i knew it was a dumb question...but my camaro was looking like a 4x4 sittin that high and It just made me wonder if it was normal.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bubbajones_ya
Cooling
24
Jul 6, 2024 08:32 PM
gta892000
TPI
13
Aug 11, 2019 11:16 AM
R13_Braz
LTX and LSX
22
Sep 18, 2015 05:00 PM
John in RI
Car Audio
11
Sep 10, 2015 11:24 PM
masonta
Power Adders
0
Sep 1, 2015 06:40 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:29 PM.