rear suspension

[DEREK ORMEROD]

Hi. Hope someone can help /advise
My recently purchased stag has rear wheels /suspension that issplayed outwards at the bottom. No play or otherwise bush wear etc. I think that it has 'lowered' springs on it that may be a factor. I have no idea who the springs were fit by and if reverting to standard springs might be helpfull .

Thanks
Derek

[AndyG]

This is normally caused by the the holes where the subframe arms connecting to the diff front extension. The holes can become oval and causes the rear wheels to splay out if I’ve understood your post correctly. May need replacement subframe arms I’m sure others with more knowledge will advise

[AndyG]

Just to add if the subframe arm hole are oval the subframe drops where it connects to the front extension which in turn drops the trailing arm and then pushes the bottom of the wheel out. More common on manual cars I believe than auto

[mike@thenook]

Hi Derek,

If they are lowered springs fitted then there should be different brackets fitted on the swing arms which counter the excessive negative camber caused by the lower springs.

Chris Witor used to sell them (and the lower springs) but I see on his website they are no longer listed. Maybe worth giving him a call for advice.....

01749678152

[jakesmig]

I had that problem with mine, the offside being worse than the near. The existing bolts appeared tight enough and the wheels would look ok when the car came off the jack, but they always quickly settled to a wild negative camber. It was also noticable that the rear end was a bit on the loose side even with new bushes.
I pondered the problem for quite a while, talking myself into aligning the wheels within the specs whilst supporting the diff to maintain the subframe at the corrct location, so that the defective holes could be drilled out and fitted with new bolts, nuts etc,
Once the whole assembly was alligned and ready for drilling, I opted to weld the subframe legs to the diff extension instead and have had no problems since. Sorted out a rear end twitch in the process.
So much easier than redrilling and bolting which I thought would have inbuilt movement bringing back the same problem in a short time.

John.