A month ago one of the bolts that holds my rear spring broke and sent the spring crashing into the pavement. It ended up coting me $800 to repair and it could have been very bad had I not only been going 35mph.

The cause was that the nimrod that owned the car before me had backed off on the nuts that hold the spring. To do this he had to remove the cotter pins, back off the nuts, drill new holes for the cotter pins and reinstall. The bolt broke where the original cotter pin was installed since the bolt area is only about half as big there.

When I had the problem I posted a note here and a couple members responded that the cause of the bolt breaking could be that the car was lowered incorrectly and they were right! Thanks for the help.

My next problem is that it appears the front of the car has been lowered. The spec height from the ground to the front jacking point is supposed to be approx 200mm per the service manual and it's only 180mm. This is about how far the car was lowered in the back when the nuts were backed off.

How would you lower the car in the front? What do I need to look for? It's not obvious to me by looking at the suspension or by checking the service manual. I want to make sure something stupid hasn't been done to the front that could kill me when it decides to let loose on the highway!

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

The front is lowered via a smaller bushing that comes in contact with the spring. Don't think there are any bolts up there that would have been messed with.

 

They can either install a smaller wedge or remove the wedge. Removal is bad because it leaves the glass on metal with no cushion damaging the spring over time.

 

Agreed!!!!!!!!!!
Matt