Why does my rear sit lower than the front? School me please.

[Slightly Larger Roundies]

Was wondering why my stance is so off. (the car has sat for the last 10 years). Would you guys recomend new shocks, struts, springs and spacers? I am going to get some 15" Panasports for xmas.

Thanks!

[eurotrash]

Measure from the ground to the rocker, front and rear. I'm gonna bet that the measurement isn't as far off you would guess.. if at all. The shape of the wheel arch is different, front to rear, giving the impression of a sagging tail end.

[Guest Anonymous]

Stance step one, pull the donut spacer from the front struts, it is between the top of the strut top bearing and fender well, its only a half and inch but you will be surprised at the difference, springs would be next step. Great thread a few weeks back with tons of pics here called the stance thread, seek it out. Also will you be lookin for a new home for wheels on car now? Lookin for some originals Dave

[02Les]

Yours looks pretty good.

Here's a before and after pic of mine.

I had new springs & struts (all stock) put on and removed the mysterious spacers from the front.

[PaulTWinterton]

The spacers on top of the struts (at least in Canada) were meant to raise the front of the car to meet safety regulations at the time, raising the bumper to minimum height.

Removing them REALLY does make a difference. If that's your issue it's an easy fix.

[BillWilliams]

The "German Shepard" look is inherent to the 2002s. Some things like those mentioned above can help level it out a bit

Your touring may not have those spacers talked about, a bit surprised Les's car had those. Euro cars generally did not have those.

The Euro parts diagrams show the spacer in the diagram but there is no description nor a part number.

[02Les]

The "German Shepard" look is inherent to the 2002s. Some things like those mentioned above can help level it out a bit

Your touring may not have those spacers talked about, a bit surprised Les's car had those. Euro cars generally did not have those.

Bill, trust me, all '02s had them (Euro & USA), and E9s and (I think) E3s.

I call them mystery spacers as I have no clue what their actual purpose was.

[c.d.iesel]

LOOKS FINE as is - but yer tyres are too fat for those rims

your loosing steering/ handling crispness.

look for a spacer at the top(inside the wheel house)

of your struts

[allbim]

Why does my rear sit lower than the front?

Because the front sits higher than the rear.

[BillWilliams]

I trust you Les.

[02Les]

I trust you Les.

Maybe you shouldn't! he he.

There were/are two different spacers (thickness?)

31 33 1 106 059

31 33 1 113 721

If you check Max's w/site, they are shown fitted to every '02 except the Turbo.

Part 31331106059 (Flat washer) was found on the following vehicles:

114: Details on 114

114 1602 Sedan, U.S.

114 2002 Sedan, U.S.

114 2002tii Sedan, U.S.

114 1502 Sedan, Euro

114 1600 Sedan, Euro

114 1600 Convertible, Euro

114 1600ti Sedan, Euro

114 1602 Sedan, Euro

114 1602 Touring, Euro

114 1802 Sedan, Euro

114 1802 Touring, Euro

114 2000 Touring, Euro

114 2000tii Touring, Euro

114 2002 Convertible, Euro

114 2002 Sedan, Euro

114 2002 Touring, Euro

114 2002ti Sedan, Euro

114 2002tii Sedan, Euro

114 2002tii Touring, Euro

114 2002turbo Sedan, Euro

E3: Details on E3

E3 2500 Sedan, U.S.

E3 2800 Sedan, U.S.

E3 2800Bav Sedan, U.S.

E3 3.0S Sedan, U.S.

E3 3.0SBav Sedan, U.S.

E3 3.0Si Sedan, U.S.

E3 2500 Sedan, Euro

E3 2800 Sedan, Euro

E3 3.0L Sedan, Euro

E3 3.0S Sedan, Euro

E3 3.0Si Sedan, Euro

E3 3.3L Sedan, Euro

E9: Details on E9

E9 3.0CS Coupe, Euro

E9 3.0CSi Coupe, Euro

E9 3.0CSL Coupe, Euro

Part 31331113721 (Flat washer) was found on the following vehicles:

114: Details on 114

114 1602 Sedan, U.S.

114 2002 Sedan, U.S.

114 2002tii Sedan, U.S.

114 1502 Sedan, Euro

114 1600 Sedan, Euro

114 1600 Convertible, Euro

114 1600ti Sedan, Euro

114 1602 Touring, Euro

114 1602 Sedan, Euro

114 1802 Sedan, Euro

114 1802 Touring, Euro

114 2000 Touring, Euro

114 2000tii Touring, Euro

114 2002 Sedan, Euro

114 2002 Touring, Euro

114 2002 Convertible, Euro

114 2002ti Sedan, Euro

114 2002tii Touring, Euro

114 2002tii Sedan, Euro

114 2002turbo Sedan, Euro

E3: Details on E3

E3 3.0SBav Sedan, U.S.

However, if you check the parts book, there were several '02s that did not have them fitted...one being your 2000tii Touring. Go figure!

[BillWilliams]

So do I get partial credit Dr Les?

[Slightly Larger Roundies]

Thanks fellas!

[BillWilliams]

If I am reading the parts book correctly, the following cars did not use the spacers

1600 and 1800s

Model 71:

ti

turbo

touring automatics

touring tii

The above are, for the most part, Euro only.

Any thoughts on why the Model 71 tourings had the spacers?

[InkaSteve]

The "German Shepard" look is inherent to the 2002s. Some things like those mentioned above can help level it out a bit

Your touring may not have those spacers talked about, a bit surprised Les's car had those. Euro cars generally did not have those.

The Euro parts diagrams show the spacer in the diagram but there is no description nor a part number.

unless someone has done something to them, I think all tourings had that German shepherd look. Mine has always looked liked that, although I have always thought about dropping the front very slightly. I have found that the less junk you carry around in the back, the higher it sits.