sierioiza

Rear left of my 99 civic EX sits lower than the right. I can only put 2 fingers tight between the tire and the wheel well on the left side, and 3 with some extra room on the right side... I replaced struts and springs almost two weeks ago, so I know that those are good. I asked Scotty Kilmer about the issue, and he said it might be caused by worn bushings on lower or upper control arm. I want to know if this is something serious and if I have to worry about it and get them replaced. Do they affect car's performance or alignment, or is it dangerous to drive with worn out bushings on lower or upper control arm? I need to decide what to do before I do alignment this week (I was advised to give the new springs about 2 weeks to set before doing alignment).

MindBomber

I wouldn't agree with the suggestion to give springs two weeks to set before an alignment, yes, they will settle, but it's not significant. I would rather have everything back to spec immediately than have a very slightly more accurate alignment.

An older car will never be completely level side to side, even if everything is in perfect condition, that's just the result of it being driven for the last 12 years. If the bushings are worn out it's a good idea to replace them, but they won't make a significant difference in ride height.

sierioiza

But is it absolutely necessary to replace the bushings, or can I drive on them safely with no bad influence on alignment?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

mine is the same way and all my parts are good. there is no way to have each wheel well perfectly spaced, considering the different weight distributions. if the control arm bushings are bad, you will not be able to hold a proper alignment. it will keep changing when you drive.