Front end uneven

Okay,
Tried a search and tried to look through the manuals but I can't seem to figure out the right words to use so I was hoping you guys could help me. The front of my car is uneven. The passenger side is higher than the drivers side by a couple of inches. Not alot but noticeable. How can I lower the higher side? I have gas shocks.

Thanks.

You answered the question yourself just pull the shocks and see if it levels up. If not you have a flat spring broke.

But Id say a froze shock.

I have noted that a pair of nearly wore out non gas shocks are actually just what you need.

Sounds Krazy But just ask the guys here..

These cars are so light that thats realy all you need on the front But I am running gas on the rear still.

Did this just happen, or has it always been this way? If you have adjustable spring plates in the rear, they may simply be set differently. Easy-peasy fix.

I am not really sure. I notice it about a month ago when I was cleaning my car. I sat down in front of the car and it looked off. I measured it and saw it was different. Where are the adjustable plates?

Don't be so "Lazy". Jack the front of the car. Take measurements
between lower edge of beam and lower ball joint area. Compare l/h to r/h. I think you'll find something is limiting your suspension travel.
Shock, dry torsion sleeve etc...

P.S.--only kidding about the lazy part (kindof)

"Not alot but noticeable." I'd consider a 2" difference between the side as "a lot", myself. IF you have adjustable spring plates they are simple the flat plate running from the rear torsion spring to each swing arm. A non-adjustable plate is a single flat piece of thick metal, while adjustable plates are two pieces, with an allen-head adjuster on the side. Pics would help. Still, after re-reading your first post, I tend to agree that there's probably something blocking the suspension travel instead. Has the ride deteriorated? Have you been hearing thumps, bangs, or other strange noises?

May I add is the front beam well lubricated? Sometimes those needle bearings on the front beam go dry and the arms can get stuck.

Thanks for the tips. This is the first car that I have decided to do my own work and I am really new at this. I didn't want to put the car up without some direction to go into.

I will post up what I find.

I have a friend with a few show cars and he is always grumbleing about the gas shocks sticking. on one or the other. Just a hunch ? Just check out your car. even if you have to carry it to someone with a lift.

It wont handle right untill you get it level.

Okay, here is what I have found. It looks like I need to start replacing some rubber. Still looking into the correct names but I think I need to replace the rubber at the end of the tie rods and the rubber at the torsion arms. Here are some pics.

I think I might take this task on. I am going to have to read more about it but the bit in the book about the torsion arms sound a bit scary. Might break down and take it to shop.

Hey Lazy, When your car is in the air take a measurement of you shock length from top to bottom. If your car is off due the front suspension (as much as you say it is) then you can probably see
the difference without a measurement. If these are the same the you have to look elsewhere. Those cracked, worn out things you are looking at are ball joints. Not a big deal to replace but they can be a bugger to undo sometimes. They do sell(rent/borrow) a tapered fork that you split the rods apart right at that rubber area once unbolted.

Do this! If you lift the car (front fender) by hand does it come up and stay up. If you push down when it's up does it go down and stay leveled?

If so the most probable problem is the upper torsion arms are frozen and need replacing. Always grease the beam at every oil change I elected to get a new beam, new leaves and new upper arms. You may only need the arms.

Had exactly this on the GHIA. The shocks as well should be the cheapy oil filled ones.

Actually it looks like it hasn't seen a lube job in a while. Don't worry about the seals as they look normal. I also notice the car doesn't have a front sway bar; I guess that can also help to get the torsion arms evened out.

I don't think a "anti-sway" bar is going to do anything to even out the torsion springs for a ride height correction. Installed correctly, in the straight ahead position, it doesn't affect anything on the suspension, except the unsprung weight. It is my understanding that anti-sway bars have very little, if any, affect on the spring rate, even in the most severe cornering conditions. Now, the front bar on a VW front suspension is mounted in a unique fashion compared to conventional IFS suspension systems, so somebody correct me if I am wrong about this.

First check your Shocks as Mike suggested.

Then drop out the shocks and grease the heck out of the beam and then bounce the front end for a while . Be careful you can crack the fiber glass itf you get to rough.. If your very lucky it may free up.

Okay,
As per Mike...I pulled up on the car and the car rose and went back down. I pushed down on the car, which only went down about an inch or so, and the did not come back up.

I am going to jack up the car tomorrow to measure the shocks.

So far on my to do list:
1. check shocks
2. Replace tie rod ends
3. Replace ball joint boots
4. Replace torsion arms.

How do I check the beam?

Why replace the torsion bar arms???? The "ball joint boots" come as an assembly with the ball joint. I think you've already determined
part if not all of your problem. "you pushed down and it did not come back"----not good. Picture yourself compressing a spring from a pen(which is what you are doing when you pushed on your fender). Once released the spring moves back to the original length/position.
Same with your suspension. Something is slowing or stopping your springs rebound. Grease it up!!!

Almost guaranteed it's the upper torsion arms that are frozen. Grease the beam and see if you can free it as Barry said. And if that doesn't do it, buy 2 new upper arms with ball joints already pressed. I bought mine at CIP1.com for about $38.00 each. They are cheap and not too hard to change out and you will be amazed.

You can check the upper arms by removing them from your spindle. They should move up very hard and spring right back.

There isn't anything in the beam to check, unless you take it apart (big job). Sure you can have broken leaves inside but I doubt it. How much to grease? Grease the nipples until you see grease starting to push out at the torsion arms (that's what the grease is for), you see where the problem is?

Thanks for the info so far. I am going to check the arms tomorrow, hopefully, if its any cooler out here. I didn't really feel like working in the heat today.