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A perplexing issue you might have noticed with your car is that one side appears visibly lower than the other, even when your car is parked on level ground. This problem, often referred to as a “car is lower on one side,” can be confirmed with a basic leveler or by measuring the height of each side. Once you’ve verified this issue, the next step is to determine its cause so you know the best way to find a solution.
In this article, we are going to discuss the three most likely reasons why your car is lower on one side. As you read, you’ll learn the root cause behind each of these explanations and how best to solve them, whether this is by yourself or with the assistance of professional help.
Stuck or Damaged Struts, Springs, and Shock Absorbers
The most common reason for a car becoming lower on one side is due to faulty struts, springs, and/or shock absorbers.
These components work together to help keep your car elevated, stable, and in balance when driving. Struts are found at the front of your vehicle and are responsible for keeping the body of your car suspended over its wheels, while springs and shock absorbers are mainly located at the rear and provide support and stability, particularly when driving over bumpy or uneven terrain.
All three of these components can become damaged or stuck due to age or wear and tear. Leaf and coil springs are particularly infamous for becoming weak or broken, especially in older vehicles with significant amounts of rust.
Apart from your car is lower on one side, symptoms of a stuck or broken strut, spring, or shock absorber include:
- Bouncing sensation when driving over bumps
- Loud rattling or pinging noises coming from the suspension area
- Uneven tire wear
How to Fix This
To solve this issue, you’ll usually need to remove and replace the strut, spring, and/or shock absorber. If you have the tools to loosen a stuck component, you can try that yourself, but oftentimes these pieces are so firmly rusted in place that the only way to loosen and remove them is with the help of specialized tools (e.g., a Sawzall).
It can also be difficult to get your hands on the exact piece you need to replace, which is why solving this problem is usually better left to a professional mechanic. This can cost anywhere from $150 to $580+ depending on the car’s make and model as well as the mechanic’s cost of labor. Needing to replace more than one strut or spring could easily double that cost.
Bent Suspension or Chassis
Another reason why your car might be lower on one side is due to a bent suspension or twisted chassis. These are two of the largest and most crucial components on your vehicle as they are responsible for providing a strong and stable foundation that holds up all four corners of the car.
If either of these components is bent or twisted, the entire weight of your car can be thrown off balance on one side, causing it to sit lower than the other.
The predominant cause for this issue is damage inflicted during an accidental collision such as hitting a curb, car, or pothole too hard.
Symptoms of a bent suspension or chassis include:
- Vehicle sits lower on one side
- Handling issues, including “crab walking” (vehicle misalignment)
- Rubbing metal or squealing sounds from the engine bay
How to Fix This
A bent suspension or chassis isn’t something the everyday person is going to be able to fix. Unless the damage is extremely minimal, your car will likely require the help of a hydraulic machine that can apply enough force to bend it back into its proper shape.
Unfortunately, this type of damage is often a death sentence for many cars. Fixing a bent car frame can cost between $600 to $1000 if the damage is minor and upwards of $10000 if it’s extreme.
Repairing a suspension isn’t much better, with an average cost ranging between $1000 to $5000 which might be more than your car is worth.
The best way to repair this problem is to have a professional mechanic inspect the chassis and replace any bent or damaged parts.
Tires Aren’t the Same Size
The last most likely reason why your car is lower on one side would be that your tires aren’t the same size, causing the larger tires to elevate one side of your car higher than the other.
This can happen if you have mixed different brands and types of tires on your car or have mismatched sizes in the front and rear. Another simple explanation would be that not all your tires are fully inflated.
Thankfully, this is the easiest cause to remedy and you can do it by yourself at minimal cost without the help of a professional. You can check your tire pressure yourself with a reliable tool like the Rhino USA Heavy Duty Tire Pressure Gauge. This allows you to address the problem at minimal cost, without needing professional help.
Rhino USA Heavy Duty Tire Pressure Gauge (0-60 PSI)
How to Fix This
The first step in fixing this problem is to check the air pressure of each tire. If you notice that some have a noticeably higher pressure than others, then you’ll want to pump your tires with air and see if that resolves the issue.
If it doesn’t, check the brand and size of each tire to ensure that they all match. You’ll then want to check the placard found by the driver’s side door to confirm that they are the appropriate tire size for your car.
Final Thoughts
When you notice that your car is lower on one side, you’ll want to act fast. Hopefully, the culprit is little more than a lack of air pressure but it could be more serious. Either way, this isn’t an issue you’ll want to leave unresolved for extended periods as it will likely cause other problems within your car and make it unsafe to drive.
Resources:
- https://www.wheelswisdom.com/kb/car-is-leaning-tilting-to-one-side/#:~:text=A%20car%20that%20is%20leaningfurther%20damage%20to%20these%20components https://vehiclefreak.com/why-is-my-car-lower-on-one-side-common-causes/
- https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-leaning-to-one-side-inspection
- https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/why-one-side-my-car-lower-than-other-side-2566592/
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