What makes the rear wheels sit forward in their wells?

[BTF/PTM]

My z, and many others I've seen, has both her rear wheels sitting noticably forward in their wells. The suspension is 40 years old, so it's likely due to all those bushings and rubber parts being way past their useful lifespan, but does anyone have specifics?

[LeonV]

Yes, that's how it came from the factory.

[BTF/PTM]

Double post

Edited January 6, 2012 by BTF/PTM

[BTF/PTM]

I should have been more specific. I know that a z's rear wheels sit slightly forward of center in their wells. Mine sit waaaay forward, indicative of worn rubber. I'm uploading a picture...

[Zed Head]

Looks fairly normal. If you lowered the back end, it wouldn't be so obvious. The wide gap at the top makes the gap in the front look narrow. Compare the back gap to your front tires' gap, with the wheels straight.

There's really only two bushings on each side that would let your rear wheel sit forward. The inner control arm (transverse link) bushings. Have you taken a look at them?

[BTF/PTM]

Good to hear that it's probably just my own eyes worrying too much.

The whole suspension is 40 years old and wonky as hell. I can feel the whole tail of the car scoot sideways just a tad if I mash the throttle, so saying things are sloppy is a big understatement. I intend to do a full overhaul in due time, when I no longer live on the road and actually have time to wrench on the ol' girl.

The previous owner also installed an R200 and put all the original bushings back in place, and if his other handywork I had to correct is any indication, that probably doesn't help my situation.

[grantf]

that looks similar to my car's wheel placement. on another note: though I am not not a big fan of blacked out SS and chrome it seems to work on you're car, Nice Z.

[BTF/PTM]

Thanks!

It's still very much a work in progress, it will look even better with the proper black wheels installed, and as mentioned here, a properly overhauled and lowered suspension.

that looks similar to my car's wheel placement. on another note: though I am not not a big fan of blacked out SS and chrome it seems to work on you're car, Nice Z.

[Phred]

Maybe this will help. Phred

[LeonV]

That doesn't look normal to me. Although the picture may be deceiving my eyes, it looks like your rear wheels are toed in excessively. I don't know if the bushings have enough slop to cause that. If your rears are truly toed in, I'd look for bent parts or incorrect installation.

[jmortensen]

Maybe this will help. Phred[ATTACH=CONFIG]50346[/ATTACH]

That shows the early vs late differential placement, but not wheel placement. The wheel placement is the same on the early vs late cars.

That doesn't look normal to me. Although the picture may be deceiving my eyes, it looks like your rear wheels are toed in excessively. I don't know if the bushings have enough slop to cause that. If your rears are truly toed in, I'd look for bent parts or incorrect installation.

Run a tape measure on the tires. Just pick a groove in the tread and measure to the same groove in the front and back of the tire as high up as you can manage before the tape hits the suspension or body. That will tell you roughly what your toe setting is. It won't be 100% accurate, but it will be accurate enough for you to figure out if there is a toe issue.

The car probably scoots to the side under power because the halfshaft is bottoming out:

http://www.betamotorsports.com/benchracing/R200handling.html

Edited January 7, 2012 by jmortensen

[BTF/PTM]

The binding of one halfshaft makes a lot of sense, thanks for that link! The tail scoots right and thus the nose pulls to the left. I plan to use a pair MMS adapters and 300zxt axles for the overhaul, so that problem will be eliminated.

Yes, the toe is visibly off, I had attributed it to the worn, sloppy bushings and strut insulators. And I'll definitely check everything for incorrectly installed and (hopefully not) damaged parts when I begin the overhaul.