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I just dropped my 09 HCH at the dealer so they can take a look at it. It leans toward the drivers side . I made measurements both from the ground to common points on the body as well as from center of wheel to top of wheel well. The measurements confirmed that the drivers side is 3/4" to 1" lower than the passenger side in both the front and rear of the car. The car was parked on a level surface (checked) and had about 3/4 tank of gas. The lean is quite noticeable. I would expect a built-in lean to be toward the passenger side since there is always a drivers weight to accommodate.

The non-hybrid 09 civic they gave me as a loaner car had only a ~1/4" lean toward the drivers side which I consider to be within my margin of error. Measurements were taken in the same places and the car was parked in the identical spot. It is not visibly leaning.

Anyone else notice this with their car? The dealer is putting it on an alignment rack to see if it is within spec.

Thanks in advance for any info

-Neil

Too many Whoppers there, Neil?

Do you think it was that bad new, or has it gotten worse?

Do you think it was that bad new, or has it gotten worse?

My gut or the car?

:biglol:

Do you think it was that bad new, or has it gotten worse?

My gut or the car?


on topic, I don't have that issue. :p

Could be due to you being the only person in the car, pushing down more on the supension on that side to cause it to be permanently lower?

FWIW when I walk up our driveway and look at our car in the garage, it also seems to be lower on the driver's side. And when I jack it up using the front point, I'll always find there's less clearance on the driver's side when putting in safety stands at the rocker panel reinforced jacking points.

My 13-year-old car has minimal lean, and it's been a driver-only commuter for much of its life. I think this is a defect.

I just picked the car up from the dealer. They say that it does in fact lean toward the drivers side but only 7-8 mm which they state is acceptable. Not sure what the next step is, if any.

Mendel,
The car has fewer than 3k miles on it so the suspension better not be sagging already.

Hmm... 7-8 mm is about 1/3"?

Doesn't sound like your 3/4-1" measurement at all.

...They say that it does in fact lean toward the drivers side but only 7-8 mm which they state is acceptable. Not sure what the next step is, if any.

...

Like Mendel noted, his likely has a lean and so do mine and most every other I've seen since 2006. Still, 7-8 mm is not too much at all and will only look worse if one of the front tires is down on the pressure a bit. I change my wheels on both cars twice a year and I agree with Mendel's claim especially when I have to height adjust the supports for the front of the car.

Obviously, a bent or damaged suspension component could also be making things look worse but the car is too new and unlikely to have gone over a nasty pot hole. ;)

Cheers;

MSantos

This lean has been the case for past Honda's we've had: I've noticed this in the past, standing in the driveway and looking at the car in the garage.

Jacking up with the front point, if the passenger safety stand just fits under the rocker panel bearing point, when I put the corresponding safety stand on the driver side, I have to put my shoulder against the car and "help" it a little, to squeeze the safety stand in.

I know this is not good practice: better to just have a bit more clearance on both sides.