[eye30]

While walking to my car, looking head on - drivers seat on left, in the local supermarket car park I noticed that the front looked as if the height was lower on the right side.

At home on a flat surface I measured the height from the ground to the bottom of the wheel arch running the tape measure thro' the centre of the wheel hub.

Right hand drive car viewing from the drivers seat, i.e. looking forward:
Front left measures 64.5 cm.  
Front right measure 65.5cm.
Both rears measure the same 65cm.

Checked tyre pressure and all are set at the manufacturers PSI of 32.
Same brand and type of tyre on all 4 corners.

Have noticed recently on a good straight road, that the car wandered slightly to the left which it hasn't done before. Put this down to the road camber but I'm wondering if this is a suspension issue rather than a road camber or tracking as no sign of irregular wear?

So before I call into the dealers to ask their opinion can others measure and post measurements to see what their heights are.  

Also, does anyone know whether the difference in height is OK or should they all be equal especially on the same axle?


Additional note:
 15 inch alloys

[Myowni30]

It's funny you say that. I've not measured mine but have thought several times that my car looks lower on the passenger side. Thought it was just an optical illusion. I will measure mine when I have time (need to find a flat surface to park on).

[Shambles]

You got me worried now mate

Checked mine (with 17" alloys)

NSF 68cm
NSR 65cm
OSR 67cm
OSF 67cm

Looking visually my offside rear is massively higher up than my nearside rear.

Gonna have mine checked out too at next service 3rd week in Jan.

[bumpkin]

I suspect this is normal, remember that UK roads have a crown and therefore the right side of the vehicle will always be "higher" than the left side, this also acounts for tread wear from one side of the vehicle to the other being quite different.  The difference in height could be to do with UK setup to dial out the road camber

[StarSeeker]

At home on a flat surface I measured the height from the ground to the bottom of the wheel arch running the tape measure thro' the centre of the wheel hub.

Right hand drive car viewing from the drivers seat, i.e. looking forward:
Front left measures 64.5 cm.  
Front right measure 65.5cm.
Both rears measure the same 65cm.

I'm surprised you were able to notice such a small difference.  Would this not be normal if the car is slightly heavier on one side, for example the engine .  You could also try pressing the front suspension of your car downwards and letting it settle back to see if that makes a difference.  The shock absorber might be holding it slightly.

[eye30]

I'm surprised you were able to notice such a small difference.

I've a good eye, no pun, for detail 

You could also try pressing the front suspension of your car downwards and letting it settle back to see if that makes a difference.  The shock absorber might be holding it slightly.

Tried that too.  No difference

Ps  I measured with and without handbrake on just in case the brakes were causing it to be uneven.

[eye30]

Checked mine (with 17" alloys)

NSF 68cm
NSR 65cm
OSR 67cm
OSF 67cm

Your front off side is opposite to mine  - lower

and both back are different

Interesting!

[Shambles]

I have to confess I measured mine on slightly uneven ground, on a slight slope too (my driveway)

Will remeasure mine when on level ground, but I accept what's been said about camber & weight distribution.

Eye30 you'll have to let us know what your dealer says about this...

[eye30]

I suspect this is normal, remember that UK roads have a crown and therefore the right side of the vehicle will always be "higher" than the left side, this also acounts for tread wear from one side of the vehicle to the other being quite different.  The difference in height could be to do with UK setup to dial out the road camber

I follow what you say but to compensate for the camber to the left i.e the left side of the road is lower than at the centre of the road (crown) I would have expected the near side (left) to be slightly higher so an object in the car would be level and not slopping one way or the other.

To test this theory I'll open the front passenger and drivers widow, put a long straight piece of wood across between both open windows then see how level it is with a spirit level.

[StarSeeker]

At home on a flat surface I measured the height from the ground to the bottom of the wheel arch running the tape measure thro' the centre of the wheel hub.

Try measuring again with your car facing in the opposite direction and see if that makes a difference to your measurements.  You might find then it goes down lower on the other side.

[eye30]

At home on a flat surface I measured the height from the ground to the bottom of the wheel arch running the tape measure thro' the centre of the wheel hub.

Try measuring again with your car facing in the opposite direction and see if that makes a difference to your measurements.  You might find then it goes down lower on the other side.

I'll try that tomorrow. 
Dark and 1c now

[2i30s]

most cars are slightly higher on the drivers side to allow for when you get in it levels out.if you put a pair of front springs side by side on the ground the drivers side spring is always slightly longer.

[eye30]

At home on a flat surface I measured the height from the ground to the bottom of the wheel arch running the tape measure thro' the centre of the wheel hub.

Try measuring again with your car facing in the opposite direction and see if that makes a difference to your measurements.  You might find then it goes down lower on the other side.

I'll try that tomorrow. 
Dark and 1c now

Checked it today and the same measurements

[eye30]

most cars are slightly higher on the drivers side to allow for when you get in it levels out.if you put a pair of front springs side by side on the ground the drivers side spring is always slightly longer.

Seem a logical thought

I wonder if there is a TSB quoting heights as I've not come across one, or I've missed it, on the USA site?

[2i30s]

tsb,s are gone

[eye30]

tsb,s are gone

I'm registered on the usa Hy car service site

[2i30s]

i might have a look

[i30sean]

I've had my i30Estate couple of months and last week put a load of stuff in the boot for the first time and I noticed this as well, the front arch are the same height but the rear is different, the passenger side you can put nearly 4 fingers in between the wheel and the arch and the driveres side about 3 1/2  with no load in the car, so i got under the car and had a look, bounced the car and all quiet, it all looks the same and their is no noise when driving and goes over speed humps with no noise and no different tyre wear.
will get it checked out at service next year!

i30Sean

[i30sean]

Just been out and measured driver rear side (right hand drive) 67cms, passenger side 69cms so 2 cms in it !

i30Sean

[eye30]

measured driver rear side (right hand drive) 67cms, passenger side 69cms so 2 cms in it !

Back in December:

Right hand drive car viewing from the drivers seat, i.e. looking forward:
Front left measures 64.5 cm. 
Front right measure 65.5cm.
Both rears measure the same 65cm.

I'll measure again and see if the warmer weather makes any difference

[Surferdude]

Mine's all good.
8,200 klms today and the following measurements.

LHF 67.5cm
RHF 67.5cm

LHR 66.5cm
RHR 66.5cm

[Myowni30]

Never did get around to measuring my first i30.

But the new one I have just measured:

Right hand drive car:

Front left measures 67.5 cm
Rears left measure 66 cm

Front right measure 66.5 cm - drivers side
Rears right measure 66.5 cm - drivers side

Checked tyre pressures, all 32. Turned car around and measured again with the same results.

Floor level as far as I can tell, and did not apply handbrake, so car did not dip or anything before measuring.

[Lorian]

Are you measuring from the ground to the top of the wheel arch?

<edit doh! teach me not to read the thread title>

[Myowni30]

Are you measuring from the ground to the top of the wheel arch?

<edit doh! teach me not to read the thread title>

Thats not like you Lorian - Good night was it 

[Lorian]

Are you measuring from the ground to the top of the wheel arch?

<edit doh! teach me not to read the thread title>

Thats not like you Lorian - Good night was it 

I worked all weekend! bit tired.

[babis_xo]

Maybe suspension springs (or bump-stops) are responsible for these differences of height?
Dealer replaced mine (rear springs), due to abnormal height (1,5 - 2 cm shorter)
Of course he had to take them out in order to measure them with accuracy.

[Lorian]

On level land I have 67cm on both fronts and 66.5cm on both rears, give or take about 1 or 2 mm. This is with half a tank of diesel.