Dropped and BBS Rims ON!!!!

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:43 pm

OK, I have been noticing that the car is bit more bouncy than i expected. you can feel everything in the street. I understand that bouncy comes with the territory since it is now lowered, but how can you tell if struts are not working correctly (worn out), there was no oil on there shafts when i inspected them, but this is not what i expected as the car seems a bit unpredictable which is the key here ..

so what should i look for on this? i've the did the bounce test and it seems ok, but with the 200ish front spring rate, it is hard to guess that one because those things are stiff.....

hybrid-Srt2001 · Post by **hybrid-Srt2001** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:52 pm

best way ti test them is look for signs of leakage and do the bounce test, but looks like you already did that. If they are off the car you can compress the shock and watch for it to extend back on its own.

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:00 pm

when they where off the car, i was able to push them down relatively easily, but they will take a while to come back up .....(i'm talking about the bare strut here), isn't that how they are supposed to be? all struts did it at the same rate which makes me think they are all in working correctly

hybrid-Srt2001 · Post by **hybrid-Srt2001** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:02 pm

yeah they're not exactly going to spring back up, but as long as they don't stay in the same spot or actually sink back down you are good to go.

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:19 pm

Will i see better handling if i get brand new struts, or am I in for the same?

big decision to make considering all the work i have done lately.....

hybrid-Srt2001 · Post by **hybrid-Srt2001** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:31 pm

depends on the strut? You still running stock struts? tokico blues or konis will dramaticly change the ride.

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:33 pm

thinking tokico blues, don't forget that these are SRT struts, so they are supposed to be better than stock....

thanks,

hybrid-Srt2001 · Post by **hybrid-Srt2001** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:45 pm

yeah supposedly... If you wanna stay with srt struts get the tokico adjustables that the srt acr had.

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:05 am

The pro kit springs are hardly stiff. I ran them for over a year, and they're nothing compared to the TEIN springs I rock now. The ride should be firm but definitely not bouncy. As far as the struts go, with them out of the car they should resist motion in both directions, particularly rebound. They shouldn't be EASY in either direction though. I suppose "easy" is in the eye of the beholder though...

latief · Post by **latief** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:39 am

yes, i think they are not leaking, but are worn out...I've been riding around town and every one who has been in the car has been asking me why is it so bouncy......

i think this has ended up being a disaster of a project, it serves me right for buying used struts....

now i have to do all the work again, because the car is unacceptable in its current condition... i am so disappointed and frustrated !!! time ad money down the drain.....

hybrid-Srt2001 · Post by **hybrid-Srt2001** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:12 am

you live and learn

latief · Post by **latief** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:43 am

for people who have the eibach-pros, can you please describe the ride? anyone have a picture of the car dropped on pros?

thanks,

OB · Post by OB » Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:41 pm

That's my car when I had the Pro Kit.

The ride is a bit stiff, but the balance is very similar to stock. You'll notice less lean and more grip too. These springs don't make for a drastic change in feel though.

latief · Post by **latief** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:55 pm

So i dropped it today on the tokicos, the rear is way to low now, barely a finger or so between the fender and the tire...is that normal for the pro-kit?

i still cannot judge the ride quality as i need to test it more..... i will post pictures tomorrow....

the sway-bar situation is even worse now, i am not sure what to do with it honestly. ......

is it me or are the Pro springs in the rear soft?

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:33 pm

Well first off I have a question... whats exactly are u looking for as far as performance or feel?? Anywayz to answer ur question yes it is normal for the tires to be that close when lowered and yes the rear springs do feel soft but thats how thier designed if u think those are soft the sportlines will scare u since u can compress those a good ways by hand lol. I think you need a set of coilovers so that way u can adjust ur height and dampness to how u want it to be. You seem to be kinda picky so a set of coilovers will probably be ur best choice since u can set everything to ur liking.

latief · Post by **latief** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:46 pm

I am looking for a mild drop, with good ride quality.

I feel the car is a bit better on the tokicos now, but not that much better. i guess there was nothing wrong with the SRT struts i replaced after all.

I am surprised how low the rear of the car sits now. i thought it was supposed to be 1.5 inches, this is way more.!!! the rear is also very soft, isn't supposed to be firmer than stock? whats the whole point if it is not? by the way, the wheel gap upfront is still ugly.....

anyhow, no more messing with the suspension for a while now. i am done with it, and tried of taking the car apart ...

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:24 pm

Pros' with tokico blues non SRT.

Stock 14" wheels P185/65R14 tires.

It sits a shade lower with the P195/60R14's I run for summer.

The Kaminari front makes it seem lower, and if it had sportlines, it would prolly take the front off just driving around. It scrapes bad enough as is. I put the oem springs ride quality much higher than the pro's, but the handling sucked ass. It corners loads better, but the ride is a bit harsh on good frost joints, holes in the pavement.
I could drive through moon craters with the stock springs at speed, and the car hardly bounce. Now I wouldn't think of it. And cringe whenever there are pot holes I can't avoid. Ohio roads FTMFL!

Sorry I don't have any good side shots, But this is the stock (er, modified

) front.

And this is the best side shot. Not the best.

And a direct front

latief · Post by **latief** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:59 pm

Here are the pictures of the drop on tokicos and Pro springs..

keep in mind tire size is 205 50 16 which is a tad bigger than stock...

i love how the rear looks but the wheel gap upfront is ugly...

look how much clearance i have between the strut perches and the tires. i compared the tokicos to srt struts and the perches are only slightly lower - at least upfront. i think i could run 215 45 17 easily on these...

front

rear ...

comments?

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:07 pm

Hate to break it to you but that looks about right.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 6:15 pm

The 16's are going to make the ride rougher/bouncier also. Since there is less air volume/sidewall to absorb small bumps/dips in the pavement.
That is another trade off for looks.
I want bigger rims for mine, but will prolly not go larger than 15's due to this. I would love 16's but IDK if my butt would like them so much.
It's normally the case, what my eyes like, and what my body can handle are two different things. Oldness

latief · Post by **latief** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:12 pm

One more question, I noticed yesterday while working on the car that i can no longer use my floor jack....it will not fit under the car...what do you guys do in this situation?

also, anyone know how to claim tokico warranty ? these are supposed to be warrantied for the lifetime i guess....hopefully i will not need to change them for a while, but you never know....

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:22 pm

I get small 2x4 pieces and lay them in front of the tires and the ride up on them and that gives me just enough clearance for a jack. When I had sportlines I still had to lift up on the car a lil to get the jack under but u should be good. That drop looks good by the way, My drop on the stage 3 coilovers is a lil bit higher than that.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:25 pm

I got one of those cheap low profile floor jacks from Wal Mart.
Works like a charm.

Ramps for the front, I would need 8' of stepped 2 x 6's to get the front up enough to clear. With the OEM '00 front, prolly a 3' extension.

The rear clears fine for ramps.

If I want to get it in the air, and don't need to remove the rear tires, I back it up the ramps, and jack the front up on jack stands. Saves some time.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:55 pm

yeah... a low profile jack is what you are going to need.

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:28 pm

OK, Update......

I have a further problem.

I have a ring noise from the rear right suspension. I don't have the sway on so i know it is not that. something sounds like a rattle/ring and it driving crazy...could something be wrong with the new struts? i inspected everything under the car it seems fine. WTF? this project -the suspension upgrade- has been going on for long. i need this thing fixed....

my wife says it sounds like I have a little bird in the back of the car, because that is what it sounds like....

ideas?

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:47 pm

If you have drum brakes, possibly something is loose inside a drum? Or a rear wheel bearing. Of course that would be easily ruled out/confirmed by raising the tire off the ground and spinning...

You just have all the suspension luck.

Better than all the 200 hp N/A luck I guess.

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:54 pm

I'm going to have to take the rear strut apart again......I hope it is not something serious .......

I doubt it is brakes because it only happened immediately after i changed the struts this weekend....

man, i have such bad luck.....

ideas?

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:24 pm

Im not sure if its all bad luck or if maybe u just need time to let things settle a lil bit. Give everything time to break in and check for new noises. Does the car feel ok?? is it handling ok if it is just give it time. Sometimes certain upgrades are kool but they come with a price u know. I'm sure if there was a big problem u would know.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:47 am

Rattle/ring. Could be that the spring is not positioned correctly on the struts. Lift the car, and try to spin the spring. If it moves it isn't in the right position since there is a "locking" tab on the padding in the strut perches for the spring to settle into.

latief · Post by **latief** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:36 am

hansken_yo wrote:Rattle/ring. Could be that the spring is not positioned correctly on the struts. Lift the car, and try to spin the spring. If it moves it isn't in the right position since there is a "locking" tab on the padding in the strut perches for the spring to settle into.

I will take it apart today to see what it is....i hope it is not something serious or so...... everything in is brand new, new mopar upper mounts, new tokicos, and new/slightly used eibachs (which is a non-wear item anyway). i have installed and assembled struts and springs on this car already twice, so i know what i am doing...... this should not be happening....

On a side note, the only thing that is a bit confusing to me is how much should i tighten the sway bar end-links. i cannot get a torque wrench in there due to space limitation....so how do you guys do that? and how do you know that you are not over or under-tightening the end-links?

thanks,