Question about my springs

[Eric Moore]

Hey everybody, just a quick question that I want to try and get figured out pretty quickly... I put my lowering springs on the other day, went and bought two new front tires scince I needed too anyways, and also had the alignment done today. On the way back from the shop, I noticed that the front end seems almost like it bottoms out when I hit a good bump in the road...but the springs didnt drop the car so low that the wheels should be hitting in the wheel wells (1.3" drop Suspension Tech Springs). Im thinking that the struts might be worn out and they're causing the springs to take the entire impact in the front. But Im not too certain...Any help would be greatly appreciated..

[millionflame]

Well, when I was riding around on four blown struts and four stock springs I never experienced a feeling like that.<p>I drive in some very bad roads (logging roads, dirt roads, back roads, etc.) all the time to get to my house.<p>Try to describe in a little better detail what is happening, because I highly doubt you are bottoming out. Those are stiffer springs than stock and even with a blown strut you would have to smoke a deep bump to bottom out.<p>~A

[Eric Moore]

stock struts all around...sus tech springs
Only when I go over like a really hard bump in the road...speed limit's 45 and on this one road theres a big time bump in it...Kinda like a rolling type bump...just at 45 I guess it drops quick or something. Sounds like the front end is smacking something in the wheel well area. I've read somewhere that it might just be the coils hitting together. Also I forgot to post, that when the alignment was done...they saw that my front left tie rod needed to be replaced...and the front right needed too eventually...Dunno if they did a half *** job putting it back in (They get here on thursday to get put in). Could that be doing it? The noise is like a loud thunk...Also, will the squeaking type noise go away once the springs settle in good? It's not loud...but it's one of those sounds that you hear, like when the radio's off and such..

[Marlon]

steve (quick silver) has that problem too (ask him about it)
i have no problem with my st springs but it got a rs and some weight reduction

[millionflame]

Well if your tie rod end needs to be replaced then you're going to hear it making odd "popping" sounds whenever you go over a bump.<p>The spring squeaking will get better over time as they break in.<p>Do you have rubber wrapped around some coils of the springs? If not, then you'll hear some "clacking" sounds and that could be what you're hearing.<p>~A

[Eric Moore]

Hopefully that'll solve it till I can get around to orderin some ZX2 struts..they are fairly cheap USD for the quality that they are. I'll find out tommorow when I get them tie rods fixed up.

[Taras]

Are you ridin' on stock wheels and stock size tires?

[Eric Moore]

Naw..got some 17 inch wheels on it

[quicksliver]

ST lowering springs are designed for the 4cyl mx3. Therefore, if you put it on a mx3 GS (6cyl)...the coils will bottom out and hit eachother, causeing a 'clunking' sound. I made this mistake when i baught these springs...should have got H&R Lowering springs.

[Eric Moore]

heh, it is a 4 cyl...I made certain I got the right springs for em

[Casino]

id say check the struts i heard a sound like that right after i had new kybs and those springs installed on my mx-3, 2 days later my strut broke. that was one bad day.<p>with the wheels and the stiffer springs, it may just be the stiffer ride thats making you think u are bottoming out happens to me all the time