time for suspension work??

[SaleenGT2001]

everytime i drive my car and hit a hard bump there is a loud metal to metal CLUNK coming from the LF. i think my drivers side strut may be worn out. my car has 30K on it and has been lowered with sportlines with the front isolators removed for about 15K. i think it is a strong possibility that the stock shocks and struts are at their end. i have been looking at replacing them but i have not found what i want to put on there. the sportlines are coming off this week in favor of the H&R super sports. i would LOVE to go with bilsteins but the price is high and i really wanna save some cash for vacation. would the tokico hp's be a decent combo to run or shoul i just save up the extra $300 for the bilsteins? my car isnt a DD by any means but i do want a half decent ride. my buddy has steeda sport springs and tokico adjustables and his car rides like a dream compared to mine. what should i do to get a good ride out of my car???

 

[Halfrican]

Struts are definately at their end, lowering the stock struts puts them constantly under load and makes them wear out prematurely. I am a fan of the Eibach Pro Dampers but I have only had them on a SVT Focus. They are made to last longer because they are designed to work on a lowered car, all of the Tokico's I looked at said "not designed for lowered vehicle applications" or whatever in the product description. Your ride should significantly improve by going with Dampers that are tuned to handle your drop, also the H&R's are stiffer springs too aren't they? You'll have a rough ride but it won't bounce around as much.
You can only get so comfortable a ride with a solid axle in the rear...but that would help.

 

[Bluffing024]

Bilsteins are the best strut/shock you can get. Lifetime warranty too.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

these tokicos are for lowered cars.

so i need to be looking for struts that are specifically for lowered cars? i didnt see any bilsteins like that

 

[Dark Knight GT]

Have you tried looking into Edelbrock ? They make some real high quality shocks and struts. They come with a lifetime warranty as well, and they're made America. I have them on my 01 GT and I've not had any issues with them so far.

 

[tomustang]

Your tie rods will go first with a drop that low, if you drive hard

look there since you are just targeting on 'metal clunk' insted of 'feels like a boat'

 

[SaleenGT2001]

its not the tie rods. everything is tight suspension wise on the car. i'm an alignment tech so i know what to look for when it comes to loose front end parts.

it only happens on hard bumps when the car moves up and down quickly. i do not have the sway bar attached right now but i dont think thats the problem the b/c bar and end links were removed so there is nothing that could be causing noise there.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i was thinking that the struts being worn out may be letting something bottom out.

 

[tomustang]

its not the tie rods. everything is tight suspension wise on the car. i'm an alignment tech so i know what to look for when it comes to loose front end parts.

it only happens on hard bumps when the car moves up and down quickly. i do not have the sway bar attached right now but i dont think thats the problem the b/c bar and end links were removed so there is nothing that could be causing noise there.

Have you tried to turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and launch, then brake fast to see if the clunk is there?

I say look at the tie rods (inner + outer) again since it the most common thing to go wrong, and you wouldn't tell if the inner were bad for just driving around

but hey I could be wrong but it's always good to recheck everything, besides you need dampers anyway so might aswell replace them anyway

KYB's are good cheap replacements, even for sportlines or any drop that low, they are stiffer than stock and will hold for a long time, and I think they have a warrenty on them

 

[SaleenGT2001]

so with my car being lowered, should i go with the fox body front struts since they are shorter? i think i'm gonna go with the tokico HP's.

 

[cooper58d2002]

Well Tokico D-specs are a desent deal when campared to other fully adjustable shocks/struts. I really like the set i have and have had no issues with them whatsoever and they have a really good ride.

 

[bullitt784]

i'm a big fan of tokicos!

 

[cooper58d2002]

the only thing that tokico's might be a problem with is if your planning on going coilover's in the rear section. Due to the friction welds for the rear struts only I wouldn't go with the d-specs in the rear. I have the weight jackers Lower control arms so thats not an issue for me, because i am not going with the coilovers.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

no coilovers in the near future for me.

are the Fox struts better or should i get the ones for 99-04? the H&R ss springs should give me about a 1.75 drop compared to the 2.25 or more i have now

 

[BLK_ROUSH]

Another vote for Tokicos

i'm a big fan of tokicos!

Same, no experience with the Fox struts.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i called MM today and they recomended the H&R race springs and bilsteins.

they said the H&R SS and tokico hp's were not a good combo

 

[EPIK]

Get the Bilsteins....u wont regret it

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BILS...010QQitemZ200122493749QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

 

[navarro98gt]

I've develped the same, "metal on metal clunk" that you speak of saleenGT2001. I was leaning twards it being bad motor mounts. What do you guys think?

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i never thought of that.

BTW i sold my sportlines to my buddy and installed them on his car tonight and my struts seem to still have decent pressure in them.

i'm planning on replacing them anyways but i thinki'm gonna go with the tokico HP's. they are half the price of the bilsteins and have to be better than the stockers