Hey guys and gals, I'm posting here for my first time but I wanted to start off by thanking the community as it has helped to guide me through replacing clutch cables and diff fluid so far, as well as being a great source of knowledge in getting the most out of my car. With that thanks, out out of the way, I'm hoping you can help me.
I've got a UPR K Member, Control Arm, and Coilover set up on the front of the car. 18 x 9 Cobra R wheels, and 255/35/18 tires on front, and 295/35/18 on back. There's also a lowering spring and KYB Strut on the rear of the car, but I don't think I'm getting any trouble from those two. Up front, things are getting a little screwy.
I bought the car in April of 2011 with all of these mods on it and the owner had installed them about a year prior to my purchase. Everything was pretty good and checked out my own inspection when I purchased it, and it was on the cheap side, so in a pinch, I settled with the owner on a price for about a grand less than he was asking, and off I happily drove off into the sunset with my new ride. After the honeymoon period ended, my closer inspection noted a few unsightly repairs on the front fenders and bumpers, and also the wires for a removed subwoofer the owner cut off and hid. It's always had a little bit of squeak on compression over bumps, and I've always assumed it was just the aftermarket suspension and bushings and what not. The car has always loved to turn in to initiate a corner. Sometimes it's made me question the oddly not congruent/symmetrical c/c settings at the shock towers. The car has also had a little slop in the steering wheel and needs a good 20-25 degrees of correction towards uphill when traveling straight, over lateral slopes. Overall though, a flat car for not having a sway bar upgrade, and good front to back stability as well making me thing that the springs and compression are sufficient for grip improvements. I don't really mind the ride quality issues, never the less.
Well, as of the past few months, at some point a lug nut snapped off a lug of the drivers front, and the squeaks or loud creaks can be relentless on some days and non-existent on others. I've also noticed that I'm getting a crack developing in the drivers shock tower, under the outer-forward bolt hole. under the c/c plate. On top of all that, the car can sometimes feel a bit squirrely at first being driven after having sat a day or two and I've got some nasty front tire wear on the insides, that makes me believe I've either got way too much camber (though it looks subtle to me) or a toe/alignment issue. The car is being daily driven in Los Angeles, and I've heard that's probably about the worst thing next to trying a truck trail or war zone for a car with coilovers, without Strut tower braces or Subframe connectors.
Honestly, I love driving the car, but this ish is getting a little weird, and it really makes me worry. I know I need to get that lug replaced, but I'm worried with the stress it's been under, maybe I should just replace the whole hub assembly? The tire issue really sucks because I was on my way to the airport last tuesday and it was still dark o'clock as I was merging onto the 405 and as I was merging in and checking mirrors, I ran myself out of reaction time for a piece of shredded truck tire that I'm presuming is what is responsible for leaving a chunk of melted rubber in my wheel well and the inside of my passenger front tire being worn down to the threads, while the driver's inside is definitely heavily worn, but no threads yet. I guess I need to get it evaluated by an alignment shop to be sure? I need new rears too, as the diff is an open one and the right tire out back is showing threads. And does anyone know if it's possible go back to the stock style strut set up while still using the control arms and K member? What of the shock towers if the cracks are serious?
The set up for the car has always been grip, but I know it needs some chassis stiffening, and more balanced tire set up, as well as brakes and other upgrades, but for right now, I'm just trying to take my meager wages as far as possible in keeping up with the basic maintenance with my extreme lack of tools and workspace.
I'm charging the camera for pics, please check back within a few hours at most.
I've got a UPR K Member, Control Arm, and Coilover set up on the front of the car. 18 x 9 Cobra R wheels, and 255/35/18 tires on front, and 295/35/18 on back. There's also a lowering spring and KYB Strut on the rear of the car, but I don't think I'm getting any trouble from those two. Up front, things are getting a little screwy.
I bought the car in April of 2011 with all of these mods on it and the owner had installed them about a year prior to my purchase. Everything was pretty good and checked out my own inspection when I purchased it, and it was on the cheap side, so in a pinch, I settled with the owner on a price for about a grand less than he was asking, and off I happily drove off into the sunset with my new ride. After the honeymoon period ended, my closer inspection noted a few unsightly repairs on the front fenders and bumpers, and also the wires for a removed subwoofer the owner cut off and hid. It's always had a little bit of squeak on compression over bumps, and I've always assumed it was just the aftermarket suspension and bushings and what not. The car has always loved to turn in to initiate a corner. Sometimes it's made me question the oddly not congruent/symmetrical c/c settings at the shock towers. The car has also had a little slop in the steering wheel and needs a good 20-25 degrees of correction towards uphill when traveling straight, over lateral slopes. Overall though, a flat car for not having a sway bar upgrade, and good front to back stability as well making me thing that the springs and compression are sufficient for grip improvements. I don't really mind the ride quality issues, never the less.
Well, as of the past few months, at some point a lug nut snapped off a lug of the drivers front, and the squeaks or loud creaks can be relentless on some days and non-existent on others. I've also noticed that I'm getting a crack developing in the drivers shock tower, under the outer-forward bolt hole. under the c/c plate. On top of all that, the car can sometimes feel a bit squirrely at first being driven after having sat a day or two and I've got some nasty front tire wear on the insides, that makes me believe I've either got way too much camber (though it looks subtle to me) or a toe/alignment issue. The car is being daily driven in Los Angeles, and I've heard that's probably about the worst thing next to trying a truck trail or war zone for a car with coilovers, without Strut tower braces or Subframe connectors.
Honestly, I love driving the car, but this ish is getting a little weird, and it really makes me worry. I know I need to get that lug replaced, but I'm worried with the stress it's been under, maybe I should just replace the whole hub assembly? The tire issue really sucks because I was on my way to the airport last tuesday and it was still dark o'clock as I was merging onto the 405 and as I was merging in and checking mirrors, I ran myself out of reaction time for a piece of shredded truck tire that I'm presuming is what is responsible for leaving a chunk of melted rubber in my wheel well and the inside of my passenger front tire being worn down to the threads, while the driver's inside is definitely heavily worn, but no threads yet. I guess I need to get it evaluated by an alignment shop to be sure? I need new rears too, as the diff is an open one and the right tire out back is showing threads. And does anyone know if it's possible go back to the stock style strut set up while still using the control arms and K member? What of the shock towers if the cracks are serious?
The set up for the car has always been grip, but I know it needs some chassis stiffening, and more balanced tire set up, as well as brakes and other upgrades, but for right now, I'm just trying to take my meager wages as far as possible in keeping up with the basic maintenance with my extreme lack of tools and workspace.
I'm charging the camera for pics, please check back within a few hours at most.
Only other tip is to note the point at which the "pigtail" of the spring is set onto the control arm mount.
