93CANDM-EGCoupe

Was just wondering if this would be a prob...my 5th gen has APC coilovers paired with OEM shocks at the highest height (not lowered) ..is it normal for them to bottom out on many bumps where other cars just sail over? Even like under 60 I can't hit some bumps on roads where the limit is 80! I'm guessing stiffer shocks are the answer..Does anyone know if it is damaging to anything to bottom out?

EL_Sport

You shouldn't be bottoming out if you are at the highest spring setting. A friend of mine has the Skunk2 coilover sleeves with KYB shocks and his car is raised all the way up right now (for winter) and he has no problems with bottoming out, his car pretty much handles like stock again in terms of bumps. Sounds to me like your problem is that you are still using stock shocks which are probably now on their way out.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Joo got jooked...I can't understand why ppl buy cheap parts for a Honda when Hondas come with awesome parts from the factory...if you're not upgrading, then what's the point?

No you should not be bottoming out at any point really. Rally cars fly over crests and they don't even really bottom out unless it's a tarmac course and they are set REAL low, but even then it's not the susp that bottoms out, it's the chassis that hits the ground.

Shocks will not solve your problem, it's the springs that hold your car up, the shocks just control the motion of the spring from bouncing infinitely (in theory, ignoring outside variables a spring would theoretically bounce forever, but since even the metal springs are made of has resistance to compression and rebound, it will eventually stop itself even w/o a shock).

You really should get a good shock/spring combo and forget about ever buying any APC/OBX/Weapon R/ etc. products ever again.

Now for your immediate concern, yes, bottoming out is damaging, not only to the shock (extremely bad for the shock) but bushings and strut towers too. Eventually, if it gets bad enough and goes on for long enough, the mounting points to the subframe could rip out due to stress. Think of a aluminium pop can tab being broken off.

93CANDM-EGCoupe

$hite..well thanks for the info..It's weird cause they're brand new..and I just got the ball joints replaced as well - which I especially don't want to be damaged..I bought these because the car came used with SportLines on it but it was messing up the camber and destroyed the ball joints..so I just got the coilovers to raise it..I regretfully didn't spring (no pun intended) for OEM Honda.

93CANDM-EGCoupe

..yeah this sucks..and it really annoys other drivers when you slow down to 50 in an 80 all of a sudden!

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

LOL, didn't spring for OEM...haha...

Well, the good news is that used OEM springs go for $50 usually. Hell, if I find mine from my 98 Civic, I'll sell them to you if you want. They'll fit.

Sportlines would have been way better than what you put on now... you just needed an alignment done, and it's normal for the balljoints to be finished on that year car...it's normal wear and tear, esp on a city driven car. Hope you got good ones, either Honda OEM or at least Moog.

93CANDM-EGCoupe

The shop told me that it was because of the camber that the ball joints were destroyed cause of excess stress..but also obvoiusly because of the age as well..The camber also ruined my Z rated Yokohamas after 1 summer! So I just raised it..Well I guess for 50 bucks you cant go wrong with OEM, just PM me if ya find em..THX

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Ok, I'll look for them, but they've been gone for a while now, and my parents move too, and I moved out, so they could be any number of places...I'll look for them though. Man, just last summer I sold complete strut assemblies, struts/springs off a 2000 SiR with 10,000 kms on them for $150...you could have really lucked out then. Stiffer/lower springs (.5"I think) and matching shocks... but I sold them to some guy who had no respect, and had no idea what deal he was getting... should have just walked away from him with my parts still in hand

PULOVR

Did you stop and think that it might not be bottoming out?

Mayde the sound you are hearing is a loose bolt at the top or bottom ot the strut assembly. It would make a simular noise. Check it out before you waste unessessary $$'s.

Shops do make mistakes.

93CANDM-EGCoupe

Very true. Interesting you should mention that - Honda installed one of my springs UPSIDE DOWN the first time if you can believe it. Had to take it somewhere else to get that corrected. They also installed my front and rear sway bars/(or strut bars?) correctly to my knowledge..

93CANDM-EGCoupe

..I emphasize upside down because it looks awfully wrong if it's a coil over ...

PULOVR

I'd get it checked out then. (I have a feeling it's one of those things).

PULOVR

If it doesn't look like this.....get it fixed. :working:

93CANDM-EGCoupe

Well that's what they all look like now..THX 4 the pic BTW ..Honda technicians who supposedly are trained professionals installed only 1 (right rear corner) upside down and I ended up driving home on it. It made this really weird noise until I got it fixed. I'll be taking it in on the weekend to this mechanic whom I trust to hopefully diagnose whatever's wrong.

SiR-Racer

so what's it sound like when you bottom out?

93CANDM-EGCoupe

just a huge clunk and travel stops dead. It could also be hitting the wheel well now that I think of it. It's only on really bad roads or really swoopy roads - I can go slow enough to prevent it. Anyways, my tires are just 175 winter tires on the steelies so I don't believe it's a clearance problem. I'm thinking maybe my springs just don't have that much travel or something

SiR-Racer

sh*t, sometimes i hear a clunk when i go over big bumps too. but that's only when my car is cold. the sound goes away after driving and warming it up for some reason

anyone else experiencing this?