Car is too Low (Falken Springs with A-spec Struts)

[Ryoga28]

In the last month or so, I was able to purchase a set of A-spec Mazdaspeed struts for a fairly good price on ebay. At the time, I thought it would be ok to install the struts with a set of Falken Factory tuned springs to save some money. Also, since it is suppose to be winter, I installed my 16 inch winter tires on the MSP.

The result...My GTSPEC lower tie bar getting scrapped on driveways, potholes, or sharp turns. I couldn't fit a finger btw the tire and the fender (it's not rubbing againt the fender at least).

Recently, with the same setup, I discovered that my lateral control arms are also scrapping when I hit a small bump on the road. The nightmare never ends...

So now, I'm hoping that the used set of B-spec mazdaspeed springs that I bought from TheMan will get to me before I destroy the car.

One question though...If I'm hitting the lower tie bar and the lateral arms with the 16 inch winter tires on, will it get worst when I replace them with the stock MSP 17 inch rims?

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.

 

[njaremka]

what size are your winter tires?

 

[JCell]

Damn that's low, definitly put a chunckier tire in there or change the springs

 

[xelderx]

your lateral contol arms are scraping on what?

 

[Boosted03MSP]

Whats B-Spec?

 

[Ryoga28]

what size are your winter tires?

205/55/16

 

[Ryoga28]

your lateral contol arms are scraping on what?

It actually hit the ground...although, I don't know how it did that...

 

[xelderx]

It actually hit the ground...although, I don't know how it did that...

That just doesn't seem possible for any normal road conditions no matter how low the car is. A lowered car would stand to hit the front bumper/side skirts before the lateral arms hit anything. The way the suspension works the lateral arms don't get closer to the ground when the car is lowered...they just become more parallel. You have something else going on.

 

[terbow]

i have the falken springs on the mazdaspeed oem struts and i have plenty of clearance. i can fit a finger in the wheel well too. maybe soemthing esle is wrong.

 

[Ryoga28]

That just doesn't seem possible for any normal road conditions no matter how low the car is. A lowered car would stand to hit the front bumper/side skirts before the lateral arms hit anything. The way the suspension works the lateral arms don't get closer to the ground when the car is lowered...they just become more parallel. You have something else going on.

It's strange and I don't understand why but I am hitting my lower tie bar (this I understand) and rear lateral arms. The bumper/side skirts are fine and has never hit anything yet. I'll take a closer look under my car tomorrow, since it has been freezing the last couple of days.

 

[Ryoga28]

i have the falken springs on the mazdaspeed oem struts and i have plenty of clearance. i can fit a finger in the wheel well too. maybe soemthing esle is wrong.

After I switched out the stock msp struts to the Green Mazdaspeed b-spec struts, my car was further lowered.

 

[aMaff]

can you take some pics of where your rubbing? There's no way any of this stuff should be hitting the ground. No matter what, the height of the tire / bottom of the wheel will always be under it...

 

[Ryoga28]

Pics

205/55/16 winter tires installed

1. Rear Wheel Gap (can't get my finger between)
2. Rear Wheel
3. Driver's side lateral bar (note the scrape on the bottom)
4. Passenger's side lateral bar (note the scrape on the bottom)
5. General view of rear suspension

I couldn't get a good shot of the front tie bar, but it's really scrapped up.

 

[FunkyBuddha]

There is no way that bar couldve hit the ground UNLESS one tire was in the pothole deep enough to come up 8 inches and hit the trailing arm.

Uhmm..silly question..but did you bolt everything back up?

That is so weird
Can you take a pic of the suspension loaded?

 

[Dpwhitehead1]

i like that setup, looks badas..but i can't believe it hit. not saying you're a liar..just that.. i can't believe it. you're probably the first.

 

[Ryoga28]

There is no way that bar couldve hit the ground UNLESS one tire was in the pothole deep enough to come up 8 inches and hit the trailing arm.

Uhmm..silly question..but did you bolt everything back up?

That is so weird
Can you take a pic of the suspension loaded?

The setup was installed by my mechanic so it should be ok.

When you mentioned loaded, do you mean on a jack?

 

[NMMotorsport]

looks sooo sick that low!

 

[xelderx]

Is the scraping you hear on sharp turns in the front end? You are running a very tall sidewall on your tires and they are probably rubbing on the inner fender. With your ride hieght it's possible the tires could get up into the plastic inner fender on bumps as well. Especially if one of the puch clips that holds the liner up has come out. I bet if you take the wheel off you'll see scuffs in the plastic or on the metal of the inner fenderwell. I'm not sure what the problem is in the back. Have you checked to make sure all the bolts/nuts are tight? Possibly the upper strut rod nut. Everything else looks to be correct. If the lateral arm or swaybar was hitting something you would be able to see a mark on it.

 

[TheMAN]

yes the tires are too big that's one of the problems...
he's supposed to use 205/50-16s or 195/55-15s

 

[Ryoga28]

I'm getting the B-spec springs installed this weekend, so I can check to see.