Do You Guys Ever Bottom Out Your Front Ends?
 

Do you guys ever bottom out your front ends in dips in the road? As in, enough to hear it scrape? I have S-4 springs and shocks on my 81 and I really like the ride comfort, but occaisionaly I bottom it out in dips in the road. This usually happens at higher speeds. Springs are off an 87 and the shocks were new 3 years ago. I have been thinking about buying a new set of springs from 928 motorsports and maybe go just the next stiffer spring from stock. Like I said, I don't DE the car and I like my ride comfort, but I really don't like bottoming out. Would just going with new adjustable drop links help? Any guidance you can give me is greatly appreciated.:cheers:

In the '88, not often at all. In the '90, seems like it is daily because I am used to the '88.

Sean, thats strange.....I would think the suspension would be stiffer in the 90....no?

I wulda thunk it too. The shocks feel fine to the "bounce test" but the ride height is a bit lower than mine.

Isn't the risk of bottoming a complex equation that depends on factors including your ride height, spring rates, shock wear, spring age/sagging, and the crappiness of your local roads/gutters/speed bumps?

Ride height is the major variable. At 145-150, I smack down on hard twisties. At 165-170 I don't at all.

Thanks Bill, I guess that's where I should start and see if it cures it, before I "throw money at it".

Only in very high urinals. : -)

Charley, sorry about your luck.....

Ahhh, that's alright. I've got a cute way of getting on and off.

I installed the bilstein/eibach setup and lowered it to 155 on the front. It only scrapes sometimes when i pull in and out of the driveway. I bought the aluminum chin plates from 928Motorsports and feel better knowing I have a little protection on the front of the control arms, alternator and oil pan.

Brent
89S4

I am kinda afraid of the bilstein/Eibach combo. Does the car ride rough with them?

Some people have low ride height with Bilstein/Eibach. I didn't find them rough, but I do much prefer the stock springs with Bilsteins. It's a personal preference thing. Most Bilstein/Eibach owners love them.

Do any of you guys have any experience with the springs Carl sells? They also come with the perches to accomadate standard 2.5 inch springs. Then you can get just about any spring rate you want. I was actually thinking about externally ajustable Konis, with the next stiffer than stock S-4 spring......Damn the cost...... it's only money....

I went on a drive yesterday in the Santa Cruz mountains, and my front end bottomed out about 5 times. The roads were pretty rough and we were going very fast, but I guess my cut springs made the car a little too low. Here are a few pics from the drive.