Suspension worries! Help!

Anonymous · January 17, 2005, 21:45

Here is a pic of my HKS suspension:

m http://www.hksusa.com/products/?id=716 m

Today after going over a mountain of a unexpected speed bump, I heard a large knock and scrape over the drivers side front wheel...
I immediently noticed that the ride had turned bumpy, so I parked up to check I hadn't punctured a tyre.
Everything looking in order so I continued to my dads house to have a look whats causing this bumpy ride.
I noticed when we put the bonnet up that the camber adjustment had slipped right the way inwards toward the "engine bay".
Thinking this must be causing it, we adjusted it back and tightened the nuts but the ride is still the same...
Has anyone any ideas what could be wrong? Could a shock absorber been broken off or something? Im taking it to a garage of some sorts tomorrow so I can at least get it up on their stilts to have a decent look.

SteveJ · January 17, 2005, 22:10

Given that all of the load to move the top mount that far from its normal position must have gone through the relatively weedy piston of the shock absorber, it has almost certainly bent with the result that it will have lost pressure and be doing absolutely nothing to damp the vertical movement of the wheel - hence the strange feeling.

(Just ask markiii what happens when you give a front strut a rather heavy clout that it wasnt expecting - ie. anything other than vertical movement s:? :? s:? )

markiii · January 17, 2005, 22:28

have to agree with Steve on that one.

markiii · January 17, 2005, 22:29

by teh way, front or rear?

SteveJ · January 17, 2005, 22:42

Quote from: "markiii"by the way, front or rear?

Looks distinctly like the front to me, but seems to be missing the most important handling upgrade - a FSB s:!: :!: s:!:

markiii · January 17, 2005, 22:45

probably, but I live in hope of adjustable top mounts for teh rear

Anonymous · January 18, 2005, 08:55

It felt like the drivers side front wheel.
Thanks for the info Steve. What sort of place would you recommend to take a look at it, specialist tyre and wheels, or should a normal garage be able to fix it?
Also is the piston in the shock absorber standard or part of the HKS setup, is it expensive to replace? Am I doing any damage by continuing to drive if this is the problem?
I know its a lot of questions, but I know you guys know your stuff! s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

markiii · January 18, 2005, 14:58

normal garage coudl do teh work, but if thats what it is, your going to need a new shock

GSB · January 18, 2005, 15:31

Quote from: "markiii"normal garage coudl do the work, but if thats what it is, your going to need a new shock

A new pair of shocks would probabley be better though. Not sure if its standard practice or not (I think it is...) but personally speaking, I'd treat shocks the same as discs, pads and tyres, and always change in pairs... Just my opinion though.

markiii · January 18, 2005, 15:55

very true, as would I, otherwise it can make life a bit interesting.

Anonymous · January 18, 2005, 16:24

my dad said that very thing about pairs actually...why are parents always right?
I nipped it down to kwikfit (not for any work to be done I might add) just to be a bit sneaky as I knew they would whack it up on their stilts so I could take a better look...
Nothing appears to be damaged but quite difficult to see without taking everything off. But that seems more and more like it could be the bent piston inside the shock idea. On the way back Im noticing a grating every odd turn of the wheel coming from the passenger side front. Something indeed isnt right.
Because its a HKS Hipermax II Coilover Suspension Kit
m http://store.racinglab.com/tomr2sp20hks.html m
am I right in thinking that the shock is part of the rest of the kit? Would I need another HKS one, and would they sell parts seperately?
Im thinking of putting in for service anyway at Mr.T so Im sure they could tell me for sure. Then if they cannot fix it, go to a specialist.
After Christmas and two weeks to pay day this is all I need. s:cry: :cry: s:cry:

p.s stevej a FSB is on my list believe me, do you think that could of prevented it?

markiii · January 18, 2005, 16:45

you should be able to get spare parts for the kit if they still make it.

as for installing new ones, it's not a hard job, I certainly wouldn't pay main dealer rates for it.

Slacey · January 18, 2005, 17:28

Quote from: "sideysid"p.s stevej a FSB is on my list believe me, do you think that could of prevented it?

No, it wouldn't - it's job is to prevent as much movement as it can between the struts under cornering loads, the cause of your problem couldn't really have been prevented.

Anonymous · January 18, 2005, 19:31

ok cheers guys, I'll let you know how I get on... s:? :? s:?