Rear ride height with lowering springs still too high

[Trillbro]

I have steeda progressive lowering springs on my car and the rear ride height looks stock or even higher than stock. I've had 2 shops look at it and no one can find the problem. Ive have the bushings reclocked and still no help at all. I made sure the springs are sitting correctly. There is no difference in height from left to right side. I had the steeda stop the Hop kit installed and may have made the height even worse. I'm not really sure what to do. I've considered coilovers and the steeda adjustable rear springs but I would prefer just to make this setup work. Every other car I've had with progressives have not had this problem. My car next to other s650s with lowering springs looks ridiculous to me.

Sponsored

 

[Skye]

Two general questions:

Q1: Were things torqued to spec as the car was sitting on its tires, the suspension loaded?

Q2: Was an alignment, front and rear been accomplished afterwards?

 

[Magic88]

I have steeda progressive lowering springs on my car and the rear ride height looks stock or even higher than stock. I've had 2 shops look at it and no one can find the problem. Ive have the bushings reclocked and still no help at all. I made sure the springs are sitting correctly. There is no difference in height from left to right side. I had the steeda stop the Hop kit installed and may have made the height even worse. I'm not really sure what to do. I've considered coilovers and the steeda adjustable rear springs but I would prefer just to make this setup work. Every other car I've had with progressives have not had this problem. My car next to other s650s with lowering springs looks ridiculous to me.

I see that you've got the RTR side splitters installed. What's your ground clearance right in front of your rear tire?

I have the same springs, and stop the hop kit. My clearance is 5 3/8"

Front tires are 275/35R20
Back tires are 305/35R20

 

[JediMindTrix]

I have the same questions Skye does. Are these pictures with the vehicle flat on a surface and not on jacks? If so, based on observations it doesn't appear to be torqued at ride height (with the suspension loaded). Re-clocking the bushings will only help if it's at the new ride height. If you look closely at the top mount for the rear spring, it's not even seated all the way into the body which is probably also creating some kind of an artificial spring rate and preventing some lowering:

Are you getting NVH/clunking?

 

[UniqueDoug]

I see that you've got the RTR side splitters installed. What's your ground clearance right in front of your rear tire?

I have the same springs, and stop the hop kit. My clearance is 5 3/8"

Front tires are 275/35R20
Back tires are 305/35R20

That looks awesome.

 

[Magic88]

That looks awesome.

Thank you Doug!

 

[Trillbro]

Two general questions:

Q1: Were things torqued to spec as the car was sitting on its tires, the suspension loaded?

Q2: Was an alignment, front and rear been accomplished afterwards?

Yes to both. I had an alignment done after reclocking the bushings. And again after the stop the Hop kit was installed

 

[Trillbro]

I

I see that you've got the RTR side splitters installed. What's your ground clearance right in front of your rear tire?

I have the same springs, and stop the hop kit. My clearance is 5 3/8"

Front tires are 275/35R20
Back tires are 305/35R20

I will check later but it seems like a pretty significant difference to me. Will update when I get off work

 

[Trillbro]

I have the same questions Skye does. Are these pictures with the vehicle flat on a surface and not on jacks? If so, based on observations it doesn't appear to be torqued at ride height (with the suspension loaded). Re-clocking the bushings will only help if it's at the new ride height. If you look closely at the top mount for the rear spring, it's not even seated all the way into the body which is probably also creating some kind of an artificial spring rate and preventing some lowering:

Are you getting NVH/clunking?

No NVH/clunking. And this picture was taken on jacks after removing the rear wheels

 

[JediMindTrix]

No NVH/clunking. And this picture was taken on jacks after removing the rear wheels

Double check on when they torqued the vertical links because they should only be snug when the suspension is unloaded so they can move to a natural position once you put weight on the wheels then torqued while on ramps or a lift. If they did the links without the suspension loaded it can create this scenario where you don't see the proper drop in the rear and will eventually cause them to bind. Also, make sure that top mount is seated against the body.

 

[Trillbro]

Double check on when they torqued the vertical links because they should only be snug when the suspension is unloaded so they can move to a natural position once you put weight on the wheels then torqued while on ramps or a lift. If they did the links without the suspension loaded it can create this scenario where you don't see the proper drop in the rear and will eventually cause them to bind. Also, make sure that top mount is seated against the body.

They reclocked on a drive on lift. But I will check the links while on the ground once I get off work. With the suspension unloaded they were definitely tight. I didn't notice a difference in ride height after the bushings were reclocked. I'm hoping they did it correctly

 

[Trillbro]

Double check on when they torqued the vertical links because they should only be snug when the suspension is unloaded so they can move to a natural position once you put weight on the wheels then torqued while on ramps or a lift. If they did the links without the suspension loaded it can create this scenario where you don't see the proper drop in the rear and will eventually cause them to bind. Also, make sure that top mount is seated against the body.

When the suspension is unloaded it seems like they have a weird bow to them. Not sure it's normal or something that I haven't noticed before. The seals seem to be against the body

 

[Bigemike]

something looks off, I would contact steeda support and send them pics

 

[Magic88]

Not the best pics, best I could do.

Really dumb question, is there a way they possibly have the springs reversed and the fronts are in back?

 

[Trillbro]

Not the best pics, best I could do.

Really dumb question, is there a way they possibly have the springs reversed and the fronts are in back?

No the fronts are completely different sizes than the rears

Sponsored