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Joined: May 2002
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I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
tell him a contour does not = eclipse. then find a different mechanic. i doubt your spring would collapse. maybe you struts would fail if using lowering springs with stock or stock replacement struts, but then only after (tens of) thousands of miles. i find nearly ALL mechanics to be incapable of understanding anything other than oil changes. i've found a few good ones out there, but they're far and few between.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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CEG\'er
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Originally posted by J-Lab:
I'm not exactly sure what bolt you are referring to on the strut, can you be more specific?
I really am not sure. He would have to use some kind of cutter to cut a new hole and such... I don't know that I would feel great about him changing the shocks.
I called BAT they said it is highly unlikely to be a collapsed spring. It could be the strut is leaking and lost is pressure or some damage has occured to the upper strut mount. Not sure what to do from here...
Mystang
Mazda6 3.0 5spd sports package
Traded in...96 Contour SE V6 5sp
ICW Racing 606H 17 inch wheels
BAT suspension
63,000 plus; more problems
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 73
CEG\'er
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Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
tell him a contour does not = eclipse. then find a different mechanic. i doubt your spring would collapse. maybe you struts would fail if using lowering springs with stock or stock replacement struts, but then only after (tens of) thousands of miles. i find nearly ALL mechanics to be incapable of understanding anything other than oil changes. i've found a few good ones out there, but they're far and few between.
You were right on about his eclipse. I really don't think it is a collapsed spring either... get this.. when we lefted up the back right corner then set it down it was at normal height.. He said lets roll it back some... we did and it lowered a bit. That does not sound like a spring to me. If it was a spring problem wouldn't it immediately lower down to its incorrect position? By the time I got home it seemed to be back to it's super low position. Darn thing! I truly thing something is broken with the upper strut mount. Anyone ever hear of that happening?
Mystang
Mazda6 3.0 5spd sports package
Traded in...96 Contour SE V6 5sp
ICW Racing 606H 17 inch wheels
BAT suspension
63,000 plus; more problems
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 73
CEG\'er
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BAT takes care of its customers!
I had Colony tire put the car up on and take a look to get a second opinion. Aparently the tires are rubbing on all 4 corners! I talked to Eric at BAT for about an hour going over things and he is sending me 4 new BAT struts. I paid for two he swallowed 2. If the struts do turn out to be bad he will return my money. If they are fine I eat two he eats two. I thought that was a pretty good deal. I understand he is trying to run a business. I just want my car to stop destroying my tires!
Here is another question. My suspension guy tells me the struts must have one inch of travel for the front and rear. He cut quite a bit all the way around as much as 3/4 of the bump stop. Yet I have read on CEG to not cut the rear but cut the front bump stops in half? Who is right? Any opinions?
Thanks as always,
Mystang
Mazda6 3.0 5spd sports package
Traded in...96 Contour SE V6 5sp
ICW Racing 606H 17 inch wheels
BAT suspension
63,000 plus; more problems
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,944
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by Mystang:
Here is another question. My suspension guy tells me the struts must have one inch of travel for the front and rear. He cut quite a bit all the way around as much as 3/4 of the bump stop. Yet I have read on CEG to not cut the rear but cut the front bump stops in half? Who is right? Any opinions?
Thanks as always,
Mystang
In the case of the BAT strut, with a stock bump stop, you would have very little travel. So, you would want to cut your bump stop. In the case of somthing else, like say the ST200 which is a stock/oem style strut, the travel would be close to the same. So there would be no need to cut the bump stop.
See, the BAT struts have a shorter shaft then say, the ST200's. This shorter shaft allows them to handle more aggresive drops then the ST200. Place them next to each other and you would see that the BAT strut is shorter.
Hope I answered your question.
Phillip Jackson
`98 Mystique LS
262K+ and counting...
ATX rebuilt @ 151K
"This storm has broken me, my only friend!" RIP Dime
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You have helped. Do you think it could be that the person who cut the bump stops cut too much and that is why all 4 wheels were rubbing on the fenders?
Mystang
Mazda6 3.0 5spd sports package
Traded in...96 Contour SE V6 5sp
ICW Racing 606H 17 inch wheels
BAT suspension
63,000 plus; more problems
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Posts: 10,015
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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No, The bumpstops should NEVER be ridden on when the vehicle is just cruising, so if it rubs now, it's because you WERE riding on them and now that they are cut down, the suspension can settle, your tires hit the fenders. This is probably due to one of two things.
a) too wide a tire and/or too high a profile
b) wrong offset on your 17's, thus pushing them out too far and into the fenders.
I have 18's and there was only slight rubbing on the back fenders which was solved by hammering the lip, at the bumper interface, in (this is common all a lot of Contours). But I have never have rub on the front fenders.
Do you know what the offset of your wheels are?
Also I doubt your brand new BAT struts are shot. The chances of that happening are almost impossible.
2000 SVT Turbo 295hp/269ftlb@12psi
#1 for Bendix Brakes Kits!
Knuckles rebuilt w/new bearings $55
AUSSIE ENDLINKS $70
Gutted pre-cats $80/set
A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!
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Joined: Sep 2001
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The offset is 40 positive. They were actually Spax struts first used on my 4cyl.. then transfered to my heavier v6...
Mystang
Mazda6 3.0 5spd sports package
Traded in...96 Contour SE V6 5sp
ICW Racing 606H 17 inch wheels
BAT suspension
63,000 plus; more problems
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 73
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My tires are only 215 40zr17s. I don't think they are too wide.
How did you go about hammering the lip? The guy at BAT said something about using a baseball bat? Some way of rolling it... Thanks for your time!
Mystang
Mazda6 3.0 5spd sports package
Traded in...96 Contour SE V6 5sp
ICW Racing 606H 17 inch wheels
BAT suspension
63,000 plus; more problems
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,639
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,639 |
we cut my front bumpstops in half and the rears 1 rung (if u will) for my koni/gc setup. 17x7 40 offset 215/45
Hugo AIM:omegazodiac
95 gl & 99 contour svt #1750/2760
my profile pics stuff for sale
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