ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

I don't even know what I ran over, but it was severe enough to damage my suspension to this point (it's NOT supposed to be that low):





After taking off the passenger tire I saw that the strut went THROUGH the shock fork. I didn't really check for any other damage.

The car was towed to the dealer this morning, and I got a call from them saying that it would be $120 to even look at it (this $120 can be used toward any repairs though)...I authorized, and that's where I am now.

I asked whether this would be covered under warranty, and the service adviser told me that damage due to running over something is not covered under warranty, something I do understand but I don't think that the shock forks on both sides should just fail like that.

So what should I do? I think I'll just have them inspect it, and if it turns out that I need ONLY new shock forks, I'll just order them and install myself. My worst fear is that there's more damage that will end up costing $1000s of dollars. My front tires are already shredded and my fenders are a little deformed, so I'll need to factor those in as well.

Cliffs:
-Ran over something, damaged front suspension forks.
-Car's at dealer getting inspected.
-Should I go through dealer, independent body shop, insurance?

Crazy Bimmer

Insurance should cover it.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

I could have gone through insurance when the teg suffered a similar problem last year, but paid for it on my own because I was gonna mod it anyway.


I hope you have a low deductible.

astro

damn! got pics of the shock?

onebadna1nsx

O shiet. Damn you should ride at that height though :P

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

Are you running Koni yellows?

SwervinCL

That is what I was looking for. Can't really tell anything from those pictures.

Just looks like a lowered car..

ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

Yes. Koni Yellow SP3s.

If you look at the diagram below, number 11/12 is what failed. The bottom end of the shock goes into that hole and stays there. The impact was severe enough where it forced the shock to go all the way through, hence why my car is so low.




Still waiting on a call from the dealer. I have a $500 deductible...as long as the damage is contained to both shock forks, I'd have no need for insurance, but with my luck I doubt it.

SwervinCL

It may not have failed at all (persay).. That bolt (14) may not have been tight enough on both sides, or the impact was so great that it popped the nut off the 14 bolt. Another thing that it could have done is compressed the shock through that hole with the bolt still tight. In which case, you would be needed 2 new shocks.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

I bet the forks are OK. The shocks must have lost the tabs (the ones you line up the shocks to the forks) when you hit the potholes. It's pretty common (search V 6 p.net as well) that the tabs come undone over time and I think it's a bad design but Koni doesn't want to admit it.

My way to avoid it is by torque the fork bolt that holds the shock a little more than spec and I haven't had any issues with it.

Those forks are cast iron and very sturdy. They won't bend, but if the force is strong enough, they'll snap or crack. For now, I'd buy the replacement fork bolts (to hold the shocks), and remove/reinstall the front suspension. Tighten the bolt to about 60 lb ft and you should be good to go.

If the shock bottoms aren't hitting the axles, you should be OK.

edit: and SwervinCL beats me to it.

anarchy[sear]

iTrader: (1)

I am thinking the same thing.

ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

I think you're right. I remember when I hit whatever I hit heard what sounded like tiny pieces of metal hitting the ground, must've been the tabs. Good thing Koni has a lifetime warranty.

phee

iTrader: (5)

looks sick though...

SLushhYYY

iTrader: (8)

nice drop

JCharged

iTrader: (5)

hope all goes well. That sucks man.

ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

260HP, you were right. The brackets on both sides just flew off. What shitty design.

I just picked up the car from the dealer. They charged me $250 just to tighten up the shock assembly. RIPOFF, but whatever it's better than the thousands I was expecting.

I'm going to give Neuspeed a call tomorrow, but tonight I'll be reinstalling my old Koni sport shocks and taking these busted ones out.

Costco

that shiet is slammed yo!

I noticed Koni shocks are for sale in your sig..... are they the takeoffs from this accident?

ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

No no no.

The Koni shocks for sale now are the shocks I had on before. I replaced those with Koni SP3s with Neuspeed springs just last week, and the SP3s are the shocks that are damaged. The Sports are off my car at the moment.

260 HP

iTrader: (3)

Glad I can help.
Call and complain to Neuspeed and have them reimburse you for the dealership trip back and forth.

Tell them that you torque everything down to spec and the #14 bolts in your pic above were not loose. Believe me, they'll try to tell you that you didn't install it right.

Blazing GT

bro, your car looks hot like that

Costco

fixed

I know.... I was