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So I am not a suspension guru by any means, but maybe some of the more technical guys and gals here can help.
I recently bought my 1st TL, (04 A-spec). The car came with some light modifications, the main one being Function and Form Type 1 coilovers.
For the most part, the car rides fine over bumps, the main issue is the driver side front that just feels overly stiff/aggressive when going over the smallest bumps on the road.
so I decided to get the car checked at the local shop and they could not find anything wrong with the any of the bushings and joints that are associated with the suspension.
When I got home I decided to remove the strut bar and behold, I noticed something very peculiar, and I would like to share some images with y'all and maybe help me figure out why the driver side coilover is sitting so much more higher than the passenger side.
Drill a hole thru the strut bar or get an aftermarket RV6 strut bar. FF coilovers are know to be really stiff and cheaper. I'd sell those and get tein's for a way better ride!
Looks like a half assed/botched install.. or some body work /accident damage
Get rid of those POS and get some proper coils, stat!
I would assume that it was miss installed, or possibly even the wrong coilovers. As far as it being a POS, yeah, I hate them. Already ordered my Tein street Flex dampers, but they don't get in for another 2 weeks. I would love to figure out how to fix these to sell and recuperate some cash.
Drill a hole thru the strut bar or get an aftermarket RV6 strut bar. FF coilovers are know to be really stiff and cheaper. I'd sell those and get tein's for a way better ride!
Already ordered my Teins, just have to wait it out, I was actually thinking about painting and drilling holes on the top of the strut bar, to gain easier access to adjust the damper rates once I get the Teins on. But I would still like to hear out what the heck can cause this.
I would assume that it was miss installed, or possibly even the wrong coilovers. As far as it being a POS, yeah, I hate them. Already ordered my Tein street Flex dampers, but they don't get in for another 2 weeks. I would love to figure out how to fix these to sell and recuperate some cash.
Lol thanks bro. I've watched plenty of videos and read my share of threads on the removal and install process. Just haven't seen anything on this specific scenario, I really appreciate your input!
If you don't mind me asking, do you have an idea on which washer it may be?
i'm not sure if FF's come pre-assembled.
but a buddy was putting together his coilovers +tophats.
I think we missed a washer in the top hat. (some coils have different washers that may or not be needed, we didnt think we need or we missed installing it)
we didnt notice until we put the car on the ground and the shock shaft went through the opening, just like yours.
Lol thanks bro. I've watched plenty of videos and read my share of threads on the removal and install process. Just haven't seen anything on this specific scenario, I really appreciate your input!
Originally Posted by justnspace
i'm not sure if FF's come pre-assembled.
but a buddy was putting together his coilovers +tophats.
I think we missed a washer in the top hat. (some coils have different washers that may or not be needed, we didnt think we need or we missed installing it)
we didnt notice until we put the car on the ground and the shock shaft went through the opening, just like yours.
They do come pre-assembled.
but like i said, sounds like a shitty install
or TBH, maybe just the one strut failed so it's hitting the strut bar now
Justnspace and thoiboi, I think what I'm going to do is hang tight for my new sets to come in, pull the old ones out and do a side by side comparison to really determine whether or not it's a missing piece or just screwed up strut.
Do you think riding without the upper strut bar would be wise to prevent the top of the strut from running and grinding on the inside of the strut bar? Or is the strut bar saving the strut from going even higher and causing much more serious issues.
You are lucky that strut bar was there and designed to cover the shock rod. If it wasn't, you would now have a nice hole in your hood. The part that is missing is called the bump-stop plate. You are DEFINITELY missing it. It's a hugely thick washer that sandwiches the top & bottom upper mount bushings. It's job is to control the motion of the damper in compression (also called bump). Without it, your damper rod is banging around every time that wheel rises. It's also slowly making it's way through that shock tower brace (and eventually your hood).
The missing piece is part #13 in the following image. It's essentially a beefed up version of the metal washer you can see on the top in your photo (#1 in my image).
The following parts are absolutely mandatory to control any shock absorber setup in top to bottom order.
17
5
6
15
6
13
BTW: That #13 bump stop plate is ~$5 at your local dealer. They will most likely have to order it.
You are lucky that strut bar was there and designed to cover the shock rod. If it wasn't, you would now have a nice hole in your hood. The part that is missing is called the bump-stop plate. You are DEFINITELY missing it. It's a hugely thick washer that sandwiches the top & bottom upper mount bushings. It's job is to control the motion of the damper in compression (also called bump). Without it, your damper rod is banging around every time that wheel rises. It's also slowly making it's way through that shock tower brace (and eventually your hood).
The missing piece is part #13 in the following image. It's essentially a beefed up version of the metal washer you can see on the top in your photo (#1 in my image).
The following parts are absolutely mandatory to control any shock absorber setup in top to bottom order.
17
5
6
15
6
13
BTW: That #13 bump stop plate is ~$5 at your local dealer. They will most likely have to order it.
Thank you so much, this is the answer I've been looking for, I'll see if I can get this on, just so that I'm not causing any damage to the car or myself.
Lol dude, you have no idea how bad I just want to ignore all plans for the day and just start disassembling the coilover to determine once and for all what issues I am having.
what threw me off is that FF comes pre-assembled.
so that would mean some one fucked with them!!!
It is possible they missed it, or it's also possible it failed and the step in the piston-rod punched it's way trough. It's also possible the washer is still there and just the lower bushing failed and blew out. If the shocks come pre-assembled, I'm more inclined to think the bushing is gone.
If you get in there and find it's the lower bushing that failed, you will DEFINITELY want to check the other 3 dampers for similar deterioration.
It is possible they missed it, or it's also possible it failed and the step in the piston-rod punched it's way trough. It's also possible the washer is still there and just the lower bushing failed and blew out. If the shocks come pre-assembled, I'm more inclined to think the bushing is gone.
If you get in there and find it's the lower bushing that failed, you will DEFINITELY want to check the other 3 dampers for similar deterioration.
I'll be pulling them in about a week or two. As soon as my new Damperkit arrives. I'll most likely take a few photos and share with the forum for future inquiries on these magnificent coilovers.
Alright Gents, finally got my Teins Street Flex in and went in for operation. After removing the FF coilovers I decided to dismantle the problem coilover and boom! 94eg! was right, the bump stop plate was toast, it wasn't missing though, but in the pic, I have a good and on the right side and the bent one on the left. As a result, the strut suffered and is blown. I know they sell replacement struts for FF, but I'd leave that up to the buyer of any. Case Closed!
FF type 1 issue.
