so i had my 98 hatch for about a year and a half now, a year of which it has been dropped on new suspension. (eibach sportlines w/tokiko illuminas & oem ex front sway bar and control arms) the car rides real smoothe especially on soft damper setting, however there was always a small thumping noise when i roll over cracks and lumps in the pavement and whatnot, i always thought it was just the polyurethand sway bar bushings and endlinks pieces that nade it a little bumpy, but recently the noice got super rattly and metallic. so i i jacked up the car and took the wheels off and noticed that the outermost part of the lower control arm...the nut with the cotterpin thats on the ball joint, was hitting the brake dust shield to the point that it actually rubbed a hole in it, both pass.and driver side.

has this ever happened to anyone before? im assuming it is because my car is lowered, but then again, its not really slammed, i have like a good 2-3 finger wheel gap in the front. on (195/50/15s) and my drop is 1.8 inches

any opinions???

 

That happed to me I raised mine a little to help the problem but I dont see any long term effects if the castle nut is not in contact with the rotor. you can take the dust sheild off too. Mine was dropped about 2.5" but is not only down 2".

 

well thats what im afraid of, the nut hitting the rotor, that can be pretty crappy. as of now there is a hole rubbed completely through the dust shield.

 

Just bend the dust shield out or remove it. You actually get better cooling w/out them. I've had mine off for over 3 years. I take them off of all my cars when I do a brake swap. It is kind of a pain though. Be prepared for some cutting.

 

yeah i thought about that, but its there for a reason. you know how your wheels get all black from the brake dust?...well i dont want my entire engine bay to look like that as well. not to mention brake dust corrodes and eats away at stuff.

and i cant "bend it out"...out where? on one side is the rotor, and on the other side is the ball joint that hits it. theres not much room for bending. i already bent it as close to the rotor as possible.