I was wondering if anyone knows what this loud thump is, it happens when I hit an average size bump in the road. At first I thought the new coils were just settling like my mechanic had told me they would but it still makes the noise and its been over a week! I do have a double spring system which my mechanic was reluctant to install telling me he thought they were useless.

I was thinking that the lound bump could be the smaller springs compressing and then hitting the bigger springs!!! If I took out the "Helper springs" would my ride be a lot harsher I really dont mind but I was just curious! Thanks for all the input

 

Well it sounds like its bottoming out on the bumpstop. How low is it adjusted too? try raising it some and see if that fixes the problem

 

If you've lowered significantly, you're probably bottoming out the shock strut and hitting the bump stops. Most coil overs use stock height shocks which means when you lower you're increasing your available up stroke but decreasing your available down stroke.

 

Well its really not that low, Id say theres still an inch between my front wheel and the top of my wheel well and in the back theres a bit more gap, I dont think it should be bottoming out when its not really that low I saw after the install that my mechanic had cut the bump stops, could that be the cause.

I still think that the stupid "helper springs" are causing problems cause there fully compressed when the car is just parked so maybe when I hit a manhole the decompress and then recompress hitting the bitter spring hard and thats what the noise is!?!?!?! I really dont know, I hope Im not bottoming out cause Im really not that low!

 

ok, here is a rundown of exactly what is going on. i had that suspension....it sucks ***, worst there is....get rid of it asap. you wont believe me when i tell you this but your shocks are blown. it happens with lowered cars and it happened with mine on that damn weapon r suspension the day i lowered it. 3 of 4 blew. you will feel every bump even if you set it so its only an inch of drop. the springs suck....regular and helper. the suspension also makes lots of horrid noises but this is the bumpstop bottoming out from your blown *** shocks and shitty suspension. this is the worst suspension...i put some tockico blues on and it was "ok". but really....i know you spent money puting it on and all that but get some ground controls and all your problems will be solved. i went with the full APEX'i setup. its money but nice. good luck and sell that suspension....its not worth the hassle. also, i just read that your helper springs are fully depressed....are you sure? that should never happen. and ya alot of the noises, like all of em are from that stupid spring but im 103% sure that in your case, its the bumpstop bottoming out. and so you know....yes the bumpstops should be cut. so your ok there. goodluck

 

So your saying that my shocks are now finished after only having them on for a week, that doesnt sound right, Im not saying your wrong but it seems highly unlikely that my shocks are blown after a week, my mechanic at the speed shop I go to told me hes never used the helper springs and he usually just throws them out!!! If I go back and get them removed will it be better or worse!

Its only the back that makes the noise the front has never done it!!!

 

holy **** dude get rid of that ******* moron mechanic of yours. and yes, the suspension NEEDS THE HELPER SPRINGS. never omit parts that the suspension was designed around. always a nono. and now that i know your only using half the suspension....im almost 104% sure your shocks are blown. i used the entire suspension....WITH HELPER SPRINGS...and my shocks blew within a few days. i want to say it was the first day, but it could have been the second or third. god damn....how is it riding???? you must have the worst ride ever. o well, id love to know whats going on with it if you find out. ill check back. but ya, id definitely get the helper springs.

 

First off my mechanic is not a moron, hes actually one of the best in Montreal and he specializes in import perfomance. He's got two drag civics and his brother has a Civic hatch 97 like mine with everything done to it including full Type-R swap.

I must have made my problem sound worse then it is, my ride is actually pretty good considering I have stiffer springs, If my shocks were blown my car would be boucing all over the place, my ride isnt bad my rear suspension just makes a noise when I hit deeper holes in the road.

I spoke to my mechanic and he almost laughed when I told him the suggestions from the board, his diagnosis of the situation was that the top of the rear coils wasnt siting properly and that it would just take some reajustment and that removing the helper springs would also slightly lessen the noise but he said that with most suspension improvements cars tend to make more noise then they did before.

Im not saying that your diagnosis was wrong cause like you said it happened to you when you bought your Weapon R's but I have coils made by Skunk2 so the quality is there. Plus you did your best diagnosing something just from what Ive said and from your own experience. Im getting the helper springs removed on wednesday along with the readjustment and extra lowering (1/2inch).

Ill tell you how everything works out on wednesday.

 

By the way thanks for the input, you gave me the right questions to ask my mechanic about my problems!

 

well damn, didnt know you had skunk2s. i personally dont like em but thats preference....they are good quality. i had no idea skunk 2 made a coil with helper springs. news to me....but good luck.

 

Its not actually officially skunk2 because its Skunk2's noname brand sold excusively through one of my suppliers in California. All the parts are the same as the Skunks except they dont say skunk2 on them so I save a **** load of money for the same thing . The helpers are really pissing me off so Im just taking them out!!! Once again thanks for the suggestions, I realize that my stock shocks will probably need to be replaced next summer but I have some time thank god!