I have stock top hats with my coilovers and it's TERRIBLE. Can someone direct me to some aftermarket brand? I'm too low to still be using my factory top hats. I'm not slammed, I raised it 4 times since installation. I'm not trying to raise them anymore. When I'm driving on smooth roads, the ride is excellent. I absolutely love it. When the roads are rough, it's not so great but bearable. Potholes absolutely **** up my car. All I hear is a loud clank/thump sound, even when going 20 MPH in a 35, which is not good in itself. Some roads are unavoidable.

My friend's Skunk2s ride soooo much better than my Progress but he has aftermarket top hats and LCA.

I just want top hats that will stop me from slamming my car in potholes. I'm frustrated. Thinking about just going for those eBay top hats because apparently no on makes top hats for Progress CS-IIs. The manual that came with the coilovers said it was fine and safe to adjust from anywhere from 1" to 3" and the eBay top hats say they're good for 1" to 3" drops. I think I'm like 2.75 front and 2.50 in the rear.

 

Same answer I gave you in your other post.

 

To add, you never mentioned what size tire/wheel combo you're running. Did you check your bushings? I have been running these for months now and never get any kind of clunking or any noise from these whatsoever.

You sure you installed these correctly?

Post pics of your ride height.

 

I'm not slammed/dumped. Here's a pic: https://i.imgur.com/QozoV.jpg

I'm running 190/55/R15, will move to 205/50/R15 when these wear out. I got my coilovers professionally installed by a reputable shop. The mechanic said getting aftermarket top hats would definitely help.

 

The mechanic doesn't know what he's talking about. I installed mine myself. How do you know he installed them correctly?

Your drop looks kinda low to me. You're tucking tire for petes-sake. Especially with the fact that with the shortened shock body Progress developed you essentially get an AUTOMATIC 1" drop. Read the install manual and tell me what Progress says the ride height should be on these and come back and tell me.

 

Here an excerpt from the install manual.
"Measure ride height as shown in the photo (from
center of the wheel to the top of the fender). Ideal ride height range is between 11 1/2” –
12 1/2”, front and rear."

 

I'd guess he's at 11 - 11 1/2" personally. What is causing the noise? You should be able to look around and see evidence of contact.

 

Contact Progress directly. They are very helpful individuals and may be able to shed light on what the problem might be.

 

Just measured. The distance from my fender to center of wheel is 11 and 1/2 inches.

As long as the road is smooth, I have no problems but minor dips will cause my car to make a loud thump/clank sound in the front. It sounds like metal hitting metal.

I can take speed bumps straight, no problem.

 

That's more than likely your upper control arm hitting the shock tower and NOT your top hats. Like I said, your mechanic has no idea what he is talking about.

 

It's definitely not tire rubbing either. My friend with the Skunk2s also told me it was most likely I needed better tophats (24mm)

 

What can I do to fix this?

 

You're friend is clueless also.

 

grumblemarc,can I see a pic of your drop? You have no issues with clanking on roads?

 

You can call Progress like I suggested but they will more than likely tell you to jack up your car since you're riding at the lower end (my guess would be UNDER) the minimum ideal ride height.

Possibly there are aftermarket arms that may help alleviate this.

Or you can get the 500# springs.

 

Sounds like your springs are too soft for how low you are and your front upper control arms are hitting the shock towers.

Tophats won't do anything to fix that.

 

I have ZERO issues. But I'm not trying to prove anything by riding that low. And I still have to drop the rears about 1/2 inch.

 

Absolutely correct. The lower you go the harsher the ride.

Progress also advises the following;
"Since these units have shorter compressed lengths than stock, tire
clearance and linkage travel may need to be examined."

 

Looks like stock height.

 

That's like a 1.5" drop

 

Hardly.

You only have four options at this point.
Raise the car up.
Get stiffer springs.
Cut your shock towers.
Sell these and get something cheap like Function and Form or Skunk 2 so you can slam it.

 

I agree, however, if he is out bouncing around on the bump stops he may see some ride quality improvment by using extended top hats. I am not saying he will, but it's possible.


Op, your car is slammed. Pop your hood and check your shock towers for dents.


I am lowered around 2.5'' and I have 1 finger gap, same size wheel/tire as well. It takes a good 3'' ish inches to close up the wheel gap on these cars.


What are your front spring rates?

 

Progress stated to me EXPLICITLY to NOT use extended top hats. I know because I asked them and they were adamant.

If you got the 350/250 make sure your mechanic installed the 250s in the rear.

 

I raised it up 4 times already man, there's no way I'm going higher. I think I'm just going to call Progress (care to give me the number?) and ask them some questions. Going to ask if I can put Ground Control top hats on the coilovers.

How much do you think I could get for my Progress in the local craigslist? They're brand new.

 

What do you think of these top hats: http://www.ebay.com/itm/EF-EG-EK-DA-...item2eb928dee5

Spring rates are 350 front and 250 rear.

I honestly think getting new top hats will fix my problem, I just don'tknow which ones to get.