okay, so this is a combination of all the posts on another forum... hopefully someone can help me out

o today, got my new cat installed, also put my rims on and slammed it back down. i have about a half inch clearance from wheel to fender when tire is turned.....

also today, ive discovered 2 problems.... both occured after i lowered.

i drive a 1996 accord 4dr lx auto header back exhaust egay coils

so, first problem. im at a stop light, i push the gas to go and it makes a vibration from the driver side (i think) it sounds like a grinding kind of vibration... my first thought was the my tire was rubbing the fender liner. but i dont believe so... it does it in drive, d1-2-3-4 and doesnt do it if i rev in neutral....


second problem. squeeking, its definately coming from under the car. i first noticed it when i stopped at a lot. it does it bad when in d1-2-3-4 and reverse. it doesnt do it in neutral at all, and does it very slightly and only sometimes in park. i listened to all the belts with my gf in the car holding the brake and in drive. wasnt any belts. and didnt sound like ps pump.

my first thought was my engine cus it sounded like it was coming from it in the engine bay. i checked my oil, was pretty low, guy i was running said my car was smoking black smoke when i got on it. (im thinking the smoke was the new cat and piping burning still because i could still smell it). so i was thinking maybe the bottom end was whats squeeking because my oil was 2qts low after a little over a month. but i run my car hard daily. so that might be why its a bit low.

but it COULD be coming from the cat... it sounded like it was under the car, couldnt tell what.

its a brand new cat. as in like not even 24 hours since the install....

i ripped my old heat shield off and that made a rattle not a squeek.

and heres an addition to my previous statements..

the place i took it too is kinda like a hillbilly mom and pops shop. i know they used a generic cat, but they said 2 year warranty, and i dont plan on keeping the car for 2 more years. they said that the cat didnt have a flange on the back so they welded my catback right onto the back, and a flex joint on the front, im pretty sure they cut my downpipe to weld the other end of the flex joint.

Do u guys think it could be the wheel bearing because something is grinding when I am slowing down and at the same speed. And Im positive my brakes sent grinding cus I just checked em.

The main thing im worried about is the grinding/vibrating. I can't describe what It sounds like. The best I can do would be.... It sounds like something is rusted and stuck when I begin to accelrate. It kinda grins and feels like its something that is catching and letting go. Then at 20mph its gone. It feels and sounds very similar to when I wrapped my fender liner ariund my wheel... Except kinda sounds metally.... Thing hats leading me to believe Its my bearing is cus that side used to squeek all the time. The next thing I'm thinking is my timing belt grinding against the cover when i accelerate...

It's got me worried I'm in for big repairs. Or broke down car that won't fit on a flatbed.


thanks in advance guys. i know its a lot of reading

btw will make an intro when i get time.

 

1st. Squeaking: If the noise doesnt happen in neutral when your coasting then this would point away from a wheel bearing as it is a driveline related sound not a wheel sound.
2nd. There are very simple ways to check for bad wheel bearings, jack the car up and see if you can wiggle the wheel back and forth, if you can, the wheel bearing is bad and will need replaced.
3rd.The vibration can be anything from a motor mount or tranny mount going bad to a lose or rubbing pipe on your exhaust system.
4th. Are the coils you using at least cheap knock off one peices and not the 30 dollar ones? Cause the cheap ones will destroy everything on your suspension including the wheel bearings. You would be better off just cutting your stock springs.