Just had SPC ball joints put in, Problem - Honda Prelude Forum

Zimmlude · 09-08-2003, 08:51 PM

Hey guys,

Well I had Les Scwab install and align the replacement upper ball joints from SPC and now I have a problem. I am bottoming out!!! The nut on the top of the new ball joint is hitting the strut tower whenever I hit a good size bump

I am thinking about taking the dremel and cutting a small (quarter size) hole in the strut tower where the nut hits so that when the suspension fully compresses the nut will have somewhere to go. What do you all think of this idea? The only thing I would be concerned about is water spray comming up into the engine bay.

Input please, I can't drive it like this very much

Thanks,

SLICK96 · 09-08-2003, 09:47 PM

Oh MAAAAN... the old bottoming out problem that I still can't get away from. My new Tein SS's definately help, b/c my front Konis were blown, thus no resistance was being offered. I was thinking about taking my Progress camber kit out of the front and using the SPC kit, but I guess that's out the window now. My front Teins are just about all the way down, so I think I may raise them a bit, to allow the coilovers to work a bit more. I dunno...just can't win. I'm like the only 4th gen driver w/ the kind of front suspension problems I have. Everybody else is lower than I am, and it seems like they can rally race w/ no problems...

Wierd,
J

[SUB[EX] · 09-09-2003, 10:50 AM

my fronts are tucked right now about 1 inch. Mine never knock. But im still using stock struts/ balljoints. There only dropped that far because i have not adjusted them since i dropped the jdm, lke 1.5 years ago. When i swapped motors it dropped an extra inch.

Dr. James · 09-09-2003, 08:54 PM

Are the bolt/nuts actually contacting the sheetmetal, and making impressions that you can physically see in the engine bay? What is the amount of drop that you have? I have these same kits installed on my Prelude and I am sitting with my front wheels tucked into the fender, down about 2.5" in the front, and I haven't had this problem. I would inspect the install job, and make sure everything is installed properly. We had this problem with a buddies Civic. He was using an Ingalls kit though. The bolts where making contact and leaving dimples. Turned out that the bolts were installed upside down. Different set up completely though.

Zimmlude · 09-10-2003, 02:13 AM

They were definately making contact. The dent it left in the driverside tower scared the crap out of me when I saw it.

I am dropped on H&R sports with KYB AGX's. It is supposed to be 1.3" all around.

I cut out some hole in the tower today useing the dimples the bolts left as locators. They are 1.5" diameter holes right where the nuts on the kit would hit. It seems to have helped the situation alot.

I did notice when I installed the shocks/springs that my front bumpstops where next to shot. I had to use black tape to hold them together. I am thinking I should try replacing them first to see if that is the problem. I am going to give the entire front suspension a once over tomorrow to see if the shop screwed things up at all.

Thanks for the help,

rybred · 09-10-2003, 01:04 PM

your bumpstops are important...that's probably your problem! definetly get those replaced asap

Zimmlude · 09-10-2003, 03:29 PM

Well, I ordered new bumpstops for the front from HAP.com. I am hopping this will fix the small amount I have left. I also went in a ground off the little bit of stud that stuck above the nut on the top. As of now I can still bottom it out but I think that may be the shocks and not the A-arms. I guess I will be very careful for the next week until I get those bumpstops.

Thanks for all your input everyone. It seems that messing with the suspension on the Prelude is a little more difficult to modify than my old Acura.

Thanks again,

CA92Lude · 09-12-2003, 10:19 AM

I had the same problem. After checking around at many shops I found that the best choice was to cut holes! I put rubber linings around the inside and sprayed them to avoid rust. the dents are great if you choose to do this because they show you exactly where to cut!

Zimmlude · 09-17-2003, 08:28 PM

Well, I was able to solve the problem. I ordered new bumpstops from HAP.com and put them in. My old stops had turned completely to powder!!! There was absolutly nothing there to stop the shock. I put the new ones in and haven't bottomed out since. I even tried to bottoming it out by doing some stupid stuff (really fast over bumps) and nothing. I can now fully enjoy my new suspension and man is it fun!!

Thanks for the input,