sudz
07-23-2013, 12:06 PM
So, Sad news, Long story.
Some Before Pictures:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/sudz3/20130722_082049_zpsff4384f7.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/sudz3/media/20130722_082049_zpsff4384f7.jpg.html)
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/sudz3/20130529_210943_zps4fb325f5.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/sudz3/media/20130529_210943_zps4fb325f5.jpg.html)
Going home last tuesday, my wheel started shaking suddenly, a lot more than it has been for the past year since I got my Sumitomo's HTR Z3's from SimplyTire. (thats a whole other story) I figure I had just thrown a balancing weight, as it was hot/humid as hell and the adhesive must have let go.
I went in to my "Future step brother in laws" Tire shop, Travale tire, hoping to buy him some beer and coming out with a "free" balancing. (turns out, a slushie was his price - The shop was hotter and more sticky than satans ballsack.
He jacks up the car and takes off the tires, and we prompty see bulging on two of the 4 tires. On the tread. Not the sidewall. The structure of the tire was horrible. This explains why the shaking wasn't going anywhere when I roated the tires. (they shook from day one)
the 3rd and 4th tires had bad corner wear from my ProKits. less than 30k on these tires - and they're toast.
So, I end up ordering a new set of tires, going home for a few hours and coming back - they get 3 shipments a day. I went in expecting a "free" balancing, so I ended up getting one of the cheapest semi decent sets I could get - GT Radial Champiro? tires. They're a High performance summer tire. I'll post my review in the tire section, but so far I'm really impressed with how quiet they are, and dry grip is amazing too. Sidewall is a bit mushy compared to sumitomo's or Bridgestone Protenza's, but better than a touring tire. (205/50/R17)
So, I book an appointment at Budds Mazda to do an alignment, and they weren't able to do it without the "spec" of eibach prokits. (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?71871-At-budds-Alignment-spec-for-pro-kits) I told them I believed you can get it really close to factory spec, but they said they needed the measurements to put it into their alignment machine, or they'd have to take measurements and it was take more time (labour costs) I tried to google but came up with no results. Bottom line is, Now that I'm back to stock height, I have to let it sit, so I'll go to our friends altech Automotive or Putneys for an alignment, as its cheaper and I'm no longer desperate for time as It needs to settle.
My car has been clunking. For 4 effing years. Back in the days of Tiffany and QEW mazda, She diagnosed it her self as a strut mount, and she quoted me to fix it, but told me if it didn't annoy me terribly, Not to bother as it would never "break" it would just slowly get worse - She was spot on.
Between Taking a day off for the tires, coming in late due to not getting an alignment, Corner wear, And constant undercarriage replacement, and the clunking... I made the executive decision to Return my car to stock height.
I took it to my brother in laws friend/mechanic, and 280 bucks, all springs are swapped out with my stocks that have been sitting around for 5+ years, The Front passenger side strut mount and bearing/bushing was replaced, and I had my coolant flushed while I was at it.
One thing that was interesting to find out is that BOTH my eibach prokits springs on the rears were broken! the top "coil" of each one was broken, and just pressure was holding it there. I've asked for the springs back, because I remember them saying they had a lifetime or million mile warranty. Lets see how I do at getting them replaced. that way I can sell them and recoup some of my 900 dollar losses over the past week. Anyone have to do this before?
So... The clunking is 90% gone, I suspect the driver side is slightly worn as well, but its only under extreme turning/suspension travel that I hear it.
The ride is... comfortable. And I didn't scrape getting out of my driveway this morning. That's a first, Not matter what angle I take it at.
The road noise is much quieter too. Instead of having my stereo at 12 on the 407... it was at 9. and I found it loud. It was eerily quiet. MUCH less road noise. (Combined with new tires)
Body roll is bad compared to when I was lowered. almost as bad as megan's Mazda5. However, for the amount I drive, and the highway driving... I'm ok with the tradeoff. I'm sad, and I don't "ENJOY" driving it anymore. The nose dives more under breaking. Acceleration seems more smooth (stick shift) probably because the front/back rocking takes some of the obviousness/jerkyness away from a lack of forward acceleration when shifting. But yeah. I've still got koni yellows in the back, and my stock shocks in the front.
My car... has become just a car. I'll keep it nice, maintain it, to maintain its value, but I no longer ENJOY driving it. It is more relaxing to drive, yes, Less worrying about clearances, Drive ways, speed bumps, etc. But part of it (the excitement?) has died.
Sadness. RIP!
Some After Photos:
DAT GAP :-( (excuse the ****ing cat piss on my front tire... that cat is going to use its 9 lives up very quickly...)
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/sudz3/20130723_085844_zpsfc3a2567.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/sudz3/media/20130723_085844_zpsfc3a2567.jpg.html)
Some Before Pictures:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/sudz3/20130722_082049_zpsff4384f7.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/sudz3/media/20130722_082049_zpsff4384f7.jpg.html)
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/sudz3/20130529_210943_zps4fb325f5.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/sudz3/media/20130529_210943_zps4fb325f5.jpg.html)
Going home last tuesday, my wheel started shaking suddenly, a lot more than it has been for the past year since I got my Sumitomo's HTR Z3's from SimplyTire. (thats a whole other story) I figure I had just thrown a balancing weight, as it was hot/humid as hell and the adhesive must have let go.
I went in to my "Future step brother in laws" Tire shop, Travale tire, hoping to buy him some beer and coming out with a "free" balancing. (turns out, a slushie was his price - The shop was hotter and more sticky than satans ballsack.
He jacks up the car and takes off the tires, and we prompty see bulging on two of the 4 tires. On the tread. Not the sidewall. The structure of the tire was horrible. This explains why the shaking wasn't going anywhere when I roated the tires. (they shook from day one)
the 3rd and 4th tires had bad corner wear from my ProKits. less than 30k on these tires - and they're toast.
So, I end up ordering a new set of tires, going home for a few hours and coming back - they get 3 shipments a day. I went in expecting a "free" balancing, so I ended up getting one of the cheapest semi decent sets I could get - GT Radial Champiro? tires. They're a High performance summer tire. I'll post my review in the tire section, but so far I'm really impressed with how quiet they are, and dry grip is amazing too. Sidewall is a bit mushy compared to sumitomo's or Bridgestone Protenza's, but better than a touring tire. (205/50/R17)
So, I book an appointment at Budds Mazda to do an alignment, and they weren't able to do it without the "spec" of eibach prokits. (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?71871-At-budds-Alignment-spec-for-pro-kits) I told them I believed you can get it really close to factory spec, but they said they needed the measurements to put it into their alignment machine, or they'd have to take measurements and it was take more time (labour costs) I tried to google but came up with no results. Bottom line is, Now that I'm back to stock height, I have to let it sit, so I'll go to our friends altech Automotive or Putneys for an alignment, as its cheaper and I'm no longer desperate for time as It needs to settle.
My car has been clunking. For 4 effing years. Back in the days of Tiffany and QEW mazda, She diagnosed it her self as a strut mount, and she quoted me to fix it, but told me if it didn't annoy me terribly, Not to bother as it would never "break" it would just slowly get worse - She was spot on.
Between Taking a day off for the tires, coming in late due to not getting an alignment, Corner wear, And constant undercarriage replacement, and the clunking... I made the executive decision to Return my car to stock height.
I took it to my brother in laws friend/mechanic, and 280 bucks, all springs are swapped out with my stocks that have been sitting around for 5+ years, The Front passenger side strut mount and bearing/bushing was replaced, and I had my coolant flushed while I was at it.
One thing that was interesting to find out is that BOTH my eibach prokits springs on the rears were broken! the top "coil" of each one was broken, and just pressure was holding it there. I've asked for the springs back, because I remember them saying they had a lifetime or million mile warranty. Lets see how I do at getting them replaced. that way I can sell them and recoup some of my 900 dollar losses over the past week. Anyone have to do this before?
So... The clunking is 90% gone, I suspect the driver side is slightly worn as well, but its only under extreme turning/suspension travel that I hear it.
The ride is... comfortable. And I didn't scrape getting out of my driveway this morning. That's a first, Not matter what angle I take it at.
The road noise is much quieter too. Instead of having my stereo at 12 on the 407... it was at 9. and I found it loud. It was eerily quiet. MUCH less road noise. (Combined with new tires)
Body roll is bad compared to when I was lowered. almost as bad as megan's Mazda5. However, for the amount I drive, and the highway driving... I'm ok with the tradeoff. I'm sad, and I don't "ENJOY" driving it anymore. The nose dives more under breaking. Acceleration seems more smooth (stick shift) probably because the front/back rocking takes some of the obviousness/jerkyness away from a lack of forward acceleration when shifting. But yeah. I've still got koni yellows in the back, and my stock shocks in the front.
My car... has become just a car. I'll keep it nice, maintain it, to maintain its value, but I no longer ENJOY driving it. It is more relaxing to drive, yes, Less worrying about clearances, Drive ways, speed bumps, etc. But part of it (the excitement?) has died.
Sadness. RIP!
Some After Photos:
DAT GAP :-( (excuse the ****ing cat piss on my front tire... that cat is going to use its 9 lives up very quickly...)
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll62/sudz3/20130723_085844_zpsfc3a2567.jpg (http://s285.photobucket.com/user/sudz3/media/20130723_085844_zpsfc3a2567.jpg.html)