[Guest]

Hi I dropped my car with Intrax Lowering springs but now sometimes when i turn it makes this cracking noise. Also my alignment is messed up but no where wants to align it cause they said something about my shocks. Well to whoever has Intrax springs or any type of lowering springs,could you tell me what other things you did to your car so that it would be nice and smooth?

 

[superflymx6]

the type of struts u have on your car will determine the ride. if u leave the stock struts on the ride will be very bad. if u have the $$$ go with some nice gas struts, from places like KYB, or tokico. if u watn more control over your ride quaility get the adj. ones. u might want to look into a camber kit, i had the intrax springs and the front right tires would wear on the inside some but the others were fine.

 

[pacoisbob]

I have the intrax springs, and I've had no problems at all, without doing any further mods. However, I have the 4 cyl, so the drop is only 3/4 of an inch. Which blows. I'm getting the Ground Controls soon, I hope. With Tokico Illumina struts. I would advise getting some new struts and seeing if that helps out. From what I've heard, the Illuminas are supposed to be great, and they're five-way adjustable.

 

[MX-Sick]

Well, I used to have Intrax, but now have Ground Controls. Two reasons why I switched

1. Since the front stock springs are so big in diameter, they sometimes "shift" a little, back and forth. Nothing major, just annoying. The Ground Controls come with smaller Eibach springs, thus eliminating the annoying shifting noise.

2. Adjustability. GAWD, I can't even imagine a tow truck trying to hook my car up with my body kit...NOOOOOOOO!!

There are a lot of shops out there that would think that since you lowered your car, they think something like, "you should have thought about aligning your car before and after you lowered it." I got that look a couple times trying to align it after being lowered. One shop was like, "Is it lowered? Nope, can't do it." What a bunch of assholes, NAH MEAN??
After my springs were installed, and before my alignment, the inside of my tires were severely wearing. It took me a while to find a place that was willing to do it. SEARS. All I said was, "Naw man, I didn't lower it." Two years later, which is now, there is no uneven tire wear. All it was, was the front wheels were toeing out. Toe in/out is adjustable on our cars. My car slightly cambers, but not enough for uneven tire wear. We don't have upper a-arms like hondas, which makes it look like their tires are at a 45 degree angle when slammed.
The bottom line is, I've got GC's on the lowest setting, no camber plates, with no uneven tire wear. Just get a proffesional 4-wheel alignment. Electronicly.

Sorry so long...

 

[Guest]

Definitely buy new struts. I bought just the plain 'ole KYB gas struts for like $62 each and I'm happy with it. Also make sure you have the shop cut the bump stops (they'll know what it is) the amount it tells you in the warranty card for the springs, that may be the noise your hearing.

 

[6dawg]

Mx-Sick was right as to why you suspension makes that noise, I have the Intrax on my 626 and they shift too. Also on our cars, if you don't have the top plat turned to the right position when you install the strut back into the car, you caster and camber could both be messed up. The postion you turn the top cap to when reinstalling your suspension afects your caster and camber. Consult the mazda/ford service manual for your car(not the Chilton's manual, it will tell you wrong, beleive me). Then go get your suspension aligned. The only problem I had with mine was the caster was off.

 

[Stage36]

how does it throw off the caster??? explain this to me

 

[Mici]

Same problem... maybe

I had the same problem at first with my Intrax... When you turn the steering wheel, it just makes that stupid sound. Okay, the problem was missing bearing from the upper head of the strut. you know the little about 1 1/2 inches diameter plastic washer that comes under the top-mounting of the shock absorber. Check out if you are missing it too.

Oh yeah, I just equipped my sixer with Koni's top adjustable shock absorbers. Wow what a difference. I've them on the softest adjust and with my 235/40-17 tires it is like glued on the tarmac when you do some street racing. Great shocks...
Mici

 

[6dawg]

If anyone has ever looked at a probe, mMX6, or 626 service manual, it tells you what direction the top hat has to be in to get a certain degree for the camber and caster. Also if you sit the top cap on level ground you will notice that it is angled, this is why depending on which direction you turn it, it makes a difference for the camber and caster. When i first put on my Intrax, I had it wrong and my tires wore pretty bad, now I have it right and I haven't had my car aligned yet and it doesn't wear out my tires. But I still need to get an alignment cause I can tell it's a little off.

 

[Stage36]

oh...youre talking about toe in/out, not throwing off the caster.

 

[6dawg]

Actually it kinda affects both. If it's possible I can scan the page I have from the service manual to show you what I'm talking about. If someone was telling me, it wouldn't make sense to me either. You have to see what I'm talking about.

 

[Stage36]

ok i see what youre saying now... im sure id doesnt affect it too much. the wheel just wont straighten out as quick after making a turn.