aankhein

Hi all,

I have a 2004 RX8 with about 99.7K miles on it. It was due for a suspension upgrade and after the helpful input on this forum, I had 4 Bilstein B8 shocks and 4 Eibach Lowering Springs installed by a local shop that has a good reputation and does suspension installs amongst other things.

When I got my car this afternoon, I noticed that the front was significantly higher than the rear. A quick check found only 1 finger width between the rear tire and fender and 3 fingers width between the front tire and fender. I measured from the center of the wheel hub and found the rear at 13.6 inches and the front at 15.1 inches. The difference is 1.5 inches.

Also, new tires. I installed new Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ tires 100 miles ago.

I searched this forum and other forums (BMW, Audi) and didn't find this issue explained. The shop marked the shocks and at least the front right is marked and appropriately installed, so it doesn't appear to be a mal-install (rear in fronts and fronts in rears), but I can't be sure they weren't mismarked to begin with.

The ride is much better than with the stock shocks and springs (which I kept), but I did hear some creaking when I pulled in the drive way this afternoon.

Anyhow, I'm disappointed and trying to figure out what to do next. Certainly it doesn't look right (reverse rake). See the photos please.

Any help or insight would be appreciated and thanks in advance.
driveway with a slight grade, but mostly flat. Camera may be a touch tilted

Rear Left

Front Left

Sydo

Sydo

Chrishoky

iTrader: (9)

Did they forget to pre-load the springs in the front? Did you ask the shop why the height could be higher? If so, what did they say?

aankhein

I realize that. In this case, the front is 1.5" higher.

aankhein

I went out and measured this

Front - from bottom of rim to guard = 24.7 inches

Rear - from bottom of rim to guard = 23.3 inches

Difference of 1.4 inches

aankhein

I didn't realize the difference when I picked it up as the car was parked on an incline in front of the shop. Also, they were closing up. Is that a common issue? Is it a difficult step? I wonder if that is part of the installation instructions with the Eibach kit that I gave them as part of the install....

Loki

iTrader: (1)

They're not mal-uninstalled, the fronts do not fit in the rear at all.
You don't preload the springs, but you do need to leave all the bushed connections loose, bring the car to the ground and then tighten them with the car on the ground. They may not have known that, it's specific to RX8s and Miatas.

I would just bring it back to the shop. You paid for installation, let them troubleshoot it. If anything, it looks to me like the rear is too low.

But also let it settle by driving a few days.

aankhein

Thanks Loki. I'll go by and see what they say. Agree that the rear is too low even for the expected drop with B8 + Eibach vs. stock. Hopefully the rear doesn't 'settle' any more! Loki is a 1.5 inch drop an issue with driveability or premature wear on tires? Also, in your experience what would the remedy be now that they are installed? Would they have to reinstall the fronts? Is there a spacer necessary for the rears? Lots of questions, sorry!

Sydo

Sydo

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Wait is it possible your kit is for a 2009+? Check the part numbers. You can't mix 2009+ shocks and 2009- springs or vice versa in the rear.

1.5" drop is fine. Just get it aligned. Also you guys are measuring ride height incorrectly. It's from fender to center of rim. Do not go below 12.5", it starts to become impractical and perform incorrectly.


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Sydo

Sydo

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Comparing to other cars is the problem. 23.5" to bottom of rim doesn't mean much when people have a mix of 17,18,19" wheels.

Picking center of rim should not be difficult.

Sydo

aankhein

Oats

When I lowered mine I made sure to leave all the bolts loose until the car was on the ground. Everything said if you tighten the bolts with the hub hanging than the car would sit too high and cause extra wear to the bushings. Maybe that is the problem, it would be an easy fix.

Sydo

Steve Dallas

It is common to install the spring perches upside-down in the front, when installing Bilstein shocks. This adds almost exactly 1" of height and could be your problem. It is also possible they did not torque all the bolts with the car's full weight on the suspension, which can also make it sit artificially high in the front.

Edit: just saw oats beat me to that last point.

Sydo

My question is if front and rear were tightened on the hoist why would it sit higher at the front ? Or does this only affect the front only

Steve Dallas

It affects the rear too. It just affects the front *more*.

aankhein

Hi all, wanted to give everyone an update. I've driven around 500 miles since installation. The asymmetry continues to be the same: rear 1.5 inches lower than front.

1. I called Bilstein and they weren't too helpful except to suggest I should given in ~2000 miles to settle. He couldn't explain why the rear wouldn't settle more along with the front.

2. I have noticed something rubbing (not the tire) on the ground when I ride up a inclined ramp - like into a parking lot. No noises with speed bumps etc. I can't figure out what's scraping - possibly the muffler?

3. Ever since this installation, the car feels like it's 'floating' at higher speeds. There is play in the steering wheel during average speeds around town. At lower speeds the steering is more numb and has more play than before. The steering feels heavy and boggy as well when compared with previous. Remember, I also had 4 new Michelin AS3+ tires installed - All Seasons.

4. I went back to the mechanic earlier when I was about 200 miles in. The guy was confident that they were installed correctly and himself pointed out that he lowered the car first and then tightened the bolts - he said it'd be a mistake otherwise. He said I could come back if it didn't change, but said there were other suspension components and 'points of contact' that might be causing continued creeking noise. I figured I need new brakes so he could take a look again during the installation of brakes.

Thanks for all the thoughts before. Anything else I should check?

Sydo

What a crock. it's going to settle evenly

Steve Dallas

1. Quality springs do not settle that much. It is not going to settle. eBay springs, maybe. Eibach springs, nope.

2. Not surprising. Only way to know is to get under the car and inspect it.

3. The weird rake has totally thrown off the balance of the car, so odd handling is to be expected. Also, all season tires are not exactly known for their grip. If you came from something stickier, all seasons will feel different.

4. Your mechanic is your best bet. Did he verify that he spring perches are installed correctly? Upside-down spring perches will cause roughly 1" of difference in height. If he is competent and truly cannot find anything wrong, the only logical conclusion is the parts are not compatible. You can try another brand of springs with those shocks.

I installed that kit on my S2 back in 2012 and took it back off due to much more lowering than expected and a strange rake effect. (Mine was .75" low in the front.) I assumed at the time it was due to my car being an S2. I have since learned that, as long as the springs and shocks are designed to work together (spring perches at the correct height), it should not matter with series car they go on.

A LOT of people have had problems with various lowering springs. That is why we recommend height-adjustable coilovers. Bilstein PSS is a lower cost favorite, and by far the best thing you can buy for under $1000. They may sound expensive, but they are a bargain compared to trial and error, as they are a SURE THING. You WILL be able to set ride height properly with them, and they ARE good performers.





This is how the front spring perches should look (the silver thing at the bottom of the spring). Flat side down, coil wrapped around the hat. If it doesn't look like this, it is upside down, and that will cause the front to be roughly 1" too high.