Just a heads up to anyone who has installed or is considering installing lowering springs. On two separate occasions, the front wheel(s) fell into a rather deep rut and there was a loud bang that followed. Almost sounded like the sound came right through the dash.

All other times, the suspension is sound and solid.

I tried rocking the front to check if the shocks got wasted - they're fine.

I'm taking the wheels for re-balancing this weekend and I'll have the guys check for anything unusual underneath but I doubt they'll find anything. I already crept under and visually inspected /felt for anything loose or broken. Found nothing.

Some of you may never experience this because of the fine roads you drive on. I have NY state to thank for this. LOL!

FYI.

-N- :thumbsup:

This post has been edited by normandelli: Apr 8 2008, 06:14 PM

From ka-thunk to ka-boom :w00t:

I'm still waiting for the bada-bing. LOL!

-N- :thumbsup:

I notice something like this sometimes when crossing heavily rutted intersections.
A really loud bang, usually skips the cd changer, and that's it. This is with stock suspension currently.

i have had this happen a few times but never make my cd skip.. not sure what it is

It still amazes me that people are surprised by suspension problems on roads after they lower their cars with aftermarket springs. Why did you think Hyundai used the springs they did? It’s that high to protect the car. If you are going to lower your springs you have to be VERY careful about road problems. Also, if you do damage something from bottoming out after lowering your car, Hyundai will probably deny the warranty claim because you modified the suspension.

As Homer would say D'oh!: Should not have lowerd my Sonata... :clap:

It still amazes me how quick some people are to chastise others whom they assume have absolutely no idea what they are doing.

I am careful about where and how I drive the car.

I am aware that if something gets damaged and Hyundai identifies the new springs as the culprit, they will make me eat the springs.

I do not have the luxury of driving on perfectly paves roads 24/7/365 as most people here so a problem like this can and probably will be experienced by others who have performed the same mods.

That's why my original post was meant as an FYI. Not complaining, not clueless ranting - just so others would know.

Have a nice day gentlemen.

-N- :thumbsup:

Nah... I still say it's one of, if not THE best mod I've done to the car. :bwekk:

-N- :thumbsup:

[quote=normandelli,Apr 9 2008, 10:33 AM]
Nah... I still say it's one of, if not THE best mod I've done to the car. :bwekk:



Right on!!!! :thumbsup:

Perhaps I get a chuckle out of this, watching so many movies where "rice" was involved.

To many "kids" want that cool-looking car that's lowered and has nice wheels and that perhaps "dumb-****" sounding exhaust on their 4-6 cylinder engines. Performance? Not really. At least not in the daily world we drive in, but it looks cool, right?

Unless you race this car on some sort of curved track on a regular basis, the only thing lowering the car will do(providing the suspension mods are done correctly) will make it look bad-****. If the mods are not done correctly, you've not only voided your warranty, but will be asking for problems.

In a not so long ago day, with my '81 F150 that I sold and used the money to purchase my Sante Fe, I had this kid pull up to me with his "Riced" Honda Accord, pipe, lowering kit, fancy wheels, etc. He revved it up, trying to impress his girl.

I just chuckled, and accellerated off the line, and beat him to the next red light, and then leaned out the window and said very simply. "That's what cubic inches and real modifications will do for you."

His g/f covered her face and leaned the other direction, and he took off from the next red light like his life depended on it. I still beat him, and I don't make a habit of it. Just had something to prove to that particular kid about loud exhaust and useless mods to a car. Performance never comes from "looking cool." It comes from doing useful work to make the car perform better.

Sigh.

In the fantasy world our cars would be perfect from the factory.
Unfortunately hyundai is forced to design cars for the real world, where everyone from skinny minnie to fat fred drive the cars on differing road conditions.

The Sonata is softly sprung for comfort, stiffening it up a little improves road handling and feel, so why not spend $240 to get some quality lowering springs if that is all you are looking for.

Some people have nothing better to do than sling negativity around here. Ignore him.

Is there a chance that you could have bottomed out the tow hook up front ? That would definitely make that kind of noise - have a look at it and see if the bottom of it is scraped, or any of the other low hanging metal pieces under there.

Might depend on where you live.

If I lived in California, I would. I don't. I live in Canada, namely a city called Winnipeg, where potholes and other constant road-problems would force me to go higher, rather than lower, with longer suspension travel rather than shorter. That's the world I live in, and the one I drive in. Spending money on something that will not benefit me is a waste of time, and is something, perhaps, that others need to look at, as well.

We don't all live in a place where roads are smooth and made for fast cars that run low to the ground.

Thanks for pointing that out. That's exactly why I did this mod. If our dear friends would refer to another thread where I discussed the details of the mod and why I did it, they would discover that I do none of the things they assume I do such as look cool and race. If anyone here thinks that is all there is to installing performance springs then I feel sorry them. I was very specific about NOT racing the car at all and made no mention of aesthetics. I was purely after the improved feel and handling. Granted that I may have overestimated what the front will absorb, it still does not take anything away from the overall experience. The car handles beautifully.

-N- :thumbsup:

Quite possible but I didn't notice anything - I'll check again. In any event, I'll just have to be a little more careful. In the meantime, I'll just keep enjoying the "ricey" look and look out for people I can race at the light. LOL! :grin:

-N- :thumbsup:

Totally agree with you. For the most part I drive on well paved streets/highways. I guess I just need to be a little more careful from now on.

-N- :thumbsup: