bottoming out over speed bumps

[atreyu]

my car is bottoming out when i go over speed bumps the only way it wont do it is if i drive on top of the bump and stop then barely let off the brake and let it roll down, i think i might need new front struts . i was just wondering if any one elas had this problem.

 

[vizionblind]

you're supposed to go slow over them regardless.

slow down.

 

[atreyu]

well thank you captin obvious, for that input. it dose this when i go slow, fast ,push it over it dosent matter it bottoms out i just thought that some one who wasn't such a **** ass might have a suggestion other than the front struts as to what it might be.

 

[DanM]

Try having someone else drive the car over a speed bump very slowly and you stand off to the side and watch it.

If you're going over a bump as slowly as you've said, there really is no way the suspension should bottom out. Your springs and struts would have to be totally destroyed.

So I think the noise is something else. Maybe a joint or something. If you stand off to the side and watch it, I think you'll see that it's not bottoming out. Something else is probably banging. Who knows. But there's no way you can go over a speed bump that slowly and bind the springs. At that speed you could have NO dampers whatsoever and the springs still wouldn't bind.

 

[atreyu]

Thanx. all get my friend to drive it over a bump monday and c if i can see what it is. i didn't think that my springs were shot but my tranny shakes when i hit what ever it is. so thats way i think i am bottoming out.

 

[DanM]

Your tranny shakes? Can you elaborate on that a bit? You mean the shift lever shakes a bit? That's not totally abnormal to get vibrations up through there.

 

[97v6Silver]

it's prolly the mufflers, as they ride a little low on mine, i dunno about yous guys...

i dunno why people say captain obvious, i think admiral obvious sounds much better...

 

[atreyu]

My tranny shakes big time like 2-3 in left to right. i dont think it is the exhaust because it hits right after my front tires get over the bump.

 

[Double T]

It could be your catalatic converts, check to see if they are all scratched up on the bottom. (they would be right after the front tires) Or it could be your springs/shocks.
Did you push up and down on the car by the left/right front tire. If its stiff then its not your struts/springs if its rally bouncy you might need new springs and or struts you might have blown a strut...

 

[vizionblind]

my car is bottoming out when i go over speed bumps the only way it wont do it is if i drive on top of the bump and stop then barely let off the brake and let it roll down, i think i might need new front struts . i was just wondering if any one elas had this problem.

was just bustin with ya man

 

[UmmYeahOk]

lol, sorry, I'm laughing at your location. Where are these evil speed bumps located? I live in Flower Mound, therefor, drive in Lewisville often. I noticed you have a 95, I have a 94. And I know what you mean about having to make a complete stop over the bump then roll down for each axle. I have the same problem too. And duh, you're suppost to slow down, but you shouldnt have to make complete stops like you're doing now.

You may need new struts, because I do. My car rides rough, and I have the same problem with speed bumps and with the same stop and roll solution as you. Theres a little test you can do to see if you need them. Push down on your car, and lift up. If it comes up fine, you dont need new ones. If it comes up, and bounces, like once or more, you need em. I noticed this occurs to my back, but have yet replaced them.

What I believe you are brushing is what I believe is something for your oil pan. I dunno, but its a metal thing that is way lower to the ground than a stock mustang body. In the mean time, you can either stop and roll, like youre doing now, or take the speed bumps, still slowly, but at an angle. Also, you may want to find other routes.

For an example: You live in Lewisville. You know the strip mall that has Best Buy, Toys R Us, and other such things? Well if you are entering via Round Grove Rd, dont take the first strip mall exit. Those are for the special people. Stay in the right lane, so you can pass those people. Then get into the left for the next turn. They made this parking lot lane far away from the entrance as possible for a reason. You see, everyones after that first exit. And due to speed bumps and pedestrains (especially at Toys R Us) it gets backed up, and is typically slower. If you go my way, not only is it faster, but you avoid every single speed bump. You have stop signs, but very few considering the number of speed bumps you avoid. Then again, you can always be a jerk and cut through parking lots to avoid them, but for this particular area, I suggest this route.

 

[atreyu]

yea i know were your talking about just went there today. i just when out side and did that push down on the car thing and as it comes up it bounces side to side if that makes any sence. also my catalatic are the lowest thing and they are right behind my front tires they look like they might be scraped a little it was hard to tell.which kinda makes sence because my exhaust hangers conect to my cross member witch would my tranny shake. my back axle is no problem because a replaced the back shocks when i bought it because it was bottoming out when i was driveing. i.e on corporate between the edmonds and 121 intersection. if you know where that is.

 

[atreyu]

ha lol i was just looking at your car website you took some of those pics at grapevine lake. thats like 5 miles away from my house. just thought that was funny.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

Hm, I am aware of all 3 streets, but I'm a little confused about the wherabouts of the intersection. Are you sure you dont mean on Edmonds inbetween Corportate and 121? That makes more sense geographically. And even then Corporate and 121 are like 5 miles away from each other with several different intersections between them.

Anyways, its odd, techincally if you obey the speed limit, even if going 5 over, forcing to stop at each light, I cant see how you could be scraping your car. The only small dip I can see there where that MIGHT be possible it the Edmonds Corpoate intersection where that school is. I guess techincally going east and west on corporate with no red light, you could bottom out. I always braked like an old person there anyways, fearing the worse, yet never scraping.

Anyways, bouncing side to side... ...thats just weird. I cant explain that. It should bounce up and down and only once.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

Yeah, grapevine lake alright. I need to take newer pics. Especially there, I like that background. The aerial on the front page is in Carrollton, and everything else, including the lake was taken in Flower Mound.

5 miles away? gotta be farther cuz then youd be living in Flower Mound too. I dunno, maybe my knowledge of distances is off, I just know according to mapquest, when I lived with my parents and attended MHS, it was 10 miles.

I wonder if you havent seen me driving around, or me even seeing you. Corporate and 121 are the best routes into Lewisville... ...3040 sucks monkey balls.

 

[DanM]

Dude something about this just sounds weird to me. You're saying you're hearing banging when you go over bumps, your tranny is shaking, and when you push down on your fender, your car shakes side to side?!?! WTF?

It might be time to take it and have the front end serviced if you're having all this trouble. Sounds like more than just worn out shocks to me....

 

[97v6Silver]

the tranny is up under the frame deal, so it's not botteming out on that, my shifter moves also but it's gotta be the exhaust....

 

[atreyu]

yea ummyeahok,im am talking about corporate by the school. yea my car use to bottom out there intell i got new back shocks. yea i live right on the other side of the flower mound border. like i can walk in to flower mount in less than a min. i dont think i have seen your car thou i think i would remember it. it kinda stands out from most.

like i said earlyer i think it is the cats hitting and they make my tranny shake because some of the exhaust hangers are hooked to the cross member. or at least thats my theory at the moment.

 

[UmmYeahOk]

where did you get your back shocks, and around how much did you pay for them? Did you install them, or pay extra for someone else to do them?

 

[marvinmycat]

If your car isn't lowered, look at my sig....