[spetsacdc]

I bought my first car (mustang) a few weeks back. I had driven about 4 hours to the place to get it and there was no garage that could look at it before the purchase. I did as thorough of a look over as I could, and didn't seen anything wrong. Today, the mustang went to a garage and got looked over for $50. I was about to be able to pay off my car to my dad, but another $625 is added on :sosad: they found the following things wrong:

$125 Engine sensor was causing the check engine light to come on and needed replaced

$500 OEM Springs must be ordered and installed along with tires being aligned. The previous owner had the car lowered with aftermarket springs, and when the tires are turned all the way to one side they hit part of the body (wearing out the tires)

Those are prices including installation. It just makes me sad b/c I had plan to pay it off soon and build a new computer :sosad::sosad::weeps:weeps

 

[BlueStreak03]

Why are you having the OEM springs reinstalled?? Most people would be happy to have the car lowered.

 

[Monkey Boy]

I bought my first car (mustang) a few weeks back. I had driven about 4 hours to the place to get it and there was no garage that could look at it before the purchase. I did as thorough of a look over as I could, and didn't seen anything wrong. Today, the mustang went to a garage and got looked over for $50. I was about to be able to pay off my car to my dad, but another $625 is added on :sosad: they found the following things wrong:

$125 Engine sensor was causing the check engine light to come on and needed replaced

$500 OEM Springs must be ordered and installed along with tires being aligned. The previous owner had the car lowered with aftermarket springs, and when the tires are turned all the way to one side they hit part of the body (wearing out the tires)

Those are prices including installation. It just makes me sad b/c I had plan to pay it off soon and build a new computer :sosad::sosad::weeps:weeps

Before you go swapping out springs, what kind of wheels and tires do you have?

 

[Guest]

Was the CEL on when you looked at it, or did the shop just tell you something was wrong?

 

[spetsacdc]

My dad took it into the shop for me, but I will try to answer the questions as best as I can.

Why are you having the OEM springs reinstalled?? Most people would be happy to have the car lowered.

From what I heard, that is the best way for the garage to fix the problem. It is too low now (hits small bumps), but most importantly the tires are hitting the front outer edge of the wheel well when turned.

Before you go swapping out springs, what kind of wheels and tires do you have?

I'm not exactly sure, but the rims are the 17" 3 spoke stock ones that come with the car. I am not sure about the tires.

Was the CEL on when you looked at it, or did the shop just tell you something was wrong?

Sorry, but I am not sure what CEL is. I am guessing it is the diagnostic test result showing I needed a new sensor. In that case, my dad saw it.



Hope I answered those correctly, thanks for the help!

 

[Monkey Boy]

My dad took it into the shop for me, but I will try to answer the questions as best as I can.

From what I heard, that is the best way for the garage to fix the problem. It is too low now (hits small bumps), but most importantly the tires are hitting the front outer edge of the wheel well when turned.

I'm not exactly sure, but the rims are the 17" 3 spoke stock ones that come with the car. I am not sure about the tires.

Sorry, but I am not sure what CEL is. I am guessing it is the diagnostic test result showing I needed a new sensor. In that case, my dad saw it.



Hope I answered those correctly, thanks for the help!

Have you seen the wheels hitting anything with your own eyes? I've never heard of stock rims and tires causing this problem with aftermarket springs unless the springs have been cut even further or they were installed without the spring isolators. Oh, also, what year Mustang do you have? That will help us.

 

[spetsacdc]

Have you seen the wheels hitting anything with your own eyes? I've never heard of stock rims and tires causing this problem with aftermarket springs unless the springs have been cut even further or they were installed without the spring isolators. Oh, also, what year Mustang do you have? That will help us.

I have a 1999 mustang. I am not sure if my dad was there to see it hit. He trusts this garage though and goes there often. I just went out and turned the wheels all the way to one side and did a 2 minute look and I didn't see the wheel hitting anything obvious. However, I am not sure that it is not happening.


:?:

 

[spetsacdc]

It has never been seen by my dad or me, but the shop had it up on a lift so it might have been more obvious. I think I will go ahead with the repairs for two other reasons:

1. The shop also said they need to put OEM springs in because they cannot align the wheels since it is too low.

2. It is so low it hits alot of bumps and dings up the bottom or bumpers/ side skirts.

:tongue

 

[Guest]

the CEL is the check engine light. If it wasn't on when you were driving and all of a sudden the shop says it's lit and needs new sensors, I'd be suspicious. I've also never heard of lowering springs causing those kinds of problems. If I were you I'd get at least a second opinion. If you go to a shop and ask them to find something wrong, believe me they will no matter what.

 

[Jarrett]

I think you are getting scr#$%d. Unless the coils are cut so rediculously short that there would be no suspension travel, the shop should be able to align the wheels the way it sits.
Even if the springs do need to be replaced, replace them with a set of Eibachs or similar instead of paying out the a$$ for Ford pieces.

 

[Monkey Boy]

I think you are getting scr#$%d. Unless the coils are cut so rediculously short that there would be no suspension travel, the shop should be able to align the wheels the way it sits.
Even if the springs do need to be replaced, replace them with a set of Eibachs or similar instead of paying out the a$$ for Ford pieces.

I agree, you are letting yourself get screwed out of $625. This shop obviously has no idea what they are doing if they can't align a car with lowering springs. No way am I going to spend $625 dollars to have some moron install inferior equipment on my car. But, hey, it's your money. Do what you want.

 

[kscoyote]

can you tell what KIND of springs they are?

You may just need a set of camber plates that's why they can't align the car, and new shocks because the current ones aren't designed for the springs . . .

The cost may be the same, though . . .

Taking the car to someone who isn't a mustang specialist will get you responses like -go back to OEM, because they don't really know what's going on . . .

 

[spetsacdc]

[QUOTE='95.0 stang]the CEL is the check engine light. If it wasn't on when you were driving and all of a sudden the shop says it's lit and needs new sensors, I'd be suspicious. I've also never heard of lowering springs causing those kinds of problems. If I were you I'd get at least a second opinion. If you go to a shop and ask them to find something wrong, believe me they will no matter what.[/QUOTE]Oh ok, the check engine light had been on for a while. That problem I am pretty sure was good to replace.

As for the springs, I am not sure what kind they are. I was thinking that it seemed strange to take them back to $250 OEM springs. If I am going to replace them I would think there would be some name brand aftermarket ones for that price which lower it alittle, or give better performance somehow. I guess I can try to get another opinion somewhere.

EDIT: This might be my problem:

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/ccFAQ.asp
http://www.mustangtuning.com/maximum-motorsports-caster-camber-plates-94-04.html

Thanks!

 

[spetsacdc]

That would be $200 instead of OEM springs. It still looks like I would need the shop to install it. So it would be $50 less than OEM springs.

Having OEM would mean my car wouldn't scrape as easily on the bottom and possibly damage exhaust. But lowered may look nicer. Maybe those camber plates would raise the car alittle?

 

[kscoyote]

That would be $200 instead of OEM springs. It still looks like I would need the shop to install it. So it would be $50 less than OEM springs.

Having OEM would mean my car wouldn't scrape as easily on the bottom and possibly damage exhaust. But lowered may look nicer. Maybe those camber plates would raise the car alittle?

no, they won't raise the car .. . . what are you scraping on?!

 

[kscoyote]

http://www.wakeperformance.com/product_info.php?products_id=588

here's a cheaper set from Steeda.

 

[kscoyote]

http://www.mustangtuning.com/upr-shark-steel-caster-camber-plates.html

these are favs of 5.0 Mustang.

 

[spetsacdc]

no, they won't raise the car .. . . what are you scraping on?!

It only scrapes if there is a bump and you are going ~15mph. It doesn't scrape too often, I am just kinda afraid of it hurting something. BTW I have heard springs are hard to install, but I read on these forums someone said they were easy. Is that an exageration, or could I do it myself by renting a spring compressor and save $250 ?


Thanks

 

[kscoyote]

It only scrapes if there is a bump and you are going ~15mph. It doesn't scrape too often, I am just kinda afraid of it hurting something. BTW I have heard springs are hard to install, but I read on these forums someone said they were easy. Is that an exageration, or could I do it myself by renting a spring compressor and save $250 ?


Thanks

it's not bad if you can get it high enough to fully extend the suspension, but it IS dangerous.

 

[spetsacdc]

http://www.wakeperformance.com/prod...products_id=588

That caster looks good. Would that fix the problem with it not being able to be aligned or the tires hitting the body (I have never seen it hit)?

I might just call a midas or sears to see if they can align a lowered vehicle, then take it in and see what they say. However, idk about the tires hitting


:happyhapp:eyebulge::happyhapp