I have a 98 triple black ragtop with 52k miles. Since I got it last fall I see it bottoms out easy in front. I just checked the ride height. It 1.25 inches low both sides. It also has a squeak I put it up on ramps and the driverside looks lower. Also it only has scuff marks on the inner fender on the driver side. The springs look stock with paint marks. The lower bushings all look good. It's hard to see but it looks like the upper shock mounts are worn bad. I'm starting to line up parts now. The shocks look good. I,ve never seen this before where the coil springs appear to be shot before the shocks. Any thoughts anyone?

 

My 97 was the same. The shocks are definitely better now than many years ago, but I replaced mine anyway. I also added a 3/8 " spacer between the shock mount and the body on the drivers side.

 

Shock mounts are a very common wear item on these cars, even at only 52k miles.

If you think the coils are bad, might as well replace the shocks while you're at it. You will have them off anyway and I bet your lower shock bushings are going bad even if the shocks have miles left in them. They are also a heavy wear item.

 

rumm5, get new shocks, the bottom bushing will be very weak and the bushing is more than the whole shock.

Wayne

 

The shocks mounts will bring you back up to stock height and eliminate your bottoming out. the noise could be any number of things, sway bar mounts lower shock bushings, ect.(or etc. that always throws me)

 

Just a clarification: the shock mounts will raise the ride height, but not by 1.25 inches. How much you gain depends on how worn yours are, but expect about 0.5 more inches of added height.

Any other rise on ride will come from other worn parts, coil springs being the next big offender. Although it does seem premature at 52k miles.

 

I have a lowered 2004, replacing the shock mounts likely won't change ride height because it is the springs that determine that. I replaced my spring mounts but didn't get much change though the old ones were pretty much shot.

 

ok,looks like i'm in for some fun. where.s the best place to get springs?

 

Finding OEM springs is getting difficult any more.

I have a similar problem with the original springs sitting too low (80k miles) and eventually gave up for my R and ordered a set of Adamesh lowering springs, in large part because they have the least "lowering" and the price is not too awful. Still in the box waiting to be installed.

Mina is US based and less expensive but the drop is a little higher. But with 1.25" already, most "lowering" springs are probably going to raise you up.

 

Rockauto has three different brands of springs available, all under $200 a pair. It's just a little confusing deciding from their descriptions which ones you need.

There are apparently differences in convertible vs. coupe, US vs. Euro, ....same as with most of our parts. I think the phase of the moon when the left taillight was installed matters too.

 

My jag was sitting low in the front and bottoming out alot and the camber was way off. Based on my experience with my car that has over 120,000 I got over an inch increase in ride height and the alignment came back to normal just by replacing the upper mounts. The funky hard rubber flattens out and since it is in between the chasis and the spring directly affects ride height. The rubber in mine was totally flat less than 1/8" thick. the new mounts rubber is around 3/4" thick. so surmising, because the bottom of the shock is connected in the middle of the lower A-arm you will get twice the thickness of the new rubber mount in ride height increase. Which is why my increase was over an inch. That and sway bar bushings renewed my front end.