sus....pension

[Icya]

hello all, first post!
I have a 2020 Stinger gt RWD
2 weeks ago I had my ark gt-s lowering springs installed on my precious... biggest mistake of my life so far was taking it to Big Brand Tire and Service.. I know.. I know, trust me I am ashamed of myself. So anyways I got in my car and started driving away after paying 1050$ for the install oil change and alignment, and I immediately noticed loud clunking/clanking noises coming from the front suspension. turned the car around and went back. They put it back on the lift and just looked at stuff and said "yep everythings all tight so you should be good" nah. Brought the car back the next morning ( I live a few blocks from the shop, short slow drive), they had it all day. When I came back to pick it up they told me they took it all apart reinstalled and couldn't find the source of the noise. Told me I needed new sway bar bushings.. (car has 4k miles on it.) So naturally I said no, youre wrong. got in contact with the shop manager and he offered to have me bring the car to a different location only a few miles down the road to have them inspect and "fix the issue". After the new shop had my car for a day they claimed it was fixed. Originally the noise was loud and at all speeds. when I picked up my car for the third time.. it seemed to be fixed. HOWEVER... the noise persisted but a lot more subtly and only at low speeds. (cobble stone driveways seemed to make the noise happen very easily) so, fast forward 3 days after I had noticed my side skirt was chunked from their car lift... I was then in refund talk with the original Big Brand manager. He said to bring it back to the secondary location one more time. The next day they had my car all day again... This time they somehow just then realized that they "left the strut mounts and tie rod ends loose" :| which is what they say the cause of the noise was. cool awesome thanks I feel great. SO the next morning I back my car out of the garage and low and behold there is Hydraulic fluid PUDDLES under where my front tires were on the garage floor. My front struts had buuuussst. To sum up my post... these springs I bought have a claim from ark "Our springs are the perfect combination with your OEM shock absorbers. Feel increased performance with your existing shocks.". I absolutely did not go over some insane bump that could have bottomed out the struts.. whos to blame? should I put OEM struts back in?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Man! That is possibly the nastiest Intro post I've seen. When you get this sorted out (get redress from them for breaking your car), please report back. And may good fortune be yours!

 

[Pooske]

All that I can say is WOW!!!!, hope all works out for you,

 

[D.J.]

Which side front shock was busted? Both?
Are you taking pictures of anything to document this?

 

[Icya]

Which side front shock was busted? Both?
Are you taking pictures of anything to document

both struts in front. already got the refund from bigbrand so not sure what they are willing to cop to since its aftermarket springs they can just claim that this is a result of that and not their incompetence.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

If you got a refund from the shop who did installation, that is probably all that you gonna get. Those struts could be damaged during installation, but i doubt you can prove it. At this time you need to get new struts and someone who can do it right. Sorry for the loss.

 

[G-150642]

If you got a refund from the shop who did installation, that is probably all that you gonna get. Those struts could be damaged during installation, but i doubt you can prove it. At this time you need to get new struts and someone who can do it right. Sorry for the loss.

I figured as much. . New struts and new shop already acquired. 1400$ for install and alignment..

 

[D.J.]

What could they have done during install to cause this? Do you suspect they used something like vise-grips on the inner tube and chewed it up causing damaged seals?

I can't imagine why anyone - even incompetent technicians- why would do that. - especially to both sides!

 

[narsnail]

If the nuts holding the strut assembly to the body were loose as well as the top hat nuts, then it's just flopping around back and forth and very little weight is going to the springs. That would absolutely destroy your struts.

Does your's have the electronic struts? Those go for 550 USD a piece for new ones, I don't recommend getting used ones you never know how they were treated.

Do not take it to a chain shop, an independent mechanic or a specialized suspension shop if you can find one.

You could always do it yourself? It's time consuming but if you have a garage and some tools it's not difficult.

 

[Snowwhite]

or they could have spun the hell out of the big nut on the top of the strut trying to tighten it without holding the strut in place with the hex key, thus blowing the seals inside the unit.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

or they could have spun the hell out of the big nut on the top of the strut trying to tighten it without holding the strut in place with the hex key, thus blowing the seals inside the unit.

More likely spun it trying to get it loose. Still, not likely to get anything proven now, since the springs are aftermarket. Always can blame it on them.

 

[ChaneRZ]

Ouch! Buy new shocks.

 

[Icya]

Yah lots of different options on how it could have been done.. never going back there again. Found a new independent shop. I have the basic shocks thank goodness.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Yah lots of different options on how it could have been done.. never going back there again. Found a new independent shop. I have the basic shocks thank goodness.

That is another reason i went specifically for gt model. Less shit to break, and when it breaks it doesn't cost arm and a leg to fix.

 

[Icya]

That is another reason i went specifically for gt model. Less shit to break, and when it breaks it doesn't cost arm and a leg to f

That is another reason i went specifically for gt model. Less shit to break, and when it breaks it doesn't cost arm and a leg to fix.

Absolutely. All you need is that engine and those big ass brembos

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Hopefully the new mechanic knows what he is doing. Good luck!

 

[Icya]

We'll see! If not.. I'll be very sad and have a stock height car shortly after and be on my third pair of front struts!