Hello,
I attempted to lower my 04 Corolla S 218k miles. I purchased new struts and shocks (KYB) and replace the springs that came with the set with TEIN springs. The car was lowered about 1.5 inches all around; however, I started experiencing vibration on the driver side when speeding up. There was no vibration at higher speeds, only between 20-30 mph.
After a few weeks I decided to go back to stock height to stop the vibration and replaced the TEIN springs with the original ones that came with the new set but now I notice there's a rough feeling/sound when speeding up at around the same mph (20-30), in addition, there's more vibration at higher speeds (60-70).
The rough feeling/sound happens also if I rev up the engine on neutral.
These are the things that were installed brand new at the time I lowered my car:
CV axles
Strut and shocks
Any info will be appreciated.
WM
Thank you all, I did not do the alignment, so that's next.
Update:
After some research I found that the best way to lower the car for a more aggressive look is with lowering coil overs with camber adjustment and here's why:
Lowering springs change the angle of the CV axle making it bind hence causing the vibration at lower speeds and the maximum camber on stock struts isn't enough to correct the new angle PLUS they might create an uneven drop in the front and the rear. This can be corrected with the camber adjustment on lowering coilovers since the offer more camber options.
I corrected the vibration by keeping the lowering springs on the back and putting the stock springs on the front after trimming about 1 inch to make the drop even all around and had the wheels aligned. There's no longer rough/sound either at any speed.
The other option I contemplated was engine mount spacers; however, nobody makes them for my car.
Anyway, hope this info helps the someone trying to do the same.
There was a time when I wanted to lower my car. But let me tell you....after going through the pain in the rear that was lowering my Camaro the right way and dealing with the harsh ride and rubbing of the tires, rolling the fenders.....I won't do it again.
You did all that work....did you get it aligned? If not, good chance alignment is out of whack
Double check your work. Not that you did a bad. It's just good practice to make sure you didn't miss a bolt here, left something loose there. It happens. If everything is toqued and secured. Then next step is to see where the play is coming from. Could be a failed part somewhere or even something that is not aligned correctly.
Once the suspension is modified it is nearly impossible to align it correctly.
Did you do an alignment?
I agree with everyone else. Double check all your work and get an alignment and hopefully all should be good again.
Not to pile on but you DEFINITELY need an alignment if you are making those kinds of changes.
Why ruin a perfectly good suspension by lowering it and screwing up all the geometry?
