Suspension Review: Race Comp Yellow Springs

[Racecomp Engineering]

Phaedrus, that is spectacularly bad workmanship. I don't know what else to say but I would be very upset with that shop.

- Andrew

[Phaedrus29]

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions. I just got off the phone with the shop, and while it doesn't excuse what they did, they were very quick to say that what they did was "unacceptable". They said I could bring the car in right away to have that cleaned up...and they also offered to try to improve my alignment.

He said they needed to make a bit more clearance so they could get a wrench in there to adjust the Whiteline bushings. He said they normally smooth it off and paint it so it looks factory...but that the guy must have been rushed or something...again, he said it was unacceptable and they will take care of me.

I'm still upset about my bruised BRZ but at least they seem to be handling it the right way at this point and trying to make it right.

---------------

Did other people have to modify the frame there to adjust the Whiteline bushings?

[kwood9000]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions. I just got off the phone with the shop, and while it doesn't excuse what they did, they were very quick to say that what they did was "unacceptable". They said I could bring the car in right away to have that cleaned up...and they also offered to try to improve my alignment.

He said they needed to make a bit more clearance so they could get a wrench in there to adjust the Whiteline bushings. He said they normally smooth it off and paint it so it looks factory...but that the guy must have been rushed or something...again, he said it was unacceptable and they will take care of me.

I'm still upset about my bruised BRZ but at least they seem to be handling it the right way at this point and trying to make it right.

---------------

Did other people have to modify the frame there to adjust the Whiteline bushings?

Sounds like a poor excuse for not having the proper tools.

[OrbitalEllipses]

AVO has a tool for their bushing as well.

[RYU]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

Did other people have to modify the frame there to adjust the Whiteline bushings?

Not at all. Here is a pic I took during the process before torquing anything tight. Not a single scratch and we didn't use any special tools except the air hammer which was on the work bench. Sorry for the large pic. I wanted to show the detail.

Man... I hope they make this right for you.

[F1point4]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

Argh...so as I said I had that shop install the Whiteline bushings today. I was just under the car and saw this:



Very upsetting...the metal there looks chewed up. I'm not sure how/why that happened during the bushings install and alignment. Any thoughts on the seriousness of this and how easy it would be to fix?

@Phaedrus29
@RYU

Both of your pictures don't look quite the same. The subframe on RYU's car doesn't seem to come out and cover as much as on Phaedrus29's car. RYU's arm also doesn't have the fold border like Phaedrus29's does. Maybe one picture was taken straight on and the other from the underside

[Phaedrus29]

Originally Posted by F1point4

@Phaedrus29
@RYU

Both of your pictures don't look quite the same. The subframe on RYU's car doesn't seem to come out and cover as much as on Phaedrus29's car. RYU's arm also doesn't have the fold border like Phaedrus29's does. Maybe one picture was taken straight on and the other from the underside

Ya my shot was taken from under the car, while I was sliding around doing the Perrin catback installation. I'm glad I was down there right away to catch what they did.

I think RYU's shot was taken straight on. When you look at the arm from his angle, there seems to be plenty of clearance to get at the bolts...grrrrrrrrrrr.

[cnk]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions. I just got off the phone with the shop, and while it doesn't excuse what they did, they were very quick to say that what they did was "unacceptable". They said I could bring the car in right away to have that cleaned up...and they also offered to try to improve my alignment.

He said they needed to make a bit more clearance so they could get a wrench in there to adjust the Whiteline bushings. He said they normally smooth it off and paint it so it looks factory...but that the guy must have been rushed or something...again, he said it was unacceptable and they will take care of me.

I'm still upset about my bruised BRZ but at least they seem to be handling it the right way at this point and trying to make it right.

---------------

Did other people have to modify the frame there to adjust the Whiteline bushings?

There should be no reason that they needed to damage the car in order to install/adjust the bushings. They either didn't have the right tools as stated or they just figured you would never see what they did. The fact that they told you that they normally smooth it out and paint over it would be a big red flag to me. That kind of response is not that of a reputable shop, but of a shop that cuts corners when doing work and then tries to cover it up.

[Phaedrus29]

Well, I brought the car back to the shop today. They lifted it and took me underneath and explained that they do this bashing method on the frame with all subarus. They said that there's really no way to adjust the bushings from underneath with the wheels still on the car, unless you make more clearance. For those who have used these bushings without bashing the frame, are you able to do adjustments from underneath with the wheels still on? They explained that if they had to keep taking the wheels off (and jack up the arms) to make adjustments then that would be very time consuming...so it would have cost a lot more for the alignment...so they claim.

Oh well, unfortunately what's done is done, but hopefully my experience will help others avoid the same thing. They did spend time smoothing off the edges and painting them...I have yet to get under the car and look at the "finished" job. I guess I'm just scared to look under there, but hopefully it's fine. I'll update with pics soon when I do get down there.

They also adjusted my alignment, and were able to get much closer to the RCE recommended settings. (RCE told me to try to get the rear to -1.7 degrees but I didn't want them messing around with it at all.) Here's a printout of the new settings...let me know if something looks off:



I am pretty worried about clearance in front with the new settings. I tried to take some pics to show the clearance (or lack thereof) but it is tricky. Here are some shots:













Any thoughts? He said one of the crash bolts is maxed out, but the other isn't...so if that one slipped I suppose it would be bad. If I really wanted to add clearance, would a camber plate be the best way to go?

OK I'll try to stop with my somewhat off-topic-ness, but I do think this is relevant to those dropping with the yellow springs and seeing how different wheels will fit. I do love the feel and drop of the yellow springs!

[OrbitalEllipses]

I'd have gone with a lower offset wheel if adding 1.5" of width.

[Phaedrus29]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

I'd have gone with a lower offset wheel if adding 1.5" of width.

Ya, that probably would have been smart, although I really wouldn't want the fronts to poke any more. I found these used Volks (18x8.5 +44) nearby in amazing condition and for a great price. I did ask around on the forum and messaged with civicdrivr I think, who had the same wheel specs (on stock suspension before he went coilovers)...and he said the fitment was fine. Maybe I'm OK, and there has been no rubbing issues so far with 30 miles of driving, but it's a bit worrisome.

[RYU]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

Well, I brought the car back to the shop today. They lifted it and took me underneath and explained that they do this bashing method on the frame with all subarus. They said that there's really no way to adjust the bushings from underneath with the wheels still on the car, unless you make more clearance. For those who have used these bushings without bashing the frame, are you able to do adjustments from underneath with the wheels still on? They explained that if they had to keep taking the wheels off (and jack up the arms) to make adjustments then that would be very time consuming...so it would have cost a lot more for the alignment...so they claim.

Oh well, unfortunately what's done is done, but hopefully my experience will help others avoid the same thing. They did spend time smoothing off the edges and painting them...I have yet to get under the car and look at the "finished" job. I guess I'm just scared to look under there, but hopefully it's fine. I'll update with pics soon when I do get down there.

They also adjusted my alignment, and were able to get much closer to the RCE recommended settings. (RCE told me to try to get the rear to -1.7 degrees but I didn't want them messing around with it at all.) Here's a printout of the new settings...let me know if something looks off:



I am pretty worried about clearance in front with the new settings. I tried to take some pics to show the clearance (or lack thereof) but it is tricky. Here are some shots:

<deleted pics>
Any thoughts? He said one of the crash bolts is maxed out, but the other isn't...so if that one slipped I suppose it would be bad. If I really wanted to add clearance, would a camber plate be the best way to go?

OK I'll try to stop with my somewhat off-topic-ness, but I do think this is relevant to those dropping with the yellow springs and seeing how different wheels will fit. I do love the feel and drop of the yellow springs!

That is complete horsesh*t. Pardon my French. No bashing needs or should be done.

You can also see my alignment settings on post #225. Your rear camber isn't quite on point but it's not too much off for me to want to take it back there.

[Phaedrus29]

Some pics before and after the "fix":

Before:




After:

[SpeedR]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus29

Some pics before and after the "fix":

Before:




After:

That’s Fuc.. up