Lesson learned today:

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 08/25/2014 at 15:31 • Filed to: buicklopnik

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2.5" of preload on the front struts is incredibly excessive.

It took me 10 minutes to get into my driveway.

Rear ride height

Front ride height.

Driving back from the university and the front of my car started bouncing with the undulations in the road due to ~700lbs of tension on the springs from my 2.5" of preload. Despite changing speed considerably it built up to the point of actually leaving the ground.

yeah... gonna re-do this system. Go with a limit-strap style with maybe a half inch of preload, and not attach it to parts that turn with the steering.

This post has been another episode of "doing stupid shit to my car so you don't have to" brought to you by Jake, Buick, and whatever parts he and his friends happen to have lying around

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 15:37

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I have to say, I've never done an SHM calculation with a limit/preload on the spring quite like that. Bouncing hard enough to leave the ground = fascinating. Perhaps I should.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 15:40

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WOW.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 15:47

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Make sure to send us a video of the bouncing before you undo this.

Shankems > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 15:53

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This is how I imagine your travels.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/25/2014 at 16:04

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Fascinating is one word.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2014 at 16:04

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I'm going to re do it a bit differently in a few days. I'll probably still have the *ability* to go down 2.5 inches, but I doubt I will. Probably just .5 or maybe 1"

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2014 at 16:05

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It was literally just the car bouncing on the tire sidewals

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Shankems 08/25/2014 at 16:06

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That is pretty much what it felt like, just in the front.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Shankems 08/25/2014 at 16:19

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I remember that. it still cracks me up.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 21:00

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your buick was bouncing and leaving the ground? Like this one?

Jokes aside, yeah you might wanna fix that...

midengineer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 22:35

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I have no words... hahaha

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power 08/25/2014 at 22:36

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Fixed. Rides stock. Though I think my passenger side spring is shot, which explains why it wouldn't preload AT ALL. I think the right side of my car is being held up for who knows how long now mostly by the sway bar

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > midengineer 08/25/2014 at 22:37

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It was so hilarious impractical but you've never seen a car corner so flat in your life.

Also I couldn't see out the rear window due to it being pointed skyward.

midengineer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 22:38

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I assume it cornered level because there was no suspension travel possible? lol

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > midengineer 08/25/2014 at 22:39

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Pretty much, yeah. I should just cut out the middleman and replace my struts with box steel beams.

midengineer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/25/2014 at 22:46

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If too far is a thing that might be it, hahaha. Maybe as a final goodbye when the frame is starting to go?

thebigbossyboss > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/26/2014 at 08:46

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I drove a car with broken struts and broken shock absorbers. Car was flat due to no suspension travel at all. The car was just resting on the bump stops.