Slamming the springs...makes problems!

This is not EXACTLY about a mustang, but I trust car guys more at this forum than at the "NOS vs TURBO kits made here" in the forum for the car...

A good pal bought a 2000 eclipse rs and the car was already modified. The dude totally slammed the springs (he super heated the springs and compressed them when they were soft) and bent the control arms.

This was not my friend who did this (I'd have whacked him), but the previous owner had.

Now the tires wear away (Kumhos... destroyed!!!) in about... one month. It is only the rear tires that are wearing away (?). At first we thought it was just a problem with alignment, but the new tires blew after only about a month after paying for a full alignment. When we took it in the second time we found out... how... the guy lowered the car.

I'm wondering what is the cheapest way to correct the problem. Not ghetto-riggin, of course, but certainly if there was a cheaper way than spending 1000 bucks to get the ORIGINAL suspension back in (f***!), we'd go with that option.

Will a camber kit (90 bucks) for the rear fix this problem? Is there a place to buy new control arms (the other ones are bent)? How much will they cost?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks much!

So is it just the springs that he heated up, and why would he bend the contol arms? Seems pretty damn unsafe to me, and I would not feel secure driving that car! Anyway I would go though a junkyard and get the stock parts to fix the problem, or see if there are any aftermarket companys that supply new higher quality parts.

Just a side note, I'll leave this thread in the forum for a day, but after that it will be moved to the Eclipse forum. I bet you will find better answers there.

So is it just the springs that he heated up, and why would he bend the contol arms? Seems pretty damn unsafe to me, and I would not feel secure driving that car! Anyway I would go though a junkyard and get the stock parts to fix the problem, or see if there are any aftermarket companys that supply new higher quality parts.

Just a side note, I'll leave this thread in the forum for a day, but after that it will be moved to the Eclipse forum. I bet you will find better answers there.

I agree with hi-flow all the way. I have heard of some crazy stuff but this is definately right up there. Go get new parts man..and live.

I was in the eclipse forum and after reading a few threads i didn't think id get much help.

We're going to the junkyard tomorrow to see if we can find anything (its a 2000 after all... not necessarily parts bin yet)

I was thinking that maybe we could get new control arms and then get some eibach coil overs to replace the crazy-guy ones. It turns out in order to raise the whole thing back to stock is seriously 900 bucks without tires. Hopefully we can find something in the yard.

Good luck keep us posted!

P.S. I split this thread into the Eclipse forum as well.

Excessive negative camber doesnt wear tires, toe out does. I know this goes against the internet laws of lowering cars, but trust me. ;) The rear toe is not adjustable. That means when they bent the control arms they bollixed the toe. The last alignment sheet should show this. OR you can test it by feeling the tires with your hand and seeing in which direction the tread "bites."

So, you have two options. Replace the bent control arms at the bare minimum. This should set toe back to zero. Have the alignment tech verify this, and set front toe to zero (straight ahead), not factory specs. Your tires will wear fine. The other option is to do the above, and get some lowering springs to replace the shyte heated springs. You can get some nice lowering springs for ~225 or so, and I happen to have a set of Eibach Sportlines for a 95-99 RS/GS/Esi for 100...

Hope that was enough information for some retarded eclipse guy...