Intrax Spring Slipped Out Of Strut Boot

[a2k]

hey guys,

raised my car yesterday (using a hyd jack) to change my tires and noticed something that looked horribly wrong. My rear drivers side Intrax (alero, not grand am intrax) spring is not sitting in the lower boot. Furthermore, it's like the spring is threaded 1 full rotation beyond the lower boot -- as the end of the spring is LOWER than the boot. I tried myself to rotate/position the spring as it wasn't compressed, but it wudn't budge.

Anyways -- i dont know how the heck this happened. If i put force down on that side of the car when the car is lowered again, i hear a loud creaking noise. The freaky part is that I dont know if i've been driving like this already!?!

I'm goign to take the car to RSM racing (here in toronto) cuz they installed it and ask them to fix it.

1 - how does a spring slip/pop out like that?
2 - is it safe to drive the car? (i have not since i discovered it yesterday)
3 - obv this is not supposed to happen -- but does this indicate poor installation?
4 - I got the springs installed at RSM in like May - shud I be paying for this repair?
5 - could this have been caused by me raising and lowering the car (which i've only done twice since spring install)?

Here are pics of the spring/strut boot.

[a2k]

pic from the side:

Thx for all your help.

[Vtolds]

Wasn't installed in the right position allowing it to slip of the spring pocket? That would be my best Guess.

[CocoaAlero]

My springtecs get loose in the rear when the car's lifted. I make sure not to move them when it's in the air. I could guess that's a possibility it could have slipped out when lifted. Shouldn't be too hard to fix. Either lift that corner and try to slip it back in where it's supposed to go. Or RSM can remove the strut and set it back it.

My bad, I re-read your post, I'd go see RSM for help since you tried to fix it.
I'm sure they'll help.

[slowandlow]

i had my springs cut to drop mycar and both my front springs sliped a bit to the center of the car. i am thinking of wireing the springs to the struts so they wont slip. is this ok to do?

[b-spot]

:huh?:

Well, considering you said "I cut my springs" everything starting there is not okay to do.

[sound_xtreme]

for some reason that intrax spring doesnt look like an alero spring to me.

[jackal2000]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@Oct 26 2004, 04:47 PM
for some reason that intrax spring doesnt look like an alero spring to me.
yeah, it looks like the diameter of the spring is too small. could be the angle though.

[smokinAMD]

My intrax's don't look ANYTHING like that.

[a2k]

OK here is the story after going to RSM:

- they removed both rear tires and the mechanic (Adam) was able to remove the spring from around the lower strut boot. he then reset the spring back into the bottom strut boot. he then measured the height from the lower strut boot to the top of the exposed strut (so basically the upper mount of the strut) on both sides. The drivers side (the mucked up one) was 2 cm longer than the passenger side. so his conclusion was that the drivers side (rear) shock needed replacement. since it was dead.. whenever i drove over any potholes, bumps, etc. the strut wud hyper-extend and the spring would come loose a bit causing it to fall out of the boot.

when he had the car up and the wheels off - after he correct the spring placement -- you could still freely move the spring on the drivers side -- whereas on the passengers side, the spring was still locked in place.

rsm's conclusion was that i need new struts and that the spring could pop out again if i drive over potholes/big bumps/etc.

i have 97000 km on the car with stock struts. put the springs on at about 83000 km.

so at this point im driving the car -- but under Adam's recommendation to try to avoid all potholes and not to drive aggresively.

so what do u guys think?

[a2k]

Also w.r.t the springs.

they are intrax Alero springs.

I compared them side by side to intrax GA springs... the diameter of the coils are the same for both (but the GA are longer by ~3cm) -- i did a comparison of the two sets of springs 2 years back on this board.

found the pics:

REAR:
http://members.rogers.com/sameer.bhalla2/intrax_springs_rear.jpg


FRONT:
http://members.rogers.com/sameer.bhalla2/intrax_springs_front.jpg

[sound_xtreme]

intrax has been known to package the wrong springs.

and grand am/alero suspensions are the same so i dunno why they make different springs. same car slightly different body and different interior.

[jeremythebear]

stock struts should be replaced at 70000 (80 max) - in fact I would go as low as 60 - changed my stock at 70000 with kyb and now at 130 I am getting ready for the next set. You are definitely ready for new struts. Did they do this work for free - If so that was pretty nice of them. btw you should change all four
Also when you get them all done, take me for a spin so I can feel the difference with the intrax so I am better informed when I upgrade the suspension at some point.

[smokinAMD]

Sounds like you have a Grand Am and an Alero spring. So your backend is probaby sitting a bit cockeyed.

[Molson]

I have 135000 on my car, stock struts. Had intrax now ST, no problems.

[a2k]

printed numbers on both the rear springs are the same -- and the printed numbers differ to the GA ones. I had the numbers on the springs verified with somone who had a dealer account with intrax way back.. so the springs match.

[a2k]

Originally posted by Molson@Oct 26 2004, 11:54 PM
I have 135000 on my car, stock struts. Had intrax now ST, no problems.
why did u switch to ST Molson? now that you've switched.. which one u like better?

[flalero]

Originally posted by sound_xtreme@Oct 26 2004, 04:06 PM
intrax has been known to package the wrong springs.

and grand am/alero suspensions are the same so i dunno why they make different springs. same car slightly different body and different interior.
they probably make them different lengths because the GA sits a little bit lower stock than the Alero. This conclusion is just from my side by side comparisons of a stock Alero and a stock GA that were sitting in the same used car lot. The GA appeared to be sitting about .5 to a full inch lower than the Alero. I lowered my GA with Eibachs and it sat at the same height as my Alero does now. Also, the GA was aimed more at a younger crowd than the Alero, so maybe Pontiac designed to sit a little lower more more "sex" appeal. Oh, and I would go ahead and replace the struts, if they say that's the problem. http://www.tirerack.com for KYB GR-2's. Comparison pics below.
http://carad.ebayimg.com/i1/02/a/02/a0/cd/be_4.JPG
http://www.extremeridez.org/images/Meets/GroupPics1/DCP_1234.JPG
http://i1.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/98/51/9e_1.JPG

[Youngblood77]

wow. I think you're right, the GA DOES look lower, both lowered and stock. Never noticed that before.

[AGT]

Originally posted by Youngblood77@Oct 27 2004, 06:50 PM
wow. I think you're right, the GA DOES look lower, both lowered and stock. Never noticed that before.
those are 15s on the lowered grandam...which really helps the low look as compared to the stock 16s...IMO

[flalero]

^^^Yeah, but we are looking at wheel gap. With the 15's on my old GA, there would be more fender gap than with the 16's. Trust me, I've seen GA's lowered with the same springs, on 16's, and there was less fender gap.

[sound_xtreme]

you're on crack. there is NO difference in wheel diameter especially if they are stock wheels.

that would f*** up the speedo also.

[flalero]

Why wouldn't there be a difference in wheel diameter? I'm not saying that there is a difference, but why would it matter from the factory. Don't you think they would calibrate cars with 16" rims different than cars with 15" rims. What size are the stock 15" tires, I can't remember, but that will settle all debate.

Okay, so maybe I am smoking crack. The stock tire size on the 15" rim was 215/60-15. Same overall diameter. So shoot me in the head, I was wrong. Well can't make anymore mistakes in this life! Anyway, that still doesn't solve why my old GA sits at the same height as the Alero. I lowered my GA with Eibachs (a 1.25" drop) and I lowered my Alero with Sprintechs (a 1.75-2" drop). Why does my GA look to be at the same height or even lower than my Alero, even though it was lowered less? Hummmm, I say Hummmm. <_<

[sound_xtreme]

Grand Am's ARE slightly different from Alero's

[flalero]

Yeah, I realize that too, but someone in a previous post was wondering why the Intrax springs for the GA would be longer than the ones from an Alero. Just trying to reason it out a little bit. :D