2G Bottoming Out?

[Peepers]

Hey Guys,
Last year (after my AWD Spyder Swap), I went from B+G FWD springs with Tokico Illuminas to Ground Control coilovers with Koni Yellows. I'm now finding that my front end tends to bottom out when ever I hit a decent side pot hole. I know, I know ... avoid the pot holes but sometimes they can't be avoided . I'm starting to notice marks (under the hood) where the front upper control arms are hitting the fender well. This issue is only up front, the rears seem to be fine. My car isn't super low, there's about 1"-1.25" of space between the rubber and the fender.

My spring rates are:
Front: GC180.64.75 (7/2.5"/430 lbs)
Rear: GC700.250.300 (not sure the weight as I can't seem to locate the specs on GC's site).

I run eccentric ball joints 35621 - Adjustable Ball Joint - Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc. up front to help with the alignment so basically it's the upper "nut" of the eccentric ball joints hitting the upper fender well. I have the Knoi's 3/4 tight to try to stiffen the shocks to prevent anymore damage but it still seems to happen. With my old B+G & Tokico setup, I never bottomed out??

Any thoughts on my spring rates and or if I changed to a stiffer front spring, will that help?

I'm also thinking about removing the eccentric ball joints, installing new upper control arms along wtih Ingalls camber adjusting control arm mounts 35770-35780 - Camber Adjusting Control Arm Mounts - Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc.thus eliminating that upper eccentric ball joint "nut" giving me just a little extra room.

Any advice / comments / thougts?
Thanks

 

[PieEyedPiper]

It's not uncommon for this to happen when using an adjustable balljoint like that. The other kit that you mentioned, unfortunately, is also not immune. I believe the only camber adjustment available that has not been related to this behavior are the eccentric bushings from companies like SPC or maybe even Ingalls, if they makes them. On the bright side they're very affordable being the cheapest solution of all. I think I paid less than $60 for the ones I bought. Speaking of which, I wonder where those went..

 

[95gst16g]

I have adjustable balljoints on mine too.I hit a pretty big bump and I got left with 2 really cool round holes in the strut tower....Yay.....

 

[Peepers]

95gst16g, you've actually punched a hole through the inner fender with your upper control arms? any pics ?

PieEyedPiper, I'm assuming your talking about these "other" eccentric bushings SPC Application Search - Product, right? I don't see how they're that much different that these 35770-35780 - Camber Adjusting Control Arm Mounts - Ingalls Engineering Co., Inc. when it comes to adjusting the upper control arm? Both baiscally push out the upper control arm from the upper control arm bushings rather than the ball joint. Am I missing something here??? What I like about either one of these is that there's no "nut" from the upper ball joint that might free up 0.5"-0.75" of extra travel???

 

[psycho]

I would either raise the front to give you some extra travel or get heavier springs. Or a combination of the two?

 

[95gst16g]

I have the upper balljoint camber kit.The nut is on the top side of the control arm.I suppose I could take a pic of the damage but I dont want to haha.They were like half of a hole I took a hammer and smashed them back down and used some touch up paint because all the paint chipped off in a circle....It's not too noticable as of now.I will go out and jump the car so I can take a pic of it again haha jk.I run H&R race springs with KYB AGX shocks and they were on all the way stiff when this happened.