Well I was driving around yesterday and I realized during normal driving and freeway driving that the plastic guard under my front bumper scrapes/bottoms out during little dips and wherever the road isn't 100% smooth. I knew it scraped a little, but after listening to it yesterday, i didn't realize it THAT bad. I'm lowered on Hotchkis Springs and Stock Shocks with 32k riding on them. I've narrowed it down to either my Shocks are blown, or the Hothckis Springs are too soft, either way this scraping is getting pretty annoying. I would like a second opinion, so if anyone has experiencedt his, or knows what it could be, your expertise would be much appreciated

 

Have to be a damn big dip to cause you to bottom out. Blown struts are going to be really bouncy.

 

yea i thought so too, but it happens when i'm just going on roads that are even slightly uneven, i can't figure out whats wrong with it, i measured and the lowest point on the front of the car is about 4 inches from the ground, and i know there are people out there with less ground clearance without this problem

 

maybe it's tire rubbing and not scraping. what part exactly is scraping if it is? having 4 inches of clearance sounds like plenty and like the other guy said it would take a lot to make the suspension travel 4 inches unless maybe the shocks are blown.

 

i think its something else because on the 118 in so cal where i live it says some bad dips on the freeway when ur crossing on an overpass and theres a really bad one going from the 118 to the 23 but i dont rub or scrape on any of the dips...you might want to check if the those plastic panels are actaully scraped or sagging cuz when i bottom out over a driveway i noticed my mid pipe is hitting or is preety scraped up

 

I think maybe you should also consider what wheels/tires you're running and not really point it to being a spring problem. The Hotchkis springs will NOT rub or scrape or bottom out on ANYTHING in normal driving with OEM struts and wheels/tires. And based on your profile, you're kind of pushing it with the wheels/tires - I think that's your problem.

 

yea people have been mentioning the rims/tires too, but i didn't think 18x8 18x9 with 225/40/18 and 235/40/18 was too bad, the part that seems to be scraping is the undercarriage black plastic under the bumper, although it COULD be the tires rubbin against the plastic too, hmm i don't know any more, I checked out the black undercarriage and nothing was hanging or loose, so i don't know. It could be the Rims and Tires, but I've talked to others that were LOWER than me (on sprint springs) with the same wheels and they were not having that issue, but they were on TRD shocks as well, and finding that out, i think its the shocks, but who knows haha, either way i think a suspension swap should be in the works

 

I"ve never rubbed that front plastic thing, exapt on curbs
My rims, 18x8.5, rubbed the plastic in my wheel well like crazy over any bumps. had to seel them
225/40/18, but they had a 35 offset. check the inside plastic in your fender for rub marks
or, you could just take taht plastic thing out from under your bumper and listen if you still get rubbing sounds.

but 35k on hotchkis and stock shocks sounds like it's time for an upgrade, trds or koni
i put konis up front after amonth, due to an accident

 

yea, i'm gonna lift the car tomorrow and see if its the wheel well, the more i think about it, the more i think thats what it is, i'll def keep everyone posted, thanks for all the input!

 

well as most of you suggested, it was the wheel well, haha i didn't lift my car, but i took a flashlight to the wheel well on the driver side and i found a quarter sized hole in the plastic where the there was rubbing, lol, i'll take pics of it tomorrow, i think i'll either completely remove the the plastic, or just cut a hole where its rubbing

 

that is exactly where mine was rubbing. Unfortunatly, direclty behind that plastic piece is a tab that holds the bumper to the fender. That is why i didn't remove mine.
I figured with it on,it's kinda sliding, but with it off, it might take chunks out.
I was thinking about bending it up, but i decided to sell the rims instaed.
what is the offset on your rims?

 

i don't think there is a tab there, but i didn't get that great of a look at it, but you make a good point about taking chunks out, my wheels are 18x8 +40 i think, its either 40 or 35, which makes a big difference, haha. But i honestly don't remember

 

well, mine were 8.5 and 35, and they rubbed an any littel dips and stuff, but it seemed liek if I just had another half inch or so, i'd be good.
BUt if I took corners the way i used to, my tires would be screwed!

 

rubbing is now...GONE! yay!! haha i cut two slits about the 1x2 inches in the plastic fender well where it was rubbing, i'll post pictures tomorrow when i have time, but the problem has been solved, THANK GOD! =]

 

SWEET! Find out what offset your at, cause I need to get some 8" wheels and I can't have any rubbing.
Waiting for cut pics.