3 reasons why you shouldn't bottom out

[nobrainer]

when I first got my camry I bottomed occasionally and I'm pretty sure I posted a question asking whether or not this hurts anything. I'm also pretty sure nobody thought it would.. or maybe nobody cared... but it can definantly have negative effects...

My flexpipe on my exhaust was all messed up from bottoming out and if it weren't for the shop that is working on my car, I may have had to pay 300-400 dollars for a whole new exhaust system. (Fortunately he knew someone who would just weld a new flex pipe on or something to that extent)

Second, My boots on my front wheels were toast. He told me that it may have been from bottoming out, but they've never been replaced anyway so it may have been time.

My oil pan and auto tranny pan have both taken a beating from bottoming out and while there isn't much physical damage.. there is some visible leaking. I'll have to try and tighten the nuts around them to see if it stops..

I also had my timing belt done.. so you can imagine that my bill is starting to add up :-( ... I'm just happy she doesnt sound like a lawn mower anymore...but just a heads up that you should probably handle your camry with a little more respect on big bumps...

[Your Uncle Moe]

I had the same problem with my flex pipe. But when it happened to me, my car didn't sound like a lawn mower. It sounded like a muscle car and was pretty boss! My dad kept making me fix it but I kept postponing it cuz I liked the sound. lol

[nobrainer]

you=v6 me= i4

any questions

[Your Uncle Moe]

LOL! Oh yeah, I forgot about that. All I can say is........

[g-fizzle]

what is this bottoming out

[nobrainer]

haha yeah i envy your v6...


bottoming out is when the bottom of your car slams/grinds/bumps against the ground... this usually only happens to the front of your car.. around the engine bay where it's most heavy...

at least that's my definition...

[Your Uncle Moe]

Is your car lowered? My V6 dosn't do that. Do you think the stronger springs on the V6 prevent bottoming out like your I4?

[Tarzan]

I had the same problem with my I4. It did sound like I had a rice muffler for a while. I got the flexy thing replaced for $50. I don't know what caused it to break but I never slow down on speed bumps. My car isn't lowered and I hate speed bumps. My car is built like a tank I tell you. 10 years old!

[nobrainer]

do i think stiffer suspension would help? absolutely... i also live is a fairly uneven area where theres lots of hills.. and the speedbumps at my school are honesly ridiculous.. a lot of my friends have to cross them diagonally so they don't rub on the bottom...

[warlock]

when i did it i smashed the exoust to the frame and it sounded realy loud in the car but not outside

[Rapeacivic]

I used to bottom out a lot with my stock suspension, until Silversteakin and I installed an H&R and Tokico setup It turned out I was bottoming out because I had 2 bad stuts

[Camdaddy]

damnit I just bottomed out three times today....argg...

[xXjamesXx]

i had the same problem and one of my friends welded it but i was just driving down the road and VRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMM it was soooooo loud everyone was looking at me oh man, but it wasnt "ricey" it was very very very deep n i have a 4 cyl

[nobrainer]

well i still stand by my previous statement that mine sounded like a lawn mower lol

[amerikim]

Bottoming out is when the body of the shock slams up into its top mount. Usually, there are little rubber rings in there to soften the blow but slam it hard or often enough, you will f**k your car up.
Dragging parts, well...thats different.

If your are bottoming, probably shocks are blown or car is overladen or incorrect spring rate (cut springs).

Shocks (or dampers is what they really are) slow suspension travel on compression and rebound. On performance systems they are of course feel stiffer, makes sense, since you probably have a lower car - less travel available.

oh, also common sense dictates slowing down.