Why is my front end bottoming out?!

[louiegz]

Well, if you’ve seen my previous post, I’ve had trouble with a repair at the dealer. The short version of the story is that they took out the front Tokico Blues that I had installed in May, and replaced them with the OEM blacks. After I complained that they changed my shocks without my permission, they replaced the blacks that they put in with a new set of blues upfront. Ever since I got my Q back, I’ve been noticing scraping sounds over dips in the road that I haven’t been scraping before. I mentioned that my engine undercover was dangling in another post so I thought it was that. After further investigation, I notice some scrapes in the wheel wells. I think they screwed up the installation of the blues and it’s making the front end bottom out where it didn’t before. For process of elimination I will secure the undercover but here’s my question. How could they have messed up the install? The right shocks were installed. Could this be a defective pair that they used? Could it be something else, even though the car was fine before they got it? Any opinions would be appreciated.

[DAEDALUS]

They probably left out the bump stops. Just a guess.

[squeefoo]

Missing or loose bolt? Both sides? Did you take off the tire and look to see what's scraping? What does it do when you bounce it?

I wouldn't put anything past these people if they can't even get the belly pan on right.

[AZhitman]

Bump stops.

They're integrated into the rubber boots.

f they forgot those, you have a good case for a REAL $h!t-fit at the dealer.

(p.s. I forgot mine when I lowered my 'vert, LOL) Easily replaced though.

[elwesso]

If they didnt put boots on.. Start complaining.. You should easliy tell if you jack up one side of the Q...

Good time to "verify" they put the blues ontoo!

[louiegz]

Those fcukers!!! They lied to me! I cut the wheel all the way and looked for the boots. They wern't there! They tell me, Yes Mr Gonzalez, "We put new boots on because the old ones were ripped." LIES!!! ALL LIES!!! They had my car for 2 1/2 weeks and they do it wrong, again. What's wrong with this place? They've allways done a good job before. Greg, since you say that the bump stop is in the boot, then that's what it is. Wes, I bet that was making the engine undercover thing pop off. Every time the tire hit the plastic in the wheel well, it would make that thing pop off, even after that O tire guy put it on for me in Indi. How stupid are they. Fcuked up twice. I'm going to let them have it.

[elwesso]

OH boy, crazy gonzalez on the loose... I fear it!!

Its all coming together... Get new boots, and then find a new dealer... Ill offer free labor if you come out here if you bring some NY hotties

Its possible the struts will be damaged because of the crap getting in there...

[pito11213]

Wes if you were closer I would take you up on that free labor offer. I think the drive is crazy long though right? You need another dealer lou. Or atleast Keith Vanmeter. If you drove out to see Wes you can surely go check out Keith.

[louiegz]

You need another dealer lou. Or atleast Keith Vanmeter. If you drove out to see Wes you can surely go check out Keith.

I was thinking of using Vanmeter, but it's not practical for me. He's two hours away. I'd have to take a day off to drop off and to pick up the car. I run a business. The boss never takes a day off, only for the rare vacation. When I drove out to see Wes & the guys, I was in Dayton for Thanksgiving dinner. It was just anouther 1 1/2 to drive to Indi. I wish I was closer to those guy. They are good people to know.

I'm calling the dealer this morning to get this fixed. Wish me luck.

[AZhitman]

Lou - You ALSO need to DEMAND that they replace the new blues you bought.

Bottoming them out has likely compromised the lifespan.

Let us know how it goes, the service manager needs to hear it loud and clear.

What an enormous F-up that was.

[louiegz]

Bump stops.

They're integrated into the rubber boots.

f they forgot those, you have a good case for a REAL $h!t-fit at the dealer.

(p.s. I forgot mine when I lowered my 'vert, LOL) Easily replaced though.

Greg, I called the idiot at the dealer and told him about the bump stop in the boots. You know what that bonehead had the nerve to tell me, "Oh, Mr. Gonzalez, those boots are just for looks" WHAT! When I even told him that at the very least, they keep the dirt away from the piston, he says "Oh, if you plan to go off roading." I hate it when people talk to me like I'm some kind of idiot. I should say like you say. I'm backed up with a posse of 22,000 here at NICO telling me that he's wrong. Anyway, he's looking at my car on Monday. Let's see what happens. I will report back to tell you guys how it went.

[AZhitman]

OMG.

Mo-ron.

You need to talk to the service manager about that.

He obviously knows nothing of which he speaks. I'd ask the manager to make sure this pinhead doesn't TOUCH your car.

[louiegz]

This guy was the service manager. That service department is in trouble if they let stupid $hitheads like that run the department.

[AZhitman]

Then I'd call Infiniti Corporate. STAT.

That's a shame.

[PoorManQ45]

Greg, I called the idiot at the dealer and told him about the bump stop in the boots. You know what that bonehead had the nerve to tell me, "Oh, Mr. Gonzalez, those boots are just for looks" WHAT! When I even told him that at the very least, they keep the dirt away from the piston, he says "Oh, if you plan to go off roading." I hate it when people talk to me like I'm some kind of idiot. I should say like you say. I'm backed up with a posse of 22,000 here at NICO telling me that he's wrong. Anyway, he's looking at my car on Monday. Let's see what happens. I will report back to tell you guys how it went.

It sounds like this "new" service manager used to work for one of those "Joe Blow" places. They do that crap all the time. The thing is, they usually have a scam going on. Most people would believe what the service manager says, because he is the so called "expert". So they just bring the car back into the mechanic, and pay more money to have it fixed again. If they ever PROPERLY fix what is wrong, 9 time out of 10, you will be back in the shop because something else "Mysteriously" broke .

It's just amazing what the American Public will believe. As long as a "Professional" or "Expert" said it, it must be true.

Anyway, If it is at all possible, I would suggest that you go to the shop while they are working on your Q. Watch them very closely. If they are obviously doing something wrong, or you think they are, Question them. I have found that this will really belittle the mechanic, and they usually don't mess with you again.

God I love making "Professionals" and "Experts" feel stupid .

[elwesso]

It sounds like this "new" service manager used to work for one of those "Joe Blow" places. They do that crap all the time. The thing is, they usually have a scam going on. Most people would believe what the service manager says, because he is the so called "expert". So they just bring the car back into the mechanic, and pay more money to have it fixed again. If they ever PROPERLY fix what is wrong, 9 time out of 10, you will be back in the shop because something else "Mysteriously" broke .

It's just amazing what the American Public will believe. As long as a "Professional" or "Expert" said it, it must be true.

Anyway, If it is at all possible, I would suggest that you go to the shop while they are working on your Q. Watch them very closely. If they are obviously doing something wrong, or you think they are, Question them. I have found that this will really belittle the mechanic, and they usually don't mess with you again.

God I love making "Professionals" and "Experts" feel stupid .

While good advice, hardly ANY dealer will let you be in the same zip code with their techs. I asked if I could see my car when they did the oil flush (i just wanted to see the neato machine), but they forced me to not even be in the service bay...

Lou, time to call infiniti... This is BS, and you might just remind them that you have been very generous to their business in the past.... However, i am really hoping that once you get this ironed out, you wont have to do anything for a while (like until you sell it)...

I wish we were all local... WE could all come in a Q herd and then give them a taste of NICO medicine.. How intimidating would that be to have a caravan of various Q45s ...

[PoorManQ45]

I wish we were all local... WE could all come in a Q herd and then give them a taste of NICO medicine.. How intimidating would that be to have a caravan of various Q45s ...

Mooooo. Stampede!!!

LOL, that would be awesome to see that!

[AZhitman]

A large gathering of rolling Q45's would not be considered a "herd".

I believe the appropriate term for several Q45's in a group is a PRIDE.

Thank you, thank you very much.

[PoorManQ45]

A large gathering of rolling Q45's would not be considered a "herd".

I believe the appropriate term for several Q45's in a group is a PRIDE.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Very nice!

You can keep your "PRIDE". You can't ride a "PRIDE", but you can ride a herd .

[Jesda]

Mooooo. Stampede!!!

LOL, that would be awesome to see that!

Are you callin me fat? Because... damn.

[SUITE E]

So a gathering of Q's is a herd of Q's then a gathering of Mercedes would be a 'gaggle of Mercedes'?

[SUITE E]

Hmmm, I have Tokico's on mine with no boots either. I am bottoming too. Do the boots increase the ride height also?

[DAEDALUS]

No, they're just rubber stops. Something to hit on the way down before hitting rock(hard) bottom.

[louiegz]

Well, I took the car back to get it fixed today. Hopefully they don't f it up any more and get it right. They don't know how to take care of an unhappy customer. Gave me some POS Sable to drive as a loaner. Where's the G? I can't wait to get my Q back. I'll report back to tell you guys how it came out.

[PoorManQ45]

Good luck!!!

[louiegz]

I got my car back with the boots and the car is fine now. If they would have done this in the first place, everything would have been fine. The Service manager even admitted that he was wrong and said to me, "You were right, the boots have the bump stops." Idiot. I hope I don't need anything done at the dealer for a long time.

[AZhitman]

When you get your survey in the mail in a week, write up the experience.

Infiniti takes those surveys VERY seriously (almost to a ridiculous degree), and anything less than 100% satisfaction is dealt with by Corporate.

Glad you got your car back brother. Find a new dealer STAT.

[redmanfx]

Man,... this is a true horror story that actually makes you cringe. Kinda like the dealer telling you your active has problems because of this green fluid.......

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