I have a stock 04 with aftermarket bottom x brace and front/rear roll bars. Today while on a familiar road, didn't realize they dug out some of the floor. It was pretty much flat but the drop in elevation definitely caused the car to sorta "fly" onto the road and "dig in." The speed was probably around 30-40 mph.

Question trying to figure out is whether I just rubbed the wheel up against the fenders well, if I actually bottomed out the car, or if it was just the shocks compressing and releasing quickly.

The sound was not a bang! and didn't sound like metal scrapping (i'm guessing i would hear that). Checked the bumpers and around the car and doesn't seem to be any sort of scrapping. Sounded more a squeal than a tire chirp. Leads me to believe that it was just a sudden compression of the shocks/springs and the sound was just that (like a loud squeaky door).

Its the first time that I've heard the sound so wasn't sure if that was normal (usually it would've just been like a loud thud for wheels compression no?).

Any inputs or what to check for?

 

if you're stock, i don't think you can bottom out the suspension, you'll hit the bump stop, which prevent the suspension from bottoming out

 

I know you said you have a "stock" car, but I have to ask....do you have aftermarket wheels and/or tires? What tire size are you running?

I had aftermarket wheels in the rear once with an overly agressive offset (+40) (fenders not rolled) that would make the chirp sound when the suspension compressed. I could feel the small rubber lip around the edge of the fender had been rubbed by the tire, you might check that to see any evidence of rubbing. I've changed wheel setup since then.

I don't think it could happen unless your springs are completely shot, but you could check the top of the fender liner to see any evidence of the tires rubbing the top of the liner.

Good luck.

 

Interesting, I wonder if the sound was just purely the springs compressing from being "dropped"

 

Stock wheels except tires are different. They're same size as OEM though.

 

I have a stock '06 and have hit the cross brace on the rear end on some whop-dido's and the mufflers with the stock size tires. Now I run 235/45-17(f) and 245/45-17(rear) tires and I have not hit the brace or mufflers with these tires. The taller tires don't rub on anything that I can find so I don't think you can make the shorter stock tires rub.

ROD

 

That chirp does sound like the rear tires hitting the fenders though. The rear fender liner is plastic, so the rubber tires on the plastic lining makes a chirping noise. Nothing to be worried about really, just don't fly your car anymore =p

 

I'll take a look under the rear cross brace later, I couldn't find any scuffs down there at all though.

Lol, didn't really intend to "fly" the car especially at 30 mph on flat ground...but that's new york for you...

It was less a "chirping" sound (like tires breaking traction) but more of a squeaky or sqwaking sound (like a creaky door). Perhaps it was just a sudden load on the shocks?