ok, as some of u know i never go off-road and only use my RX to climb sidewalks and curbs which i do every chance i get. I know this car is basically a car!
But 2 days ago, when i was driving and thought i need to make an u-turn to save me time and trouble before the next intersection by going over this center divider which is less than a foot tall and less than 1.5 feet wide. Anyway, i love to show-off too, so i do it, i slowed to around 10mph and start going over this seemingly small obstacle cops call it a divider. Outside front wheel made the climb with ease but i guess i should of slowed WAY DOWN because when my first wheels cleared the curb and went down.......BANG!!...... wasnt overly loud or painful, but it made me pull over to check for damages after i made the turn. I suddenly wish that i should have faster-reacting springs, so when i clear a curb or something the suspension can react fast enough to extend its springs without having to bottom out.

p.s: im a professional, dont do this at home.

 

I'm at a loss for words.....

 

Well, the RX doesn't have much ground clearance so if one is going to go climbing over things that exceed that limited clearance, the pilote is going to have to go slow. I doubt your belly grinding had much to do with the suspension not extending but rather with the spring being compressed (too far) as the weight transferred on to it. I guess you could get springs with higher rates, but then your ride goes to crap........

 

that story just made me smile and laugh LOL

that sucks...

 

Have you considered proving the off-road capabilities of your RX by ramming a brick wall? :eek:

 

Having driven an Explorer for the past 5 years, you have to duck-walk like someone else said. One wheel at a time.

I'd take it as a learning experience though, where there is curb, vehicle not s'posed to go. See, that wasn't offroading, that was just, well no insult intended, stupid. You'll very rarely find an obsticle as high as a curb when you're doing light offroading, which is all the RX is designed to do, hell thats all my Explorer is designed to do, and its a truck. I'd cut down on the curb jumping, you're really not impressing anyone. 99% of the people that see you do that think you're an idiot, nobody's impressed. You're not showing off, just emberassing yourself. All you're doing is giving SUV drivers a bad name. Good way to (rightfully) get your license suspended and your RX impounded. Not to mention a good way to really hurt your vehicle. Its not designed to do that man.

Again no insult intended, thats just really dumb.

 

Uh, let's be cool. JohnsRX bottomed out...Pretty simple.

 

I was gonna say that.....but just shook my head instead....off road ...for a city dweller maybe.

Quote Removed (We read it once)

 

u sound like my close friend or brother. I agree with everything u say and most of it true. Including the impound and stuff=) But didnt i say ONLY i can do that.

 

You should listen to them

 

John,

Just remember your ground clearance (or the lowest part of the unibody). "Less than a foot" divider is still pretty tall!! My 4Runner's true ground clearance (lowest point--rear axle housing) is 10.1" off the ground...which is less than a foot. RX ground clearance is less than 8".

There is nothing wrong with your springs. You simply bottomed out, which is OK, happens to every SUV over a large obstacle. Just watch it next time. Know your ground clearance.

Thanks.