escort questions

[joeg]

You can probably go 450 or higher on the fronts; same for the back.

The bigger issues are to fix your clunk (could be loose or broken parts--like a strut or strut top) and to determine if your struts can handle the heavier rate springs.

That is a Mazda Protoge, so search in that direction too.

[joeg]

BTW, rear toe-in will not by itself cause a loose condition in a FWD car with independent rear. Do you have IR?

Toe-out generally makes it looser. A quarter inch toe-in is a lot in any case; a thirty secondth would be much better

[Florida Fiesta]

I run 375lb in the front and 550lb in the back in my Fiesta (1650Lbs).
I use to bottom out in Turn 17 at Sebring...the lower control arms would hit the frame but I'd never really hear it happen. BUT, Sebring has extreme bumps (even jumps).
I agree with another post that something is loose or broken.... maybe a ball joint, strut mount or even a steering rack.

On my road car (BMW 5) the roll bar links have some play in them and they would clunk sometimes.