Heim joint/Roto-joint excessive popping of ft A arms

**Whamhammer** · 03-25-2017, 06:57 PM

Hello all, my aftermarkter tubular ft control arms have heim/root joints on them, and the make popping noises, especially at lower speeds/non-highway roads. My wife actually started to complain about it today, and I have to admit it sounded like popping corn in the microwave. I was told poping was normal for these joints but should it be this noticeable, especially with only 4 months or so on the car?

If they are good, are there some sort of boot kit that I can put over them to reduce the noise?

**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-25-2017, 07:43 PM

What are they torqued down to? Also a arms or control arms?

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**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-25-2017, 07:44 PM

Also did you grease them up using the fittings?

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**Whamhammer** · 03-26-2017, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

What are they torqued down to? Also a arms or control arms?

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They are the front upper and lower control arms, and they bolt to the suspension crossmember/k member.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-26-2017, 01:22 AM

I know where those bolt to lol. Just you said lower control arms and those are on the rear suspension but you also said a arms. Just wanted to clarify. So both the upper and lower a arms are noisy did you grease them up properly? Did they get torqued to spec? They will be noisier than stock. How much more are we talking about?

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**pajeff02** · 03-26-2017, 02:04 AM

We have a bunch of miles on our tubular front suspension and there is zero noise. Sounds like something is loose.

**Whamhammer** · 03-26-2017, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

I know where those bolt to lol. Just you said lower control arms and those are on the rear suspension but you also said a arms. Just wanted to clarify. So both the upper and lower a arms are noisy did you grease them up properly? Did they get torqued to spec? They will be noisier than stock. How much more are we talking about?

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The noise is fairly obvious, and very hard to miss, with the windows up, and radio on (at reasonable levels), with the windows down its even worse, yesterday's trip with the T-Tops off, my wife said it sounded " like the car was about to come apart".

They were installed by my performance shop in December. I don't remember noise at first but I remember pulling my car over in my works parking lot because I thought something had broken on the car but everything looked good (that was late February).

I Had an oil change later that week, (at another shop that I have do simple oil changes and stuff) and had that local shop look at everything, to make sure I didn't miss anything. That shop found that a front shock bushing had shifted, and told me to go back to the other shop.

I went back to the performance shop, and they warrantied the shock, and I still heard the popping after I was pulling away from the shop, so I came back and his helper and I "shook" the car down and found it was the arms (he thought the upper), and he called the shop owner who said that Heim joints are usually noisy, and that if it got worse to let them know. The helper did lube that sides fitting.

The main reason that I wanted tubular upper and powers was the OEM's were 150k miles old, and I wanted lighter and stronger suspension parts but wouldn't have been against a poly-bushinged arm, and still am not.

All of the forums that I have read on the net are saying that Heims are not a good fit for a street/daily driver, which the car is.

**raynor139** · 03-26-2017, 09:37 PM

What brand are they out of curiosity? I have UMI tubulars a arms on mine for close to a year now and they don't make any noise.

**Whamhammer** · 03-26-2017, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by raynor139

What brand are they out of curiosity? I have UMI tubulars a arms on mine for close to a year now and they don't make any noise.

They are Spohn's upper and lower front control (A) arms.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-26-2017, 10:21 PM

They sound like they are either not greased up enough, not installed properly (ie not torqued down to the right ft lbs) or something is wrong with the actual product.

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**pajeff02** · 03-28-2017, 12:42 PM

^^ Agree. Something isn't right.

**Whamhammer** · 03-28-2017, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

^^ Agree. Something isn't right.

I am working to have the shop look at it soon; not sure if I have to replace the end joints, if I am going to stick with them, or just get the poly-bushinged ones. It's a shame that the don't have bushinged end joint replacements available.

**raynor139** · 03-28-2017, 09:10 PM

Have you tried contacting spohn about the noise yet and see what they say?

**Whamhammer** · 03-28-2017, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by raynor139

Have you tried contacting spohn about the noise yet and see what they say?

To be honest, I haven't, I bought them (and the install) through the shop, and because the shop has a relationship with Spohn, and Spohn has no warranty, the shop might have more leverage with Spohn than I. Also, if the shop can put it up in the lift and see it, there will be a better info stream before calling the manufacturer.

At least that's my thought, I might call Spohn tomorrow if I can break free enough but I would feel better once he shop owner gets a look-see

**pajeff02** · 03-29-2017, 07:50 AM

Too bad you are 4-5 hours away... my garage is always open.

**Whamhammer** · 03-30-2017, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Too bad you are 4-5 hours away... my garage is always open.

I appreciate the sentiment, the though did cross my mind but five hours of nonstop hearing of popcorn popping would probably drive me insane(r).

I'm hoping I can call the shop tomorrow, been swamped with meetings and teleconferences the last two days :/

**98TransAmWs-6** · 03-30-2017, 11:22 PM

Spohn has no warranty? I'd buy umi for future parts if I were you. Hopefully the shop figures it out.

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**Whamhammer** · 03-31-2017, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

Spohn has no warranty? I'd buy umi for future parts if I were you. Hopefully the shop figures it out.

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Yeah, I was surprised to read that there was zero warranty, not even for a short period of time for defects. Spohns web site statement said it had to do with the possible levels of high stress conditions that a race car can put on an item. They seem to be taking an "off-road only" application for the parts.

**Whamhammer** · 04-04-2017, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

Yeah, I was surprised to read that there was zero warranty, not even for a short period of time for defects. Spohns web site statement said it had to do with the possible levels of high stress conditions that a race car can put on an item. They seem to be taking an "off-road only" application for the parts.

Update , the speed shop that I've been dealing with has move waaaaay south of Richmond; I pretty much can't go back to the shop, its almost three states away.

How hard is it to diagnose these heim join hobbies?

**Whamhammer** · 04-07-2017, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

Update , the speed shop that I've been dealing with has move waaaaay south of Richmond; I pretty much can't go back to the shop, its almost three states away.

How hard is it to diagnose these heim join hobbies?

I just turned the wheel and looked at the a arms, the uppers are ,Spohn non adjustable, and look like the are Polly bushings, I don't even think Spohn offers nonajustable with heim joints, the powers are adjustable with heim joints.

Would:

A) the uppers be able to "pop" with poly bushings?

B) would the bottom be able to be tightened while on the ground, with the number wheel on?

I have pix, and can upload if anyone thinks it will help.