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Hello all
Recently I lowered my car with bilsteins and an eibach pro kit. I changed all of the rear suspension I needed and I changed the front sway bar. Ever since I changed over I've been getting a rattle from the front end of the car whenever I go over a bump, and it comes from both sides. Sounds like metal on metal. I've been trying to diagnose it but nothing I've tried has eliminated it. Anyone have any experience? Thanks guys
You should go back under it, and shake everything you can to try and find it. Check that all your bolting is still tight. Once you jack it up and go over it again, I am sur eyou will find your problem. Remember, sway bar bushings shouldn't be compressed. Just tight.
I agree with Keith. A thorough inspection should be done to ensure everything is tight, and there is no interference with other componants.
After doing a once over it looks like the top of the strut shaft is hitting the inside of the wheel well. Why would this be happening if everything is tight?
Okay, do you "see" some marks, or does it actually move around like it is loose? I assume you are talking about the housing that holds the spring? This is the part that is rubbing? The one thing that comes to mind is that your strut bolts are loose, and when you unload the suspension going over a bump, it moves and grinds. Another is that you are missing the rubber isolator pad that sits between the spring and the housing at the top. Is it possible you forgot to put it back in? I am kinda shooting in the dark, but just trying to give you some ideas.
Well when I put it back together I cranked the strut bolts pretty tight.. There are some marks at in the little dimple inside the top of the wheel well that tell me it's hitting there, which is just confusing to me. I'm pretty sure I put the rubber isolator back on because I put all the original mounting stuff back on
Sorry, but this is getting outside my area. I have changed the struts on mine, but not lowered it. I imagine you have changed the geometry of the front end, and have altered the way it is aligned. Does it rub on the inside of the wheel wells? Maybe you need to change upper and lower a arms? So that the top of the strut isn't pointed towards the middle? Could you just pound back the area that is rubbing and fix the problem at least temporarily? IF you are supposed to change the a arms, then, you should start to have wear on the outside of your tires as well. Like I said, this is starting to get outside my area of experience.
That's something I was considering, I was going to get an alignment when I get all of this sorted out too but I'm starting to think that might be contributing too. I really have no idea, that's why I reached out to the good guys on here for help
Oh, you haven't gotten an alignment yet? That should solve your problem.
Are there any other suggestions to solve my problem? I don't want to get an alignment if it's not the solution because if I'm wrong then I'd have to adjust stuff and get another after.
A reputable alignment shop will tell you if there's a problem before ever making adjustments.
I would suggest heading to one ASAP.
Especially if you did'nt mark the upper strut bolt positions before removing them durring your install.
You can possibly chew your tires up quick without an alignment.
Well I also see that there's quite a bit of the strut shaft sticking through the top of the whole assembly after I tightened it down all the way. Should I maybe cut the excess down a bit?
Hmm something does'nt seem right with that,, not sure I would cut it just yet..Quote:
Originally Posted by homickb
Are you sure you put the upper parts together right? How far are we talkin' here 2-3 inches or just like and inch?
Probably 3-4 inches
Oops! Well there's definetly something/parts missin' bro..Quote:
Originally Posted by homickb
Don't slam teh hoods!
There can't be parts missing, everything that came off was replaced...
Is there a provision from the manufacture of the shocks stating that modifiing the king pin may be necessary?Quote:
Originally Posted by homickb
That's seems like a shit ton more extra length than would ever be needed for most any 4th gen setup..
I'm @ a loss for why. Hopefully someone has seen this before.
Are you sure you got the correct shocks or that they sold you the correct ones?
i'm doing my fronts with blisteins next week but im keeping it oem height. I will let you know if i encounter any similar issues.
This is exactly what I was thinking.Quote:
Originally Posted by JayTA98
I'm pretty sure I bought them from tire rack, can't remember for sure though because I bought them about a year and a half ago and they say for a bit before I put them on.
And I don't know if the instructions said you needed to modify that part, I'm pretty sure they were in German.
i was going to ask if you can measure the lenght of the whole shock and I compare it with mine since they are not installed yet. I think you install them so not sure if I can help you with that.
I was thinking about that myself but comparing them to the stock ones instead but... Yeah
I bought them from either Tire Rack or Discount Tire, I can't remember which. But I don't see why they would be wrong if I bought from them..
can you post the part numbers? maybe I can compare with mines. I installed mine last week with the eibach springs in the front and I didn't have to modify anything. can you post a picture? are positive you put the isolator back? The isolator is separate rubber piece from the strut mount itself.
I'll post some pictures when I take it off again. And I know the isolators are back on because I bought new ones for both sides. I also just bought new upper and lower control arms and I'm waiting for them to show up, so hopefully that will help
okay keep us posted. any chance you can see the part number on the front shocks? you didn't happened to have done the front mount mod that allow the front to sit even lower? you cut the bottom of the mount and add the spacer to the top.Quote:
Originally Posted by homickb
I'd be out there a lot sooner but it's too damn hot out there
Sway bar bushings are too tight :eat:
I also agree that you might have a wrong part # on the shocks. Go on line and look up the correct part # for your car. It would't be the first time someone grabbed the wrong box by mistake. I've also done this job and I went directly to the performance alignment shop. BTW, I installed a load of suspension parts laying on my back, so when I went for the alignment I had the pros look it over and critique anything they could find wrong. It's worth it to do so. It's not like popping the hood and seeing the running parts. For sure you should not have that much shaft showing. Like I said, reference the part numbers first.Quote:
Originally Posted by Knight