Coilovers are making noises....

[dthebuk]

Ok so've ive replaced my shocks with kei office coilovers. Now whenever i turn the steering wheel i hear a kind of twang noise coming from the front. Its like the spring is trying to move or something. All ive done is litrally replace the shocks like for like with these coilovers. Does it sound like ive done something rong? Anyone got any ideas/know what would be causing this and how i can resolve it?
When the wheels are off the front (and not under any loading) the noise does not exist.

thanks people :WaveBye

[L18M]

mine does that also.. i think prof also..
i posted b4 but dunt think i got a result.

i think it might be sth to do with the angle of the steering arm.
i spoke to my local mechanic about it and he said that the steering arm from the rack to the wheel should either be horizontal or at a declining angle (stock height).
not good for the steering arm to be at an inclined angle from the rack to the wheel (lowered height).

[TiddlesRX7]

Mine (Kei office) do this too mate. What I've found is that the nut on the strut of the shock is too tight on the pillow ball bearing. Once I slackened it off it stopped the twnging. Unfortunately it made the nut loosen itself after a short while of driving and I was getting a hell of a knock insted of a twang. In the end I had to just play around with the nuts (he he!) for a week or so to get the right amount of nip on the nuts.

[dthebuk]

ah cheers mate.

You don't happen to have any C-spanners for them that could borrow do you? If you posted them to me i could get them back to you for rotorstock (if your there)

I just don't know where to get hold of them

[TiddlesRX7]

I just used some regular multi size c spanners like you get from any good tool supplier. Like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Britool-C-hook-spanner_W0QQitemZ270407468325QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _Hand_Tools_Equipment?hash=item3ef58a8525&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A6|72%3A1683|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A25

You'l probably be able to buy a pair (second hand) for as much as postage.

[TiddlesRX7]

On a side note, Paul (Driftmotion) was asking after you yesterday when I was down at his place. Was wondering how your getting on with the drifting. He's got an Ae86 now for going sideways.

[dthebuk]

ah right yea. Sadly we havnt got too far on the car. Been busy with uni and that. Though it should have a few drift days under its belt in the next few weeks.

Yea i remeber the 86. It loooooooks amazing. Do you know if hes going to rotorstock?

Cheers for the link, thought you needed specifics for certain coilovers.

Also, how kinda loose should i be going, went a bit looser and it didnt make to much difference, any looser and they'd be finger tight

[TiddlesRX7]

Well I took then out completely and then worked backwards. on the passenger side it was just over finger tight really, but on the drivers side I had trouble. It kept coming undone so each time I tightened it I just nipped it a little more. eventually I had to nip it quite tight really and now the twnag is back. But not as bad as it was.
The nuts go quite far down into the bearing just incase your wondering and the strut doesn't come right through the nut.

[dthebuk]

ah ok, i'llhave a propper nosey tomorrow. Any idea if this is an MOT failure? and does it cause problems with the performance of the car?

[TiddlesRX7]

Mine passed last year like it so I don't see it being a problem for you. Maybe dont turn the car from lock to lock when at the garage though just incase they take a closer look.
Out of interest does it make your car pull to a side depending what lock you were at last time? Mine did and it was a proper :censored::censored::censored::censored::censored:. I was was convinced it was the geometry set wrong untill I loosened the nuts.

[dthebuk]

yes! thats exactly what it does!!!

I shall loosen them then. Ive also been told the bearings at the top (of the shock?) could have seized, Looks like im gunna have to take it all apart if loosening doesnt sort it.

Thanks for the input

[AtomicRex]

In the end I had to just play around with the nuts (he he!) for a week or so to get the right amount of nip on the nuts.

Did this come to much??

[TiddlesRX7]

Did this come to much??
In a funny way or a serious way!?

yes! thats exactly what it does!!!

I shall loosen them then. Ive also been told the bearings at the top (of the shock?) could have seized, Looks like im gunna have to take it all apart if loosening doesnt sort it.

Thanks for the input

Whilst I had the nuts off (so many inuendos in this thread) I sprayed some penetrating fluid that turns to grease as it drys into the bearing. I think this also helped.

[AtomicRex]

In a funny way or a serious way!?


lol.....cant believe you asked me that!

And yes...this has more double entendres than an episode of Black Adder

[mukumu kurubushi]

My kei office passenger side coilover also does this (maybe there's some kind of pattern here!)

I keep meaning to get around to whiping it off and taking a closer look, but from what i saw the top of the spring was getting snagged and pinged round every so often.

Wasn't a fail my MOT either.

I soaked it with grease spray and it must have managed to work it's way in. It doesnt make the noise as often and its much quieter.

Think i'll take Adrians advice and look at my nuts as well.

[chrisJDM]

what is it with owners of FC's having problems with there nuts :Nono!

[TiddlesRX7]

Our nuts are older than yours thats why!

[mukumu kurubushi]

That's true. Our nuts are past their best :(

[L18M]

at least we got nuts :D

[TiddlesRX7]

Next you'll be saying "my nuts are bigger than your nuts"!

[mukumu kurubushi]

My nuts are more JDM than yours ;)

[dthebuk]

well I had a play with the nuts and the twanging has stopped, but it still pulls to one side (or the other side). I am told this is due to the bearing in the top plates seizing/being broken. Also it turns out that my passenger shock is flexing!!! Ahhh what do i do about that?

Other than that they're fine, dam stiff, handle beautifully. :D