noise coming form rear.. came up with my" theory"

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 6:39 pm

i recently got megan coilovers and installed them to replace my what i thought were blown struts. i took the car to get 4 wheel aligned and now theres like a clanking noise coming from the bank. im like 99% positive it didnt make the noise before i got allignment. any suggestions?

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 6:50 pm

Is it when you are going over bumps or turning or what? It could be that your rubbing but highly doubtful. Your strut could be "going" but doubtful if they are fairly new. It also now could be that you had a wheel bearing that was weak and now that it's aligned properly it's making the noise casue I had one make that "clanking" noise just before it let go....have you been getting a "droning/loud humming" sound before the alignment?

I'm not 100% sure on these possibilities cause It could be so many things and I'd personally have to hear it to know..

Check that your lugnuts are tight too...just for the hell of it..hear someone tell me that they had a sound like that and lugs were loose and then it went away when they tightened them.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:24 pm

what do the megans use for top-mounts in the rear?

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:31 pm

do you have a rear sway bar? if so the endlinks may be loose or worn.

RADARsx 2.0 · Post by **RADARsx 2.0** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:32 pm

gilly02le wrote:what do the megans use for top-mounts in the rear?

^ see told you there is things that I wouldn't think of. that is a very good possibility.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:00 pm

aluminum plates with pillow balls

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:34 pm

Have some one push the rear bumper up and down, and follow the sound. Its worked for me before lol.

Actually, check the hex nuts at the top of the Megans under the adjustment knob. If they are loose, it will make a clanking/knocking sound.

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:35 pm

Thanks for the responded guys. Its only when I hit bumps usually. The megans are only like 2 months old. Id hope they aren't going out that fast. And I don't think im rubbing. I rolled the fenders and haven't noticed any marks on the tires or rims

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:03 pm

Only other thing I could think of is what Chad said. If those 3 bolts are loose it will clunk a lot... we left one of dan's loose and as soon as we took it for a ride we pulled over because there was a clunk. We tightened them up and it went away.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:56 pm

i doubt your coils are going bad.

have someone get in the trunk and jump up & down on it. then u listen from the outside to seee if the noise pops up.

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:56 pm

Im gunna check them I checked the lugs before Ihad to leave and evey lugnut needed at least a quarter to a half a turn. Idk what all they loosen for an alignment? Ill check the bottom bolts also.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 10:59 am

Yes... check the lug nuts. A loose wheel will certainly make noise. Ask me how I know...

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:36 am

Also when I barely back off the cement pad in the driveway. (A 3 or so inch drop) I can hear the noise the best. The noise just drives me insane driving up 77 to alton with the million bumps

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:41 am

sidepipe87 wrote:Only other thing I could think of is what Chad said. If those 3 bolts are loose it will clunk a lot... we left one of dan's loose and as soon as we took it for a ride we pulled over because there was a clunk. We tightened them up and it went away.

I actually meant the single nut in the center of the pillow block. underneath the adjustment knob.

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:33 pm

Oo never thought of that. Ill check that. Thanks again for the help guyys

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 1:39 am

ZeroChad wrote:
sidepipe87 wrote:Only other thing I could think of is what Chad said. If those 3 bolts are loose it will clunk a lot... we left one of dan's loose and as soon as we took it for a ride we pulled over because there was a clunk. We tightened them up and it went away.
I actually meant the single nut in the center of the pillow block. underneath the adjustment knob.

Yeah I figured out what you meant after I posted and re-read.

Shouldn't really make any noise, but also check that the locking ring on the coil didn't come loose

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:01 am

i checked every single bolt and nut on the coilover and its still making the noise.. could it be the spare tire? i had my mom jump up and down while standing in the trunk like someone suggested and i could not hear anything.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:12 am

skaterking411 wrote: i had my mom jump up and down while standing in the trunk like someone suggested and i could not hear anything.

Pics, or it didn't happen!

Meh, take the spare out. See what happens. Or just check if it isn't tightened down.

What we need is a lift with 4 sets of driven rollers to put the car on, and the rollers can shake or move to simulate road conditions. That way you can stand beside/under the car to see WTF is making the noise. You just need to watch how close of a look you take is all.

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:53 am

hahah o trust me it did. it was quite a sight.

ill try the the spare tire. if its the coilover ill be beyond pissed.

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:19 pm

Ok just did some" critical thinking" haha I was checking out the car and the rite coilover is set lower then the other. Quite lower actually. And if its not sitting on perfectly flat ground I can reach in through the rim and move the spring up and down with about an inch of play. So. I think when I hit a bump they spring gets loose then hit. Sound plausible? That's the only thing I can think of.. also I noticed the threaded"shaft", that the coil adjusts up and down on, screws down into the bottom piece. Could it be screwed to far down there or the other side not enough? Input would be much appreciated. Thanks guys in advance.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:25 pm

Dude... If that's the case, you adjusted your coilovers the WRONG way. With the Megans, like you are noticing now... you should lower the car by spinning the threaded body down into the lower clevis mount. I'm assuming you did it up above which has now messed up the preload on the spring. That's why the spring is clunking around

I'd fix this asap and set all coils (fronts/rears) to the same height. Measure with a ruler.

This is also probably why you said the ride felt so good. You in essence have the springs softened.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:31 pm

Edit: Ryan said it much better.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:32 pm

^You are correct. I'm not sure how far apart the top and bottom lock nuts for the spring are from the factory

EDIT: I still agree with what you had before the edit

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 9:06 pm

Damn.. I officially feel like an idiot..

damn im prolly gunna be up late tonight then haha. Ok so let me get this rite so I understand. Say I set all the springs to halfway. Then adjust into the bottom part until its all level?

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 9:15 pm

Idk what you're saying but let's say however much you turned the lower lock nut (below the spring) turn it BACK that much the other way... this will raise your car back up I suppose. Now to lower it properly, loosen the bottom lock nut (on the bottom clevis. It's the lowest lock ring on the strut) and put the spanner wrench on the TOP lock ring under the spring and crank left (I believe) to lower the threaded body down into the lower clevis. I have no idea how you can measure to get the preload where you want it now. But once they're both set the same you can measure from a fixed point on both sides to make sure you are level.

I know that was a lot to take in, but it's pretty simple. Good luck figuring it out

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 9:21 pm

Ok I think I understand. Im trying it now. Is this the only spring that would have been affected?

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:28 pm

I mean if you adjusted them all the same way I'd assume they'd all be similar... That one might just be more loose than the others.

this may help you out

OB wrote: Also, resetting the preload on the spring perch is a great idea, since BC's are a bit different than typical coilovers in that their primary adjustment is the strut body itself, not the spring preload. I would recommend keeping about 5-10mm preload into the spring at the most, after they break in. Then adjust the body to get the height where you want it. Once all is said and done, make sure all your critical alignment components are good (tie rod ends, wheel bearings, bushings) then have it aligned, knowing it is good and won't need to be touched.

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 10:48 pm

Good news I did what you said and got both sides exactly th same( measuring on the coilover) and the sound is gone! After reading that what exactly does it mean by 5-10 mm of spring preload.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:04 pm

I guess he means from the factory setting. aka compress the spring 5 to 10mm to gain more preload on the spring. OB would be the guy to ask. I don't know in depth physics of suspension. I'm glad the noise is gone now!

skaterking411 · Post by **skaterking411** » Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:33 pm

alright ill try that tomorrow. im calling it a night. haha thanks for the help man really appreciate it!