Loud Coilover/Suspension Banging

[GreenMNTDC5]

So I have recently installed coilovers on my car and noticed a loud banging sound from the right front, when going over small bumps or potholes.

I have researched, and I know noises from coilovers are common, but this seems strange for brand new coilovers with <1000 miles. I think it might have something to do with my preload on my springs. How much preload do you guys run? Would too much/not enough cause a loud banging??

Any suggestions, common issues?????

I just installed 300zx inner tie rod ends and SPL outter tie rod ends, there is no play, everything torqued to OEM specs. but when I hit a small bump it makes a loud bang, much louder than it should. I also installed new lower controll arms with new bushings on both sides because mine were blown. Tension rods, ect. Car is properly aligned, and I'm not low enough to be bottoming out so IDK

Help please!!

[shiftdrift]

how are the spherical bearings on the top hats?

[zo0d]

Tighten the big nut in the center of the top mount on the camber plate.

Fixed.

[codyace]

Preload won't make it bang, but you should have ZERO preload on the coilovers.

Sure it's not a tension rod heim joint maybe loose, or a jam nut loose? Maybe one hitting the far ends of it's movement?

[GreenMNTDC5]

Preload won't make it bang, but you should have ZERO preload on the coilovers.

Sure it's not a tension rod heim joint maybe loose, or a jam nut loose? Maybe one hitting the far ends of it's movement?

I don't think it's a tension rod loose, I just installed them and everything is tight plus wouldn't that make the alignment go outta whack, and pull to one side?

[GreenMNTDC5]

how are the spherical bearings on the top hats?

The spherical bearings on top look fine and are brand new so IDK?? I've been reading and a lot of people say it might just be the strut mount and or the rubber bushing on the top hat.

I've also just heard from a lot of people that anything will pillowball mounts is noisey, period. Although my old coils never had this problem.

I just want to make sure it's nothing unsafe, a little noise is annoying but I can live with it as long as it's not detrimental to the safety or performance of the car.

***Thanks for your input guys, anyone else please chime in :)

[NISR20MO]

Until I got a few thousand miles on my SPL outers, they would stick, bind, and pop free with a very upsetting loud kind of creak/bang/groan. It would happen over bumps and when turning. Like walking a plank on a old shitty boat.

I have read that you can work a nice grease into them to get rid of the creak, or if you're lazy you can spray them with a lube and wait it out

[GreenMNTDC5]

Until I got a few thousand miles on my SPL outers, they would stick, bind, and pop free with a very upsetting loud kind of creak/bang/groan. It would happen over bumps and when turning. Like walking a plank on a old shitty boat.

I have read that you can work a nice grease into them to get rid of the creak, or if you're lazy you can spray them with a lube and wait it out

Thanks very much for your input/ suggestion, but I don't think it's coming from the tie rod ends only because this noise was happening before i installed them even with the OEM tie rod ends in :( I really think it's something to do with the shock strut itself.

[GreenMNTDC5]

And the fact that it only happens from the front right side makes me wonder what is wrong with that side :(

[Mishkin_707]

Sway bar links? Have you checked the bushings on the sway bar?

[godsmack]

^ beat me to it. the sway bar end link could've snapped but not went flying and everytime you hit a bump it hits the sway bar. something easy to check.

[yetijeff]

What brand are they? Just curious b/c I had the same problem

[GreenMNTDC5]

Sway bar links? Have you checked the bushings on the sway bar?

No I haven't checked the sway bar links, I'll check it out, good suggestion. :)

Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming if anyone else has suggestions or similar issues. I'll keep ya posted if I figure out what it is.

[GreenMNTDC5]

What brand are they? Just curious b/c I had the same problem

What brand is what? My coilovers?

[denian_cellphone]

Tighten the big nut in the center of the top mount on the camber plate.

Fixed.

that was exactly my problem with my Megan tracks...don't buy cheap coils :bow:

[GreenMNTDC5]

So after replacing every single steering bushing, link, rod, ect... (which needed replacing anyways) I found out that denian_cellphone and Z0od were right.

The large nut on the very top of the coilover in the center was loose. Once I tightened that up I had no problems and the coils felt amazing driving into work today :)

Thanks everyone for your help and I hope this thread provides answers to people that have a similar problem.

***So one last question: How many ft/lbs of torque should that nut be tightened to?***

[Highway Riding]

Tighten the big nut in the center of the top mount on the camber plate.

Fixed.


THIS \end thread

[Highway Riding]

So after replacing every single steering bushing, link, rod, ect... (which needed replacing anyways) I found out that denian_cellphone and Z0od were right.

The large nut on the very top of the coilover in the center was loose. Once I tightened that up I had no problems and the coils felt amazing driving into work today :)

Thanks everyone for your help and I hope this thread provides answers to people that have a similar problem.

***So one last question: How many ft/lbs of torque should that nut be tightened to?***

Hand tighten!

[GreenMNTDC5]

That's it? okay... I loosely tightened it with an adjustable wrench this morning.