coilover noise - help please

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dhrusk1

Member

Apr 17, 2002

41

0

6

chicago

Apr 17, 2006

#1

• Apr 17, 2006

• #1

I installed a D&D tubular front suspension and CC plates/coilovers recently and the slightest bump sounds so loud in the car. Has anyone else installed coilovers and had this, I am wondering if I should get a different brand of coilovers or maybe there is just a rubber noise isolater I can add to my current setup to quite the noise a little. I knew it would be bumpier and louder than stock, but I never expected it too be as bad as it is. Any suggestions or advice is appreciated.

 

stonegod85

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

208

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0

Columbia, South Carolina

Apr 17, 2006

#2

• Apr 17, 2006

• #2

what is the spring rate? if they are 250 lbers then that is how it will always be until you buy some adjustable struts (10 way strange i recommend) then you can set the struts to drag and they will be a little quieter. BUT if they are 175lbers like mine, i don't know what that could be as mine doesn't make any noise and i have 10 way stranges set at road race (the hardest setting for daily driving so i don't bottom out with the drag springs) and i have no noise. if they are the 250's change them out and you'll be happier.

 

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dhrusk1

Member

Apr 17, 2002

41

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6

chicago

Apr 17, 2006

#3

• Apr 17, 2006

• #3

i am not sure what the spring rate is, I will find out and post as soon as I know, but I am using the stock struts. I don't see how changing the struts would reduce noise though.

 

stonegod85

New Member

Mar 30, 2005

208

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Columbia, South Carolina

Apr 17, 2006

#4

• Apr 17, 2006

• #4

well when you go from stock struts to ajustables, alot changes! the noise, in this case, can be a factor. if you set the struts to harder than stock they won't dampen as much which can create a harder ride and more road noise. if you set them to drag race (softer than stock) then you have more dampening and way less road noise and a smoother ride. if i were you i would invest in some 10 way strange struts they are about $110 a piece but very much worth it in my opinion. the main thing though is the spring rate. me and a few buddies have witnessed that when using the 250lb springs they create a lot of squeeks and creeks and road noise b/c they are SOOOO STIFF! but when switching to the 175lb springs it all goes away and the ride is sooo much better, along with major launch improvements!

 

Thundermouse

Member

Sep 17, 2003

168

3

18

Decatur, GA

Apr 17, 2006

#5

• Apr 17, 2006

• #5

stonegod85 said:

well when you go from stock struts to ajustables, alot changes! the noise, in this case, can be a factor. if you set the struts to harder than stock they won't dampen as much which can create a harder ride and more road noise. if you set them to drag race (softer than stock) then you have more dampening and way less road noise and a smoother ride. if i were you i would invest in some 10 way strange struts they are about $110 a piece but very much worth it in my opinion. the main thing though is the spring rate. me and a few buddies have witnessed that when using the 250lb springs they create a lot of squeeks and creeks and road noise b/c they are SOOOO STIFF! but when switching to the 175lb springs it all goes away and the ride is sooo much better, along with major launch improvements!

Click to expand...

I think you meant softer than stock means less dampening. I also think that there is more to what's causing the squeak than a relatively stiffer spring rate; I think what he is describing is the contact noise between the steel spring and the aluminum seat.
Here's a thread on how some of the corner carver guys addressed the issue:
http://corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11211&highlight=Nylatron

Good luck getting rid of the noise.

 

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dhrusk1

Member

Apr 17, 2002

41

0

6

chicago

Apr 17, 2006

#6

• Apr 17, 2006

• #6

The only thing I have seen for coilovers is a small piece of rubber that fits onto the spring coils to dampen noise when you hit a large bump and the spring is fully compressed, thus the coils hit each other making a clank sound of metal on metal.

the problem I have is loud noise even on the tinyest cracks in the road -- even when I am going over where the road has cracked and they spread tar over the crack it makes a pretty loud sound. It is really anoying.

 

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rpburnette

Member

May 22, 2003

152

0

16

Tampa, FL

Apr 17, 2006

#7

• Apr 17, 2006

• #7

I have MM front and rear coilovers, I just installed them about 3 weeks ago. They are great, I am using 350lb springs in the front and 250lb springs in the back. I am also using Bilstein struts and shocks. I don't have any noise in the car from my coilovers. The ride is pretty harsh with the high spring rate, but it isn't that bad, I personally think the performance is worth it.

I did a lot of research before deciding on wich kit to get and I found out that almost all kits had complaints about noise except MM's kit, which is why I went with them.

Good luck

 

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dhrusk1

Member

Apr 17, 2002

41

0

6

chicago

Apr 18, 2006

#8

• Apr 18, 2006

• #8

looking at the coil over kits they all look pretty much the same, does the MM kit have any rubber isolators or any other design feature that might help prevent noise? I just can't believe that one kit would be so much quieter than the next when they all look like the components and design are almost identical.

 

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rpburnette

Member

May 22, 2003

152

0

16

Tampa, FL

Apr 19, 2006

#9

• Apr 19, 2006

• #9

dhrusk1 said:

looking at the coil over kits they all look pretty much the same, does the MM kit have any rubber isolators or any other design feature that might help prevent noise? I just can't believe that one kit would be so much quieter than the next when they all look like the components and design are almost identical.

Click to expand...

I haven't looked at the actual detailed design of the other kits so I am not sure what the differences are. If you go to MM's website and look at the installation instructions, you will be able to see every component of their design.

 

hotmustang331

Active Member

Apr 29, 2004

2,967

3

48

Bastrop,TX

Apr 19, 2006

#10

• Apr 19, 2006

• #10

HAHA, welcome to the club . I was wondering if I was the only one having this problem, and was getting ready to start a thread on MD.

I have 175# springs, and tociko illuminas 5 way drag shocks. VERY smooth on the highway, and not even that bad on the little reflectors. But like road construction or sudded bumps in the road like raddle the dash! Very loud, sounds like you hit a huge pot hole lol. I would love to get some rubber around there and maybe that would help.

But I have my shocks on setting 1 (SOFT) and it made a big difference. When they were on 3 it was quite abit more harsh. I couldnt imagine 250# springs W/ road race shocks .

 

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rconaway

Founding Member

Nov 11, 1999

1,415

3

39

Phoenix, Az.

Apr 19, 2006

#11

• Apr 19, 2006

• #11

I have the D&D with Tokicos also. The first issue with noise is simply making sure that you grease all the bushings with synthetic grease. The second issue is that the top of the tower is weak. It wasn't designed to support the load of a coilover. I would suggest welding a plate in there to support it. That reduces the noise signficantly and reinforces the top of the tower. I wouuld also suggest a 3-point strut brace like Steeda's.

I would also suggest Koni's instead of Tokico's in this application. If the car is a dual use track/street, you need the ability to adjust dampening and rebound seperately. That would help even further.

 

1fast03pony

Member

Jul 1, 2003

749

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17

New york

Apr 19, 2006

#12

• Apr 19, 2006

• #12

I had griggs coilovers with 5 way adjustable koni yellows.. it was so noisy i had to take them out.

 

hognutz

New Member

Nov 12, 2002

1,940

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albany, oregon

Apr 20, 2006

#13

• Apr 20, 2006

• #13

I don't have coilovers but have researched them a ton. MM are the only brand that doesn not get bad complaints about noise. I don't have them to coment on whether they are quite or not though.

It is the brand I would try if any though. Eibach also makes a kit but I have not heard any first hand feedback on it.

 

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dhrusk1

Member

Apr 17, 2002

41

0

6

chicago

Apr 24, 2006

#14

• Apr 24, 2006

• #14

I think a lot of it has to do with were you live too. The streets here in chicago are a lot bumpier than in other parts of the country, particularly down south where there is no snow, salt, and plows to screw up the road surface. Has anyone seen any coilover kits that come some kind of noise isolator, or know of anywhere where you could get a isolator that would work on the various kits that are out on the market (the design on all of them seems pretty much the same)?

 

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rpburnette

Member

May 22, 2003

152

0

16

Tampa, FL

Apr 25, 2006

#15

• Apr 25, 2006

• #15

I am the guy that posted about the MM coilovers not making noise. Since than I have payed closer attention to the noise in the car, especially from the suspension. I have 350# in the front and 250# in the back, so my suspension is very stiff. I have noticed noise but it is not coming directly from the suspension, it is coming from things rattling in the car, such as my dash and my rear seat. I don't hear any noise coming from the suspension itself. So make sure you aren't blaming things on the suspension when they are really just loose things in your car.

Before I had the coilovers, I had Steeda Sport Springs and Tokico 5-way adjustables. The ride was not as stiff, but I still heard the same noises and when I got to checking around, I noticed several things loose. Hey we don't drive Mercedes, so everything isn't going to be perfect.

These are just suggestions and good luck with your car.

 

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rconaway

Founding Member

Nov 11, 1999

1,415

3

39

Phoenix, Az.

Apr 25, 2006

#16

• Apr 25, 2006

• #16

You are correct. The center console turns into a Mexican shaker. The coilover combination will generate more impact to the car with the coilovers but I believe changing to Koni dual adjustable's will help. I'm getting ready to tear my dash apart and fix the rattles.

 

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dhrusk1

Member

Apr 17, 2002

41

0

6

chicago

Apr 27, 2006

#17

• Apr 27, 2006

• #17

I had steeda sport springs before too, and it was not nearly as bad. Yes, there are some rattles coming from the dash, but most of the noise is comming from the suspension.