Strut and C/C plates swap

BlackVert · Sep 29, 2008

I am so sick of this rattle in my front end that I think I am going to swap the struts out and go back to stock CC plates. My rattle must be there because it did not change when I pulled out the coil-overs and went back to stock springs.

Is changing the struts and CC plates something that can be done without removing the springs?

And should I be able to swap one strut and CC plate in an hour or so?

If so, I might try doing it over my lunch break over a few days. I would do one the first day and then the other one the next day. Then the day after that, I'd get it aligned.

Or should I expect another nightmare project?

HISSIN50 · Sep 29, 2008

There are other issues that can cause noise. Decent CC plates should not be noisy anyhow. Are you really sure it's the bearings in the plates?

You can change struts and plates without removing springs.

You could swap the parts in an hour but if you run into an issue, you're kinda in a bind. I'd just spend a couple hours one night and do the swap then.

You'll probably just need to max out the caster and neg camber after installing the stock plates (and then align the toe since you wont have as much neg camber).

BlackVert · Sep 29, 2008

here's the thing ... immediately after putting in these CC plates, the coilovers and the struts, there was a terrible rattle. i have heard that coil overs have a tendency to rattle, so i went back to stock springs. that didnt help, so it is most likely either the CC plates or the struts, or both, right?

since i dont which, i am thinking i would save money in the long run to pay the labor for replacing them both at the same time, rather than trying one and then the other when the first thing didnt solve it.

HISSIN50 · Sep 30, 2008

If you jack up a front corner, you should be able to lower the car down while listening (with the hood up) and maybe hear the source of the noise. You can get noise from items like the anti-sway bar.

If your CC plates were new and decent (something like MM's), they should not be noisy. Make sure the strut is tight (on top) and no spacers are rattling around (there are spacers above and below the plates). Also be sure the strut shaft fits relatively tight in the CC plate bore.

Because paid labor is involved here, I agree that swapping out everything could be prudent. However, the chances of a strut itself making noise is slight IMHO.

It's not a bad swap to do yourself if you happen to feel like it.

Good luck.

Husky44 · Sep 30, 2008

Did you check hood clearance from the top of the strut?

Depending on your cc plate, you might have a strut hitting your hood. Try some clay on the top, then close the hood (you probably can also detect it by scratched paint on your hood, and/or hood paint on the tops of the struts.

Just a thought. Can't imagine what would be rattling.

Yes, you can swap struts and cc plates without removing the springs. You could probably do it in an hour, IF you already did the install once (which I gather from your comments you didn't). If you haven't already been playing around there, it might take you a little longer.

revhead347 · Sep 30, 2008

Do you have an impact gun? That makes a huge difference on how long that job takes.

Kurt

BREWTUS428CJ · Sep 30, 2008

I had the same issue with my car, when I bought it it had these saleen camber/caster plates, they have these little bushings in there that made a racket. The only way I could duplicate what I was hearing on the freeway was hitting the top of the strut with a rubber mallet. I took the saleens out and put in some MAC's and its totally quiet now.

legalize420 · Sep 30, 2008

Husky44 said:
Did you check hood clearance from the top of the strut?

Depending on your cc plate, you might have a strut hitting your hood. .

after reading this i went outside and sure enough there are two little dimples in the hood from the struts. that noise has been driving me crazy ever since i installed my c/c plates. thank you

Husky44 · Oct 1, 2008

legalize420 said:
after reading this i went outside and sure enough there are two little dimples in the hood from the struts. that noise has been driving me crazy ever since i installed my c/c plates. thank you

Glad I could help!

Did you pay to have this install done? If so, I'd take it back to the shop--this is a no-brainer. My MM cc kit instructions told me to check for this. They also told me how to use the spacers to adjust the top of the strut so it didn't hit.

I would hope the shop would fix your cc kit, re-install your coilovers (I think I remember reading that you removed them?), and re-do your alignment. This shouldn't have happened, and they ought to be willing to make it right.

legalize420 · Oct 1, 2008

Husky44 said:
Glad I could help!

Did you pay to have this install done? If so, I'd take it back to the shop--this is a no-brainer. My MM cc kit instructions told me to check for this. They also told me how to use the spacers to adjust the top of the strut so it didn't hit.

I would hope the shop would fix your cc kit, re-install your coilovers (I think I remember reading that you removed them?), and re-do your alignment. This shouldn't have happened, and they ought to be willing to make it right.

after going back out and taking another look it was actually not the strut. it was one of the studs from the c/c plate. i did the install and my instructions said nothing about hood clearence and i just assumed they would clear. i ended up drilling a hole in the underside of the hood. luckily there is some dead space behind the contact point. took me all of 5 minutes and now the noise is gone. about the coilovers i think you are refering to the original poster. i dont have coilovers yet.

Chythar · Oct 1, 2008

Husky44 said:
Did you check hood clearance from the top of the strut?

Depending on your cc plate, you might have a strut hitting your hood. Try some clay on the top, then close the hood (you probably can also detect it by scratched paint on your hood, and/or hood paint on the tops of the struts.

Just a thought. Can't imagine what would be rattling.

Yes, you can swap struts and cc plates without removing the springs. You could probably do it in an hour, IF you already did the install once (which I gather from your comments you didn't). If you haven't already been playing around there, it might take you a little longer.

Sonova--

I just checked my hood and I have two notches where my struts hit my hood. I've been having the same rattle that BlackVert was describing, ever since I put on new struts and c/c plates. I have c/c plates on my Cobra conversion and never had this problem. Of course, it's a different brand of c/c plate. I'll swap a spacer to the bottom and see if the noise goes away.

Not bad Husky44, three problems solved with one post.

Husky44 · Oct 1, 2008

Chythar said:
Sonova--

I just checked my hood and I have two notches where my struts hit my hood. I've been having the same rattle that BlackVert was describing, ever since I put on new struts and c/c plates. I have c/c plates on my Cobra conversion and never had this problem. Of course, it's a different brand of c/c plate. I'll swap a spacer to the bottom and see if the noise goes away.

Not bad Husky44, three problems solved with one post.

OK, now I'm confused. I totally lost track of who posted what. Thought Legalize420 was the original poster. That makes only 2 so far that it actually fixed, and not the OP.

So, BlackVert-what's the verdict? Was this where your noise was coming from? If I get three solved, do I get a cookie?

BlackVert · Oct 1, 2008

it sill be a while before i actually get around to doing anything with this, but i'll post back when i do

Strut and C/C plates swap

BlackVert

HISSIN50

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BlackVert

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BREWTUS428CJ

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Chythar

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