Suspension Woes

1fast03pony · Feb 14, 2004

Just installed my H&R supersports, Mach 1 shocks/struts, and steeda C/C plates. The drop is awesome and the handling is great

Couple of problems.

The installer stripped (i think, but he claims it was already messed up) the hub on the passenger side front wheel. Therefore, one of the studs will not stay in, so im now left with 4 lugs on instead of 5.

My car is extremely noisy now. Things are clunking, banging, and rattling out of control. Before i had the suspension installed, the magnapacks were pretty noisy. Now, for some reason, it seems like every small bump i hit, it sounds like the exhaust (or suspension, i cant tell) is going to fall off! no exaggeration here.

What should I tell them to check, since im going back monday to see what the hell is up..? Also, how do i stop my magnapacks from clunking when i hit bumps!! any advice is desperately appreciated!!!

-Jon

DrK MrK iV · Feb 15, 2004

I would guess check under the body and see if they messed up any of the piping. :dunno:

Sorry to ask... But how is the ride quality?

Ruckus46Gt · Feb 15, 2004

got any pics cause this was the set up i was thinking about getting. I have the springs just not sure what to do abotu shocks. If you could get some pics and post them or pm me with them that'd be great. Sorry to hear that your car got ****ed up from the person who put them in. They always break **** and say it was done before hand. I had some guy at the dealership take off my rims on my civic when i had it and he didnt take off the spacer that stops the vibrations and stripped out all 16 lug nuts. Needless to say i had to spend 400 dollars to get the nuts and studs replaced. never drive off and then say it doesnt feel right.

1fast03pony · Feb 15, 2004

Im going to take pics today.

Ride quality it EXCELLENT

its very firm, but comfortable at the same time.

As for the breaking of the hub, i dont know how much this will cost, but i think i might have to get one and pay for install myself which SUCKS

I drove away from the place, and it was NOT rattling or anything, just a slight clunk from my exhaust. Im 90% sure its the magnapacks but i want to be absolutely sure the suspension is tight.

DrK MrK iV · Feb 15, 2004

Im no expert by any means, but I am pretty sure it's your exhaust.

1fast03pony · Feb 16, 2004

rear clunk was fixed. heated up the magnapack pipes and banged them to flatten where they were making contact with the rear swaybar.

The front suspension still makes noise over bumps, but was checked by the shop and everything is tight. Could it be bad shocks? what else can i check??!

RookieOne · Feb 16, 2004

1fast03pony said:
rear clunk was fixed. heated up the magnapack pipes and banged them to flatten where they were making contact with the rear swaybar.

The front suspension still makes noise over bumps, but was checked by the shop and everything is tight. Could it be bad shocks? what else can i check??!

I have Sportlines and '03 Cobra Bilstien Struts up front and I have very noticable noise "clunks" from the front end when I go over bumps, like speed bumps.

I've gone and looked things over and over, and every thing is tight and secure.

In my case, I've found that the plastic dust shield sleeve over the strut barely fits through the hole in the fender. At normal compression the sleeve is just below the hole. going over a bump, the sleeve pushes through the hole and catches, making a clunking noise.

At this point, my options are to remove the shield (not likely, due to dust damage....Hello....Arizona!!!) or go in and strip everything out and enlarge the hole. (Again, not likely, Way too much work)

I just live with it and keep an eye on the components to make sure that the components are doing ok.

I also see a bit of clunking from 'Bump Steer'. A common side effect of lowering the front end. This can be fixed, from what I hear, with some new ball joints.

Good luck.

Later

1fast03pony · Feb 16, 2004

RookieOne said:
I have Sportlines and '03 Cobra Bilstien Struts up front and I have very noticable noise "clunks" from the front end when I go over bumps, like speed bumps.

I've gone and looked things over and over, and every thing is tight and secure.

In my case, I've found that the plastic dust shield sleeve over the strut barely fits through the hole in the fender. At normal compression the sleeve is just below the hole. going over a bump, the sleeve pushes through the hole and catches, making a clunking noise.

At this point, my options are to remove the shield (not likely, due to dust damage....Hello....Arizona!!!) or go in and strip everything out and enlarge the hole. (Again, not likely, Way too much work)

I just live with it and keep an eye on the components to make sure that the components are doing ok.

I also see a bit of clunking from 'Bump Steer'. A common side effect of lowering the front end. This can be fixed, from what I hear, with some new ball joints.

Good luck.

Later

nice reply. I think ill get some balljoints and see what my shield looks like. thanks

hognutz · Feb 16, 2004

I think you may be able to use offset rack bushings as well. they are cheaper than the balljoints.

Stus99GT · Feb 16, 2004

1fast03pony said:
Im going to take pics today.

Ride quality it EXCELLENT

its very firm, but comfortable at the same time.

As for the breaking of the hub, i dont know how much this will cost, but i think i might have to get one and pay for install myself which SUCKS

I drove away from the place, and it was NOT rattling or anything, just a slight clunk from my exhaust. Im 90% sure its the magnapacks but i want to be absolutely sure the suspension is tight.

Replacing a wheel stud is only (at most) a one hour job. It cost me $40 to have one replaced that I broke off

1fast03pony · Feb 16, 2004

Stus99GT said:
Replacing a wheel stud is only (at most) a one hour job. It cost me $40 to have one replaced that I broke off

I think he stripped the HUB that the stud goes into. i have to replace the whole damned thing.

01LaserRedCobra · Mar 3, 2004

I have the same issue... does it happen to sound like this... it is coming from the front I believe. I have Eibach springs, QA1 struts and MM caster/camber plates. I still can't figure it out!!!! It is pissing me off.

change the file extension to .wmv to hear the sound. The forum doesn't allow this type of attachment.

1fast03pony · Mar 3, 2004

01LaserRedCobra said:
I have the same issue... does it happen to sound like this... it is coming from the front I believe. I have Eibach springs, QA1 struts and MM caster/camber plates. I still can't figure it out!!!! It is pissing me off.

change the file extension to .wmv to hear the sound. The forum doesn't allow this type of attachment.

yes.. mine sounds exactly the same. I really want to know how to get rid of it, or at least how to effectively tighten the strut bolt on top because every time i try, the top of the strut spins with the bolt.

01LaserRedCobra · Mar 3, 2004

I know I can't find a answer? My spacers are correct and I have the nut on top torqued down as tight as possible... without the shaft spinning.. I even #ucked up the top of my strut threads with vice grips trying to use more leverage in getting the nut tighter. So this *)^&*^$^#^_()%&_*&_#(*^% sucks!

01LaserRedCobra · Mar 3, 2004

Also I know for a fact it isn't the caster camber plates. Cause I used the stock caster camber plates before I got the MM's. Using the stock ones it made the same damn noise? I figured getting the MM ones would make the sound go away???

I am wondering if the K-member bolts need to be torqued down some... I thought I read a thread at one time that said they can come loose?

1fast03pony · Mar 3, 2004

01LaserRedCobra said:
Also I know for a fact it isn't the caster camber plates. Cause I used the stock caster camber plates before I got the MM's. Using the stock ones it made the same damn noise? I figured getting the MM ones would make the sound go away???

I am wondering if the K-member bolts need to be torqued down some... I thought I read a thread at one time that said they can come loose?

well this just made me cringe. I had the noise checked out by mustang magic, they adjusted the spacers and everything and they are confident its the c/c plates. there are also other threads on this noise. I am convinced its my c/c plates because it sounds like its coming from the top of the strut tower. I can actually feel the clunk a little bit. Do you have the torque specs for the k-member bolts?

This had just started for me when i had the new suspension (mach 1 shocks/struts, H&R SS, Steeda 4 bolt aluminum c/c plates) and it didnt do it before that.
Try tightenin the k-member bolts and let me know if it helps. This is really frustrating me too because it sounds like #@!%....

01LaserRedCobra · Mar 3, 2004

I am also wondering if it could be the ball joints? With the car lowered from the springs, did the angle with the spindle change so the ball joints just get abused?

1fast03pony · Mar 3, 2004

01LaserRedCobra said:
I am also wondering if it could be the ball joints? With the car lowered from the springs, did the angle with the spindle change so the ball joints just get abused?

yes but i dont think something like that would make noise immediately, it may happen over time. I might swap out the balljoints for the x2's soon if i cant get that bolt tight.I was gonna do it anyway..

Ruckus46Gt · Mar 4, 2004

1fast any pics yet?

1fast03pony · Mar 4, 2004

Ruckus46Gt said:
1fast any pics yet?

i apologize.. im at school, the pics are on my home pc. completely forgot. ill post them when i get home for sure. you have my word

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