[Mk2] [Generic] New Coilovers fitted - Clunking noise from front pasenger side

[Timsmr2]

Hi All,

Have just fitted new BC coilovers and droplinks (also have recently changed to TRD arbs and polybushes all round).

Took the car out for a test drive and everytime i hit a decent sized bump in the road there is a loud "clunk" (sounds like when you hit 2 solid metal bars together) from the front passenger side and it feels very crashy. Also the rear passenger side clunks but only if i hit a substaintial pot hole.

So removed both front wheels made sure that the droplinks we nice and tight and they were. Put everything back together and went for another drive, and it hasnt solved the problem.

Any ideas ?

[Lewis Jay]

Anti-roll bar at the front hitting the lower link arm, check for marks.

ARB drop links are to long, when the car is sat on the gound you hit a bump you get a knock, when jacked up they will look o.k.

Lewis.

[Timsmr2]

good call i'll have a look tonight and report back

[daveslater3110]

That sounds about right! I had small droplinks on my coilovers. Does that apply for standard suspension aswell? Im getting an awful knocking noise from the front, even on a flat road, well uk roads aren't that flat but you know what i mean! My mate suggested that it could be ball joints. Ive just fitted standard black billies and i cant help thinking that ive put something in wrong, or what lewis said?

Dave.

[Timsmr2]

OK, had a look at the ARB but couldn't see any marks where it could be knocking against anything.

I managed to take this picture when the car was on the ground with wheel on does this look ok to you or have I messed something up




Also here's a couple with the wheel off (incase it helps)

[djpkins]

top mount or a loose top nut...I have had both and they can sound really bad even with the slightest amount of wear or play...if your coilovers are second hand then one could just be fubar'd, not enough oil inside, although you would expect to see signs of a leak...

[Timsmr2]

The're brand new so arent worn at all. Although I spose it could be possible that its come faulty from the manufacturer.

I'll double check the top bolt and see if it feels loose.

[phipck]

just something i spotted, your droplinks are on the wrong side of the bracket. they should be tucked away on the inside of the bracket, threads facing into the car.

with them the current way round theres litte clearence between the wheelarch and the droplink especialy on the rear. This may not be your current issue but as i said just something i spotted out of place.

the arb looks to be aiming slightly upward, i know that while sat on the ground the mounting point of the standard arb should be almost horizontal. if aiming upward, as shown in you final pic with the car jacked, the mid section of the arb might be making contact with the car.

[Lewis Jay]

(Put wheel back on and have a look from underneath with all wheels on the ground, you cant tell with it jacked up). Ignore this bit have just re-read post


Lower ball joints, top mounts as already said.

May sound stupid but have you anything metal in the frunk that may bounce about now you have harder suspension?

Also double check all bolts are tight around that area as you will have had a few things undone to fit new parts.

[Timsmr2]

(Put wheel back on and have a look from underneath with all wheels on the ground, you cant tell with it jacked up). Ignore this bit have just re-read post


Lower ball joints, top mounts as already said.

May sound stupid but have you anything metal in the frunk that may bounce about now you have harder suspension?

Also double check all bolts are tight around that area as you will have had a few things undone to fit new parts.

Hi Lewis (hows things)

I'll double check top bolt, top mounts, and the lower ball joint tonight and see if i find anything. (had already double checked the topmount but will recheck anyway. Will also re-check all bolts down there.

Also wondering about the droplinks as already said they are on the wrong way as its the only way they would fit. Appenrantly BC are doing replacement bottom mounts free as this is a known issue.

http://mr2oc.co.uk/forums/171/127558.html?start=84

Though they are saying it should only effect people that have the rife height really low and at the moment i dont think mine is.

[Timsmr2]

Ok a just spoke to Whifbitz who i bought the BCs of and they are gonna arrange a new set of bottom mounts for me as the new ones are made with a bigger bracket that will allow me to mount the droplinks the other way round.

[phipck]

how low is your car currently set, as im sure the mounts are designed to a certain drop, for example at least a 30mm drop. in that instance if you havent dropped the car that far you will be holding the arb too high.

the only pic i have to demostrate what i mean is pretty shoddy, has a standard arb and taken for a different purpose but here goes,

just behind the brake caliper you can see my standard arb with the straight section next to the droplink aiming slightly lower than horizontal, this is because a: the front of the car car is jacked so it appears to be almost horizontal and b: because when the car sits on the ground the arb pitches up about 15mm.



yours when on the ground looks to be pitching up quite high, which could mean either you need longer droplinks to compensate. this is why i like the hsd coilovers as they have an adjustable droplink perch

[Timsmr2]

Not sure of the actual ride height but i'm pretty sure its well below stock. Its not as low as my old HA's but they were really low.

Here a pic of the adjustable height collar there is only 44mm between the bottom of this and the top of the top collar for the preload so they can probably only go another 25-30mm lower tops

[daveslater3110]

In response to the first set of photos..I could be wrong but them droplinks look too small to me mate. Can't really tell from pic but looks as if the front anti roll bar has flipped upwards so it's more vertical than horizontal, when I put my standard struts on, I put the small droplinks that were on the front coilovers onto the standard, which caused the arb to flip, which caused mass clunking noises!! I could be wrong as can't really tell with looking at pics, you might have right size droplinks and the arb hasn't moved and I'm just blind!! But that's my opinion on thinks anyways. Dave.

[phipck]

were in agreement on opinion then, droplinks look too short!

[daveslater3110]

Oh yeah, we are indeed! Sorry mate, didn't see your post. Glad someone else mentioned it though! Dave.

[phipck]

no need to be sorry, sometimes i start questioning myself when im the only person to come up with a unique answer, its good to know somone else spotted it too

[daveslater3110]

Lol, know exactly what you mean mate! Still got a clunking from my car though. Realised tonight that it's only on the drivers side, with all this talk about droplinks, maybe I've got a bad one or it's not tight enough or sumet, dunno I'll have a ganders. Hope this problem gets sorted with this lads glunkiness anyway! Dave.

[Timsmr2]

Yep I think you guys are right that the ARB is sitting too high. I'm hoping that once I get the new bottom mounts I will be able to install the droplinks the other way round and this will cause the bottom of the droplink/ARB to sit a bit lower.

[Timsmr2]

Little update - the new bottom mounts have turned up. They actually turned up yesturday but have been sitting at the office. Really impressed with both Whifbitz and BC-racing.co.uk (Apex Performance) as I only asked Whifbitz if they could get the replacements for me on Tuesday so had them next day.