Hey, My driver side coilover is making a popping sound. The first time I had installed the coilover wrong and fixed that but it is still making this popping sound. It sounds like the Spring inside the coilover is moving every time i turn my steering wheel to the left and right really fast. Im thinking that there some play between the spring and the top hat. But idk. I managed to try to take a video. Its kinda hard to get the sound because it only happens sometimes when i turn the steering wheel really fast.


The video isnt all that great. Just used my iPhone. But you can start to hear it at 5 seconds. You might have to turn up the volume to hear it but its there.

http://http://s1120.beta.photobucket.com/user/hondapass/media/IMG_0337.mp4.html

If you didn't properly index the spring it can make a popping sound. Also if your strut mounts are bad it will do that.

How would I know if the strut mounts/bearings are bad?


The clunking sound doesn't happen when I'm going straight it only happens when ever I turn the wheel.

Take a look at your lower controll arm bushings. Those are what usually make the popping sound

you have to remove the bearing to know for sure you can also use thrust bearings for the bottom pearch to make sure it never happens again.
[autostream]http://autostream.com/ibcivicforums/?page_type=firebirdplayerthumbnail&framepage=1340& transactionid=1352823000-693784169&posted_by=_www.civicforums.com&youtube_v ideo_id=YPO345XrlRE[/autostream]
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hal-7888-109

This may be silly, but...

How loaded are the springs? I almost 99.9% sure you have a linear rate spring on there which would make what happening difficult to do. Basically your coils could be rubbing each other when you hit a bump.

I had sportlines on my accord for a bit and they did that. Eibach sent me some tubing to wrap every other coil and it got rid of the popping noise.

Just my experience

Thanx Lowlife. I put that in my parts list. I'm guessing you put the bearing side on the plate side...correct?

Ooops. I get it. The bearing goes between the washers.

@lowlife

You've mentioned that method of fixing the problem before and I definitely want to try it. In the link you sent, is that the correct size of thrust bearing needed? Are most, if not all, coilover bearings the same diameter? I'm too lazy to pop my coilovers off to check the size, lol

im not certain i used that link as a reference.considering coilovers range in sizes you would probably want to measure yours for accuracy. if your having binding issues i would also replace the upper bearings and not just use those as a band-aid.

I think my buddy clubs only came with a top washer and bottom washer (thrust washer?). When I back out of my drive way at super low speeds it will occasionally bind but other than that mine is problem free.

I guess you could run into problems if you didn't set your preloads correctly.

I think it might be my strut mounts, thinking about replacing them and seeing if that fixes the problem. I looked at kragen for strut mounts and they are selling one mount with bearing for $48. I think thats kinda high just for a strut mount. Is there any other places that might have it for cheaper? Or should I just go with the ones from kragen. Also would one from a rsx fit or is it different?

Does it make that sound with the car jacked up? (without pressure on the strut)

Nope it does not.

Ok, the reason I ask (I know I'll get slammed for this) you may want to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.

What I would do is, jack up the car, remove the wheel, use another jack to put pressure on the strut. Have someone turn the wheel back and forth. Take a 2' wooden dow and place it in your ear (with some kind of pad on the end) and put it on different areas of the strut. You'll hear a louder sound in the area where the problem is.

I'm guessing its some kind of worn bushing.

Where in the Bay are you located?

Yea I think its the strut mount based on the sound.

Im in Antioch.

Did you check all your other joints including tie rod ends?

And haha, I don't really consider antioch really "bay area"
Kind of on the edge of the bay.
I'm out by Oakland.

Nope havent really checked other joints yet, but will this weekend.


Lol, I dont know why I put the bay area when I made my account. But are you going to car show tomorrow out in Fairfield?

There's a show tomorrow?
I haven't heard any murmers around for any show.

Last I knew about was HellaFlush, and that was like 2 months ago lol.

Yea I was at Hellaflush. But yea there is one tomorrow in fairfield, Drop That Frame. Im gonna be there. You should try to roll through.

Never heard of it. Looks like another IMPRM or Inspire thing.
Haha,
Probably wont make it tomorrow, working on new wheels and suspension this weekend.