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For those of you who experience popping, clicking, banging,etc. with your Ground Controls installed, I may have a solution. While I have yet to install the components, I should be able to report back early next week if it has worked.

To start, I've got a 2001 Civic EX Coupe. I purchased the upper strut mounts and bearings and Ground Control perches for the 2002 Civic. These parts are different but also much better quality than 2001's crappy plastic bearing set-up. Anywho, that is where I think I'm going to make some improvement but just to be sure, I have taken one more step.

My friend has a laser cutting machine at his work. I gave him I.D/O.D dimensions for rings to be fabricated from 1/16" PVC/rubber shower mat material. This material is thin yes, but it has a relatively high coefficient of friction. Therefore, with a ring between the spring and the lower adjustable perch and a ring between the spring and the upper perch, everything but the bearing should act as one piece. Thus, it will force the bearing itself to spin instead of twisting the spring on the perches (cause of the popping, clatter, etc.). This material should also act as a minimal coil damper/isolator (i.e. reduction of noise transmission).

I'm really hoping this will work because the materials are really cheap and the bearing/strut mount pieces from the 2002 are quite a bit better. If this all comes together well, I'll post the results. If it doesn't I'll post as well.

Wish me luck,

TJ

 
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i have skunk2 coilovers and i'm hearing the same clanking noise, i found this one website that has the rubber isolators. http://www.energysuspension.com/sboots.html but hopefully what you do will work cuz i've wanted to get rid of the sound as well...good luck and please post ur results.

 
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EXCELLENT RESULTS!

This weekend, I mustered up enough patience to rip my front suspension out for the umpteenth time and overhaul it.

My solution to the annoying noises that us owners of Ground Control or Skunk2 sleeve coilovers have been experiencing actually works extremely well. Granted there is a little bit of money involved but the results are worth it.

What you need:

-If your car is a 2001 Civic you will want to buy the Upper Strut mounts for the 2002+ Civic along with the improved 2002+ OEM bearings for those mounts.
-If your car is a 2001 Civic you will also need to get a hold of the proper adaptor for the 2002 OEM bearings from either Ground Control or Skunk2. Please don't accept any garbage from the manufacturer (i.e. Skunk2 or Ground Control) that suggests you don't need a different adaptor because you do. The bearing and upper strut mount assemblies are different in 2002 vs. 2001.
-Go to the hardware store (i.e. Home Depot or Lowes,etc.) and ask for 40 Mil PVC shower mat. Most likely it will come pre-packaged in a quantity far-exceeding what you'll actually use.
-Measure the I.D. and O.D. of the upper and lower coilover perches and cut rings to fit from the above mat material.
-These rings will go between the lower spring seat and the spring as well as between the upper spring seat and spring.
-Re-install the suspension and be "NOISE-FREE"!

Any clarification needed? Don't hesitate to post! I'm totally excited to help anyone with the same problems I've been dealing with for the last year and a half.

Anyway, PROBLEM SOLVED!

Terry

 
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im glad to hear that it was successful. however, i was wondering what the measurements to the ring was, and instead of having to cut the ring, do you think if i bought a ring from this website http://www.energysuspension.com/sboots.html , that it would work as well as it did for you? thanks.

 
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it should work.. your just basically trying to prevent metal hitting/rubbing metal.. just as long as it doesnt fall out you'll be fine...

 
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Energy Suspension doesn't have the measurements I was looking for. The I.D. of their coil isolators are all too large or too small. At least for Ground Control, the ring itself needs to have an inner diameter of 2.5" for both top and bottom perches. I was seriously considering trying to use their product but decided against them due to fitment. When I looked into buying a sheet of their 80 durometer Polyurethane (material that EnergySuspension uses), the price was astronomical per sheet because it's either cast or extruded to custom specifications.

 
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does anyone know if the measurements for the ground controls and skunk2 coilovers are the same? they should be the same, but who knows? if so, what were the measurements for the ground controls? thanks alot! by the way, how much did the mat cost and would it be difficult to cut if i didnt have access to a laser cutting machine?

 
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If you have a sharp pair of scissors, you can cut the mat material. You could probably find out the exact dimensions of the Skunk2 perches (I.D./O.D. of the spring contact surfaces) by calling Skunk2 directly.

Terry

 
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i just wanna say that i tried doing this today and it works really well. all it cost was like $5 for the material at home depot. thanks alot, and finally i can drive my car without hearing the clanking noise whenever i turn. anyone who has this problem should do this. its really cheap and easy. thank you once again.

 
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TuffVieta,

How many of the parts did you replace or did you replace any? Did you just install the rings?

I'm really happy that you are getting the same results because those noises were starting to get really annoying before I did this.

Note: You may "occasionally" hear a noise but more than likely you should be having peace and quiet all the time.

Also, over time, your springs will wear into the plastic/rubber material. NO BIG DEAL. Just jack up your car and rotate the rings 180 degrees. This will keep the rings from wearing out completely and will prevent future noises.

Someone might want to make this sticky since it's worked for at least 2 of us now.

TERRY

 
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ya
i'll try to start working on the suspension faq and include it in there.. n of course i'll give you credit.. but ya for now sticky up at the top for a week or till i work on the faq

 
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since i have a 2002 civic, i didnt replace any parts and all i installed were the rubber rings. once again, thanks alot.

 
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VERY Cool! Glad to have helped someone.

 
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Would this also work for the 2003 civic. Cuz i have that car and i just installed skunk2 coil overs and i hear that clankin noise everytime i turn. I took it to a car shop and they told me that maybe the skunk2 company gave me the wrong springs cuz 2003, 2002, and 2001 all have a different kind of spring and perch the car uses.

 
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Does n e one have ne pics of the way they installed the lil rings that would be helpful. Thanks.

 
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im curious if it hitting metal, what part of the metal is it hitting, if it hitting the lower perch, cant you just cut them

 
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While I've never looked at Skunk2 up close, I believe it should work just the same.

 
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here a pix of stock parts for our suspension, i think with the bearing mount (9) and the spring rubber seat (2), will stop for the springs from making those noise, im going to purchase those and find out if it works

 
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Is it possible if you post pics of how it looks like when your installing them. I think I know what you guys are talking about.