Hey Guys..
I have installed Neuspeed Race springs with Koni Yellows on my 5G Lude. Immediatly after the install the springs squeaked like crazy! They drive me nuts at low speeds (speed bumps and the like). Can anyone tell me how to make them stop. Then there is the horrible shock-knock. Can someone post or mail me a photo of a fix. I have read the fixes and I will try them if I could just see what exactly is involved. Thanx in advance.

 

Dude... welcome to the f**ked world of Prelude "Shock-knock". I have a 2001 S-type and had the same problem when I installed my H&R Race springs. Let me guess... the sound is coming from the rear... right? Well, because you have Koni yellows, you may not be able to fix the problem with what I suggest...

There is actually a Honda TSB that applies to all 5th Gen Hondas.. with the fix being shorter replacement damper collars (These can be purchased here: http://www.handaaccessories.com/premaint.html look at the bottom for part #52728-S30-004)... these are made for the stock struts though, so they may be of no help to you. I installed this fix myself and it helped tremendously.. but it didn't cure the problem altogether. This is a problem with some Preludes going way back to 3rd, 4th gen. The problem stems from not enough compression being applied between the strut tower/strut rod and the body of the car... The shorter collars allow for more compression to be applied to the top of the strut rod, hence allowing more compression between the rubber bushings and the body.

If those damper collars (they go between the rubbers connecting the strut tower to the vehicle) won't work for you, my suggestion would be to trim like 1mm at a time off the tops of your KONI collars... there is a wealth of information about this on hondaprelude.com in the discussion board section. do a search for "shock knock"

Best of luck... gotta love that even in a 2001 (bought last Nov) the problem still hasn't been remedied at the factory...

Later


[Modified by Mikeys2001Lude, 11:58 PM 7/29/2001]

 

squeaks rule... just look at it that way. Squeaks are a sound of power.
it's all in your head.

Like my valves? They are SO damn noisy. Know why? Cause I have insane cams. So Now, a loud clicky clacky is a GOOD noise.

 

Damn so aftermarket shocks won't remedy this? Hmm will warranty cover it even though there are aftermarket springs on it? Guess not..damn.

 

like I said...
*swings pocket watch in front of Blue Prelude*
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
your eyelids are getting heavy
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
You are getting sleeeeeeeeeeeepy
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood
Squeaking is gooooooooooooood

 

My local Honda dealer wanted nothing to do with the problem. I asked them to look into the squeaking/creaking and on my invoice they wrote: CAR SQUEAKS DUE TO LOWERING. Nice, huh.. It was later that I found this was an actual problem with stock ludes too (there is an official Honda TSB regarding it)... they MUST fix it if under warranty...

 

same thing here... with i have aftermarket suspension... Dealer explanation on the invoice "Aftermarket suspension" duh!!!

guess what i did?? remove the suspension and back to stock and went back.. that service advisor was shocked of what i have done and have no choice buy fixing my car.

They did the TSB fix... along with the headliner rattles.... the creaking noise is still there.. but music can cover it up...

 

there is a problem with lowering a lude... two of my friends drive 5th gen ludes that are lowered... one is down 2" and the other is 1.3"

the front axles have a tendancy to, well... break. at the point that they meet the tranny they crunch up against it and get broken, or somethin like that. my friend with the 2" drop is on his 3rd set of axles. the guy with the 1.3" drop is on his 2nd set. both of these cars have only been lowered for about 1 year. not good...

i think i'll stick with my not so prelude-fast integra.


[Modified by Pb_Foot, 11:24 PM 7/30/2001]

 

anybody heard of these type of axle problems Pb_Foot's talking about? sounds pretty scary...


[Modified by Mikeys2001Lude, 5:13 AM 7/31/2001]

 

i need to clarify that it's where the axles meet the __?___ in the middle... i don't know what it's called... some kind of gear thingamajigger. Any clue what I'm trying to say?

 

CV Joints?

 

BINGO! Pretty sure that's what was crunching when the suspension bottoms out, or comes close to bottoming out, on a lowered 5th gen prelude.

(The lude with a 2" drop is a 97 Type SH and the lude with the 1.3" drop is a base model 2000)

Our mechanic was thinking (the the 97 started to have problems) that it was b/c of how low it was. My other friend decided to only go 1.3 just to be a little more precautious. Still has problems, but not as bad as the 2".


[Modified by Pb_Foot, 12:36 AM 7/31/2001]

 

aren't u guys afraid sometime when u go wiht ur lude at the dealer for some reaprations or check up..that they would **** somehting up ?
or that they don't like u cuase u have aftermarket and they may brake something... "accidentally" ??

newya..i'm lucky my car has no warranty at all
hehe
so i do all repairs and check ups myself
so nobody else touch my F***N CAR OR I'llKICK THEIR **** SO HARD!
eheh
ok

ahah
i hate it when some stupid *** just touhc my car with his hand and do some scratches on the paint..**** i get soooo MAD ;p
eehe

so no dealer for me ..or i'd have to stand aside of the guy wokring and checking what he is doing! ;p
eheh

 

Bang clang go the "dead coils" in the lowering springs. As to shock knock-don't have it with the Koni "yellow" shocks, but did with the stock ones. Replaced all of the collars and mounting rubbers when we put the Neuspeed Sport springs on. MY 99 Base has the Neuspeed Rear Sway Bar and that is the only part that squeaks-unless I keep it lubed.
The amount you lower a car will affect the angle of the CV joints. Just like a regular drive shaft-the angles are very important.
My car is very tight still and has enough miles on it (25K) to know if any part is wearing more thna stock. The tech at the dealership says all is fine (22 years of Honda experience he has). Any lower than 1.5" for street use is flirting with trouble long term.
BTW: We lowered my 96 Civic HB more than 2" and it is still as tight as the day I bought it 2 years ago.
Warranty: You modify it and you take full responsibility for whatever happens to the parts involved. Some dealers will argue that your mod's may have caused something else to fail and they could be correct. Advice--If you are real worried, wait till the warranty runs out or at leas keep the original parts for a swap back to stock.

 

I've got approximatly 15k fairly hard driving on my 2" drop and I haven't had a problem. Is there a necessity to lube springs? I have tightened every bolt under the rear end and trunk of my car. I will try trimming the collars and see if I can get any improvement. I am surprised that I have never read this CV issue before. I knew going in that a more severe angle on the CVs would increase the risk of failure but DAMN it handles nice and looks to match!