Sorry if these spring install Q's are getting a bit repetitive, but i really do need help on this one the search wouldn't bring up anything.

anyway here's my problem. i'm on my 3rd set of springs this year (first GCs, then Tein S'tech, now H&R sports) and everything went according to plan, like they always do (well except for snapping one of the wheel studs off )

but here's my problem. after i installed the H&Rs, whenever i drive over bumps and cracks in the ground in parking lots, there seems to be some sort of squeaky or squishy sound coming from the rear, possibly the front too, i can't tell. i tried setting my koni shocks stiffer, but not to the point of discomfort. The noise is still there and i can't seem to figure it out.

the sound faintly resembles someone rubbing a balloon with the palm of their hand.. i'm thinking it might also be the tire rubbing against the rear fender but i'm running on like 185/60/14 wheels (from a civic) so i don't think it's that.. by the way no camber kit yet either if you were thinking that..

can anybody help?

 

I have h&r sports on my teg. I know what you mean about the squeaking. Its not rubbing, and i dont have a camber kit so its not that. I think its just the spring rubbing on something. Oh, and i had mine installed by a shop too....

 

I hear that too with my eibach sportlines... hmm

 

i'm glad i'm not the only one

okay i just went to fill up the gas tank right now.. it's definitely coming from all four corners.. anyone have a solution? i can't pinpoint the problem, it only happens while the car is in motion, if i push down on the car while it's parked, it's nice and quiet

 

If we were talking about Ground controls I would say it is the poly bushings in the top of the cap. Did you take those out when you got rid of the GC's?

Why are you switching springs so much?

 

Its those damn squirrels again. Those uppity bastards are always squeeking there fool heads off.

 

Nah the poly bushings are sitting on the table.. i just forgot to give them to the guy i sold them to Inside the shock cap there's another rubber bushing inside, could it be that? i doubt it, because with my old springs they didn't make that kinda noise either.

by swtiching springs so much i've learned a few things.. don't spend $300 for coilovers just because everyone tells you to, and just because it's JDM doesn't mean it's good, it just means that they don't squeak when you put them in your car from what i see so far, looks like these H&Rs are gonna stay for good if i can get rid of this noise

 

do you have the mud guards on there? check them for scrape marks.

my car has a totally stock suspension but it was making a noise that could be discribed as you just did, and after scratching my head a lot I noticed when washing my car one day that the mud guards were all scraped up.

 

nope, no mudguards.. it's probably those damn squirrels!

 

What was wrong with the GC's? They are one of the best budget options. I like them cause you do have the ability to corner baance your car but also you can get custom rates to help with handling. Can't beat custom rates.

Trey

 

Did your stock rear springs come with the rubber isolators? They look like strips of rubber that wrap around the top of the springs. Their job is to keep the dead coils from rubbing against one another and causing noise. Anyway, you should transfer these to your new springs. If you don't have then anymore get some from the dealer.

 

My rear makes a sound like that too...a squeaking that sounds like a balloon...kind of a squeak/grind. I used to think it was my swaybar but I think its my springs now. It could also be that the LCAs rub against the pivot point on the frame...maybe it just needs some lube.

Also, the compression of the springs may twist the spring slightly on its axis and the squeak you hear is the resultant rubbing of the spring/cap.

 

Instantramen, do you have a pic of these rubber isolators? is that what i'd call them if i were to call the dealer and ask them for it? do they wrap around each individual coil at the top? i don't recall seeing any of these when i took off my stock springs.. but then again i bought the car used, and the guy before me had heavily modded it so he might've taken them off.

carlex: i got rid of them because i honestly had no use for them. It's not everyday you get to corner balance your car and i don't race my car. I just wanted a lowered car, with a good, comfortable ride. I paid extra for the height adjustability which i almost never used, so basically it was a waste of money for me.. lowering springs seemed to fit my needs a bit better. plus with springs you don't have to worry about corner balancing the car.

Okay today i noticed it makes that sound a lot during lateral movement. i think instantramen hit it dead on, the dead coils are rubbing against each other.. but my tein s'tech springs had a bit more dead coils than these and they didn't make any noise.. i'll try greasing up the suspension joints and even maybe the spring coils themselves..

 

oh yeah, did anyone have trouble trying to adjust the GCs up to stock height? for me, at the highest setting it would still be about a 1.75-2" drop. i still had plenty of threads to go on the collar, but the perch would not budge at all. (another reason i sold them)

 

Ok.. these are a set of Mugens. Take a look at the top of the coil springs. Notice how they are wrapped in rubber? The stock rubber isolators look similar but come in three sections for each spring. I have also heard them referred to as 'spring silencers'. They shouldn't cost that much at the dealer.



P.S. on my '91 only the rear springs had the isolators, but if your front coil springs are making noise, it doesn't hurt to wrap them also.


[Modified by InstantRamen, 4:12 AM 8/17/2001]

 

i'm guessing you have to remove the strut cap to put these rubber isolators on.. are they like these little sleeves that you scoot on starting from the top of the coil? or are these made in a way that i could leave the spring in the strut assembly?

sorry for battering you with all these questions

edit: whoops, just read your edit


[Modified by In7egrity, 8:24 PM 8/16/2001]

 

They are open on the backside so you can just insert them over the dead coils, but the top strut cap has to be off to install the uppermost piece.

 

Could we use some rubber hose from Home Depot?