[GFXjamie]

we checked it out tonite, i believe it is strut bearing. when car is in air, there is play and you can hear clicking by pulling on the spring and by turning the wheels. We are going to swap em out next weekend. worst case if its something else, having it all apart will show us.

[NikiterZTS]

GFXjamie,Apr 9 2010, 07:38 PM Wrote:we checked it out tonite, i believe it is strut bearing. when car is in air, there is play and you can hear clicking by pulling on the spring and by turning the wheels. We are going to swap em out next weekend. worst case if its something else, having it all apart will show us.
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OP don't forget to do alignment after
($80)

[tetra]

OK, Jamie and I put my car on stands in the front.
I think you guys were right about the strut bearings. On both sides, we were able to grab the spring pull forward and back and move the entire assembly, each time we would grab and push there was a loud tick sound. Push inwards (tick) pull (tick). Almost like metal on metal. So strut bearings for sure? Or the strut mounts or the top hats as Jamie calls them heh

[OAC_Sparky]

Generally, if you've properly torqued the top strut nuts on the strut tower you should be ok (for the "top hat").

Now, this all being said, IF you need to replace the strut bearings you might want to consider this an opportunity to install proper camber adjustment plates and save yourself some tire wear in the future.

[tetra]

Everything was tight on top and good.
But from the symptoms I've described, do you still think strut bearings?

[GFXjamie]

i also noticed by doing this, the spring had movement between top hat and spring perch on shock. i rotated it around about 45 degrees or so. not sure if it is seated correctly as these springs are not same size as the dampeners lower perch. there was a piece sticking up, looked like a bent up tab acting as a stopper for spring rotation.

we shall see next weekend...

EDIT: also, checked top strut nut and it was cranked, along with all other bolts/nut so i dont see anything being loose that way an issue with this.

[OAC_Sparky]

--Something-- doesn't sound right....normally you can't rotate the springs very easy in an assembled strut. You might want to check that it's assembled properly.

You might have something flipped somewhere.

[GFXjamie]

ya thats what i thought aswell, like my car was there aswell on jack stands so we did a comparison and i couldnt rotate mine or really move spring at all. Meanwhile, nut on stop was to tight to even move more.

i guess we shall see... i dunno...

[Scorcher000]

Just read this lol...
I have the same prob in mine, with KYB AGX and Eibach Pro
But I found that my Linkage wasn't tight enough. Same noise but different prob. :blink: :lol:

[GFXjamie]

what linkage are you referring to?? you also just did yours, his is a year old aswell.

[tetra]

Indeed, which linkage? As for the spring compressor, should I call to reserve it or do they usually have a bunch available?

[GFXjamie]

they usually have a couple on hand

[Scorcher000]

the linkage that ties your sway bar to your struts.
Ya but my linkage is a couple years old and I don't think it was tightened up right.

[OAC_Sparky]

Scorcher000,Apr 12 2010, 06:33 PM Wrote:the linkage that ties your sway bar to your struts.
Ya but my linkage is a couple years old and I don't think it was tightened up right.
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Sway bar links or end links (as opposed to steering linkage**). Biggest problem is you usually need a thin wrench (like a bicycle wrench) to hold the ball end while you tighten the nut.

**When you actually refer to steering linkage, technically speaking, you are referring to what you would typically find in a truck or an older RWD car. Instead of a steering rack, you have a steering box and pitman arm that moves actual linkage with the tie rods at the ends. Just so you know.

[tetra]

Good to know, because like I said, along with the noise there is a feeling of something being loose under the car. So that will be something to check as well. But either way I know that we shouldn't be able to move my spring assembly like that. Jamie's strut tower bolts were completely loose and he couldn't even move it that much.

[GFXjamie]

ya i had 2 nuts on each taken off as i removed strut bar for turbo install. still didnt even have near as much movement, and it was likely mostly attributed to the missing nuts and play from that.

so when u wanna come down? friday is iffy, but saturday after work im good, so after like 330 as im in guelph til 3 working. i dont really have any plans LOL gotta lie low with buying this house. good thing turbo came first!

[tetra]

Saturday is cool with me! I'll give you a shout around 4 or something and we can go from there. Do you have a place near your shop that I could rent the spring compressor?

[OAC_Sparky]

tetra,Apr 13 2010, 09:14 AM Wrote:Saturday is cool with me! I'll give you a shout around 4 or something and we can go from there. Do you have a place near your shop that I could rent the spring compressor?
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Partsource or Canadian Tire is usually a good bet. They lend them for free but you need a credit card for a deposit.

[tetra]

So after re-installing everything in the front I guess I'll need an alignment right?

[GFXjamie]

ive never had one and no issues to date yet. no pulling etc... if you do feel you need one then do it other wise its a waste of like 60-90$ depending on shop.