Eibach problem, need suggestions

[toxik]

So I bought eibach springs in April from a forum member here. They were brand new, bought from Stillen. I put them on and have been riding around with them with no problem.

About a month ago, my passanger side wheel started making a grinding noise while i turn the wheel at slow speeds/parking. I went to a Nissan tech and they replaced my strut, the sound still remained. The nissan tech told me it was definetely the spring.

I called eibach and stillen today, stillen cant replace it under warranty since I didn't buy them, and they can't sell me just 1 spring. I really don't wanna rebuy the whole kit, and even if warranty did cover it, it'd be pretty ridiculous to take 1 spring off and not even have a car to drive while i wait for the replacement.

Anyways, I'm really lost at this point. You guys have any suggestions on what I can do?

[surmanm]

I'm really lost at this point. You guys have any suggestions on what I can do?

ur always lost... i got one for you go do some work and get of the forums... ur a bad bad man u ate all my cheese always eating my cheese and never replacing it drinking all the Snapple in the house WHAT A D I C K .....WAD

[headhunt3r]

If you still have your stock springs, then you can throw the stock fronts back on while you get your Eibach replaced by warranty? That's assuming you can get the warranty thing sorted out.

[ESP]

I had a similar sounding problem, but it was caused by my front endlink which had come apart...when I turned the wheel at slow speeds, it would gouge the wheel liner making a horrible grinding noise. If the stealership did in fact replace the strut though, this should have been taken care of.

Did the tech explain exactly what the noise was coming from, or was it simply "it's the spring" and left it at that?

[toxik]

I had a similar sounding problem, but it was caused by my front endlink which had come apart...when I turned the wheel at slow speeds, it would gouge the wheel liner making a horrible grinding noise. If the stealership did in fact replace the strut though, this should have been taken care of.

Did the tech explain exactly what the noise was coming from, or was it simply "it's the spring" and left it at that?

yeah, it wasn't your average stealership tech. the tech was brian's (lbc) personal friend who happens to be a tech at a nissan dealership. he told me he took it apart 3 times due to the noise still being there, so I'm 100% sure his inspection was correct. The whole strut assembly was replaced, and from the sound of your problem, I think he would of noticed the endlinks being defective if they were causing the noise. The strut actually vibrates when you turn the wheel, I'm not sure if the endlinks could be causing that.

[shortys408]

mine has the same problem, turning hte wheel sometimes and speed bumps

[blackteam02]

whaaaa?? Eibach = garbage?!?! and stillen is selling them??

do the part numbers match up on all 4 springs? maybe one is the wrong spring.

damn, and here i was going to order the eibachs this weekend too!wow

[ESP]

whaaaa?? Eibach = garbage?!?! and stillen is selling them??

do the part numbers match up on all 4 springs? maybe one is the wrong spring.

damn, and here i was going to order the eibachs this weekend too!wow

No way man. I don't think anyone is saying that Eibach makes a s*** product...If it is indeed a faulty part, then it's likely just an isolated incident. Most of us are running Eibach springs and some of us have been doing so for nearly two years.

[toxik]

well i did ride on these for almost 5 months with no problems, so i don't think the problem is anything relating to a wrong part number.

the nissan tech did tell me that as far as he can tell the spring itself is fine to ride on. it's not damaged or cracked or anything. Just makes a noise.... It's frustrating because the noise is loud

[Ricko]

hmm, I am not exactly sure what could be "Grinding"

If the dealership replaced the whole strut then I guess he must have tightened the endlink.

The one problem that I had with the front endlinks was that its difficult to fully tighten them on a lift that does not support the wheel. Depending on the type of lift used to do the strut work, they may have tightened the endlink, but not under the cars own weight.

In order to solve my noise problem right after I installed my eibachs and endlinks, I had to use an alignment lift (where the car sits on its own weight) Then by going under the car I was able to see the bit of slack in the endlink. I tightened them up and the noise stopped.

If the spring was hitting something then you would see visible scrapping on it. It is possible for it to be defective but I want to say that the endlink may still be the source.

Just from my experience, hope this can help.

Also, did you try jerking your car left and right really fast? Does the noise occur when this is done? Try driving at about 10 mph and jerk it left and right really quick. If you can hear "Grinding" or "Clanking" pretty sure its the endlink.

[toxik]

maybe I should invest in some racingline endlinks

[Ricko]

Oh, your on stock endlinks? I was under the impression you already had racingline ends.

Still try and diagnose the issue first. Then invest in endlinks

[toxik]

Oh, your on stock endlinks? I was under the impression you already had racingline ends.

Still try and diagnose the issue first. Then invest in endlinks

ye i heard that racingline endlinks cause some people problems and you have to put sometype of substance on them so they dont snap out of place or something. Anyways, seems like I might be adding to my problems if I get em lol. If I see someone selling them for cheap, THEN I'll get em heh.

[bunda4th]

It would be strange how the spring would make noise from turning. I say have someone outside as you turn the wheel to actually see if anything is hitting or bounce the car from outside to make the spring compress a bit and see if the noise is there.

Does the noise only happen when you are driving? Are you able to hear the noise when you turn the wheel at a stop?

[toxik]

It would be strange how the spring would make noise from turning. I say have someone outside as you turn the wheel to actually see if anything is hitting or bounce the car from outside to make the spring compress a bit and see if the noise is there.

Does the noise only happen when you are driving? Are you able to hear the noise when you turn the wheel at a stop?

the opposite, I don't hear it when I'm driving only when I'm stopped or barely moving (not hitting the gas) so basically if I'm yielding to make a left turn or parking and have to turn the wheel to the left.

[bunda4th]

From what you just said, I don't think it's the springs.

Have someone outside at like an empty parking lot while you are moving slow and turn the wheel and see if the noise is actually coming from the top (near spring area) or below where the endlinks bolt on. I think something needs to be re-tighten or align.

[NJAltcoupe812]

I have the same prob I took the whole thing apart and put the oem spring in and didn't have the noise anymore. I just learned to deal with it

[kyle@stillen]

Did you get a chance to take a look at the spring when it was disassembled?

Sometimes the powder coating can wear off a little bit and can begin to squeak or grind on the top mounting plate.

There are two ways to fix this.

1) Turn up the volume and live with it.

2) (more seriously) take a look at your factory springs. If memory serves me correctly there might be a greyish colored rubber or plastic sleeve that is covering the spring. This is to prevent the squeak I'm talking about. Sometimes you can remove that sleeve and put it onto the Eibach springs.

It sounds to me like the spring is floating a little bit inside the shock. This can happen and is pretty normal for any vehicle, with or without a lowering kit. Which is why the O.E. manufacturers generally put these little rubber sleeves on their coil springs.

[toxik]

Did you get a chance to take a look at the spring when it was disassembled?

Sometimes the powder coating can wear off a little bit and can begin to squeak or grind on the top mounting plate.

There are two ways to fix this.

1) Turn up the volume and live with it.

2) (more seriously) take a look at your factory springs. If memory serves me correctly there might be a greyish colored rubber or plastic sleeve that is covering the spring. This is to prevent the squeak I'm talking about. Sometimes you can remove that sleeve and put it onto the Eibach springs.

It sounds to me like the spring is floating a little bit inside the shock. This can happen and is pretty normal for any vehicle, with or without a lowering kit. Which is why the O.E. manufacturers generally put these little rubber sleeves on their coil springs.

The nissan tech told me that he could actually feel the the strut vibrate when the noise was being made. So I'm not sure if the sleeves are the cause of the noise.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Did you get a chance to take a look at the spring when it was disassembled?

2) (more seriously) take a look at your factory springs. If memory serves me correctly there might be a greyish colored rubber or plastic sleeve that is covering the spring. This is to prevent the squeak I'm talking about. Sometimes you can remove that sleeve and put it onto the Eibach springs.

I know EXACTLY what kyle is talking about, i put mine on the eibachs.. its like a clear plastic wire covering that goes on the coil...

P.S. My nissan tech rules!

[NJAltcoupe812]

ill take pics of it later but im pretty sure mine has that but its in the middle of the spring where's it supposed to be?

[kyle@stillen]

Is there anyway you can do a video of the noise you are talking about? It's kind of hard to diagnose the problem without being able to hear it first hand. I know you are currently working with a Nissan Tech to help diagnose the issue but we do have a lot of experience with modified vehicle's obviously so I could bounce it around to my tech's here and see what they think.

[toxik]

yeah i'll try to record it and post it up here

[kyle@stillen]

I don't really have the ability to do a close up shot of our install because our Altima Coupe is currently on display in our showroom so I can't exactly whip a wheel off and get in there. But I did a quick google search and fortunately was able to find a picture that will help. Please ignore the fact that this is for a Subaru WRX STI. The idea is the same for any vehicle.

http://home.comcast.net/~fabio...g.jpg

In this photo you can clearly see the rubber cover that is going around the spring. This cover is designed to rest between the spring and the mount to prevent any of these squeaks or rattles.

[toxik]

I don't really have the ability to do a close up shot of our install because our Altima Coupe is currently on display in our showroom so I can't exactly whip a wheel off and get in there. But I did a quick google search and fortunately was able to find a picture that will help. Please ignore the fact that this is for a Subaru WRX STI. The idea is the same for any vehicle.

http://home.comcast.net/~fabio...g.jpg

In this photo you can clearly see the rubber cover that is going around the spring. This cover is designed to rest between the spring and the mount to prevent any of these squeaks or rattles.

I remember the rubber cover on eibachs, I put them on with a friend. But the oem springs didn't have any rubber cover on them...

Okay so if the cover on the eibachs is messed up, that means I'd still need a new spring.... it's not like i can replace the rubber.

[kyle@stillen]

I can check with Eibach to see if the cover can be replaced. I believe it can be it just might be a PITA to install them.