klunky front suspension

[astron]

just installed new lowering springs and shocks...whenever i turn hard right i get 2 or 3 clunks from the front end...any idea what this might be? we're talking parking lot type turns...thanksast

[Exar-Kun]

strut mount maybe.-chet

[Nismo_Freak]

Strut mount, sway bar endlink, or tension rod bushing

[schyawn]

guarantee it's the strut mount totally/partially seized, not letting the spring top retainer turn...that clunk is the spring moving relative to it's top mount...get new mounts. Make sure the top spring retainer plate is installed properly...little notch in the side points inward to the car.

[astron]

hrm...those are brand new mounts...i'll check it out...i'm thinking it's the front left mount...not sureast

[Nismo_Freak]

Make sure your upper nuts are tight on the struts.

[astron]

turns out it was because i didnt install the plastic sleves on the lower part of the spring...the lowest two coils were sliding against each other and clunking.....my sleves are pretty bad off..anyone know where to get them cheap?ast

[schyawn]

not to doubt you, but i doubt that plastic sleeve is the actuall cause of the clunking. it's the spring not being allowed to turn freely, ie. strut bearing/top spring retainer plate installed incorrectly. I don't have the spring sleeves and I have no clunking. But i did take my suspension apart 3 times with new strut bearings, checking assembly etc. before i got it right. So I'm pretty sure about this.

btw, the spring should not "slide" at all in its mounts. the assembly as a whole turns in the strut bearing. so adding the sleeves to allow sliding is not the right way to go.

[astron]

hrm...you may be right there...i hardly care right now, i'm sick of working on the car for now...that's just what my mechanic told me....you could watch the spring pop over itself when you turned the wheel...maybe i'll pull it all apart again sometime later...ast