What do you make of this noise?

[mikethemike]

I hope its a familiar clunk that someone can point out. It sounds like its coming from my front right corner. I hope its not the spring.

View My Video

[BTUT5]

post6354616.html?hilit=spring%20noise#p6354616

Just one of the threads about springs and noise with a quick search. I believe this has come up a decent amount on here with varying results of people having or not having a noise after a spring drop. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe one fix is that the eibach logo is supposed to be installed upside down (I think you just got ebiachs right?). Also thought a possible fix was swapping the front springs? This is just what I have read from threads on here hope it helps.

That noise sounds gnarly though I have never heard of the infamous "ebiach noise" but if that is it then its not a healthy sound.

[SanoSuKe]

Sounds like coilovers with bad shocks o.O but you don't have coilovers on correct? How long have you had the eibach's for?

[mikethemike]

I've only has it for like 3 months. No way my shocks could've screwed up already

[SanoSuKe]

I'd remove the wheel and check if everything is alright before driving that again. Maybe the springs broke?

[mikethemike]

That would be a b****, highly doubt it. I hope it's the upside down spring syndrome and yes I've looked into that before but I thought it was only when turning or something.

[mikethemike]

I lifted it up to see what the problem was. Of course eyeing it is all I could do, i checked to see if anything was loose, but no dice. I tried to locate the logo but it wasn't visible for me to see. I think its facing away from me so I cant tell whether its upside down or right side up.

[ShiftTheFuture]

It's not the same sound as mine. My A/C did it when I turned left or right. It went away after a while. But I had this same exact problem with my honda. I hate to inform you but I had to replace my shocks because they were broken. Each time I hit a bump it would make that awful sound because the broken part kept grinding. I don't know exactly what it was on the shock though. Don't know much about them but you should have it checked out.

[mikethemike]

oh good grief. I'll get it checked. I'll be so damned if my shocks did break. But after 3 months? I usually hear of this problem after years of driving on lowered springs with a s*** load of miles on it. I really hope thats not the case.

[Mr.HacKeR]

Definitely not the springs, I couldn't tell from the video, but does the noise only appear when you're driving on an uneven road?

[mikethemike]

Definitely not the springs, I couldn't tell from the video, but does the noise only appear when you're driving on an uneven road?

pretty much. it makes the noise over any bump. I tested it it last night to see if the shocks blew by bouncing the car and it popped up just fine.

[mikethemike]

For the record I'm not sure how long this noise has been going on on because I always blast my music, But the car rides perfectly fine and smooth. So don't let the noise fool you into thinking that it's a incredibly harsh ride or something

[SanoSuKe]

I get that noise from time to time when it's cold out but that's because my coils dampening settings are full stiff. It's most likely the shocks, but you need to get it looked at by a mechanic before something gets loose.

[mikethemike]

And most likely it has to do with my springs causing the noise, so no to bringing it to Nissan and seeing if they can honor the warranty. I should probably note that there are a s*** load of speed bumps in my area too. Not sure if speed bumps could mess up whatever it is making that noise.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Hate to burst your bubble, but thats kind of what my spring that shattered sounded like. Raise it up again and stick your hand into the bottom of the spring mount and find the bottom/end of the spring. Then follow it all the way up and make sure it is in once piece. Mine was broken in two places, but I only found one immediately because the other break was on the backside. It landed in such a way that the ride height was not effected but it broke straight through.

EDIT: Wear a glove. Broken springs are sharp, yo.

[mikethemike]

I checked my springs last night but of course not for cracks. However I did run a rag through it and ran my fingers on it afterwards and I didn't feel any kind of crack. Ill check again after work.

[DJ_B_Easy]

If you already did it I wouldnt worry about it then. Did you check the control arm? Maybe it wasnt torqued back properly after the spring install?

EDIT: I dont know if control arm is what Im thinking of. The thingy that bolts into the strut on the opposite side of the brake line clippy piece. You know, that metal doo dad.

DOUBLE EDIT: Check the spring again. Mine broke inside the rubber sheathing. If I had run a rag around it, I wouldnt have felt the break because the rubber would have slid the rag right past it.

[mikethemike]

DJ I checked the spring again and it's in ship shape, the strut mount is fine and everything.

NOW: I found something interesting. I noticed the rubber or plastic boot was loose, sliding up and down with this metal ring sliding with it. I figured "hmm that looks weird". So I jacked up te other side and sure enough, that rubber boot did not move at all. Thay may be the noise I'm hearing unless its just a coincidence

[mikethemike]

I'm at the shop right now and the mechanics found another culprit. The top nut on the strut was a little loose or just not tighten down enough. So all they did was re tighten it and now I am just waiting for them to inspect the car

[mikethemike]

Sorry the photos are side ways.
THis is what I noticed


Heres what they found when they separated the boot and the metal ring thing.


Basically if you move the strut boot out of the way, theres this little foam piece that is suppose to be lodged up in the hole where the strut mount is along with that metal piece and mine, well, fell down. Now in terms of safety he said theres nothing to worry about. However I still need to get an alignment so I may as well get it out of the way and take the struts out.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Images no good.

At least you know everything is safe.

[mikethemike]

Re uploaded the photos.

yea thats a relief at least. The mechanic looked at my car and say because of this thing not staying intact it somehow causes my car to sit unevenly. He measured both sides and it was like off by a few centimeters.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Thats just a dust boot. Looks like it just ripped away from the top. They are saying THAT is what made that horrific noise?

[mikethemike]

Thats just a dust boot. Looks like it just ripped away from the top. They are saying THAT is what made that horrific noise?

Whats the other thing thats part of the boot though? Is that like a silencer?

Also, the thing that was making the noise was the top nut on the strut mount, you know, when you open the hood. I guess it just wasn't tightened down enough. Quick fix. Otherwise, when the mechanics inspected it, they said everything was 100% fine, except for that boot and cushion thingy.

I suppose this could be another lesson learned for anyone who goes the DIY route of spring installations.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Whats the other thing thats part of the boot though? Is that like a silencer?

Its essentially just a spacer so the boot doesnt fall all the way down over the strut AFAIK. When I installed my KYBs I didnt even use them.

I can see where the top nut would cause that noise. Thats a bad thing, very bad thing. That nut secures the strut top mounting area to the strut itself. You are lucky it didnt loosen all the way and launch thought your hood!

Glad you got it sorted.

[mikethemike]

Yea man, i was not going to pass this up with out a care. i wanted to get it taken care of right away. Im glad I have this honest shop near me, where as, pep boys would just tell me I need a new front end and my social security # lol