Suspension Replacement

Jono · Post by **Jono** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:07 pm

hmmm knocking noise....

ive had that... ive changed the swaybar bushes.. that helped... and also the front drop links.. didnt really help.. now.... maybe it could be the steering rack on my car... hmmm???

My car only has audible knocking noises when going slow... over small bumps..

HiRAEdd · Post by **HiRAEdd** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 11:05 pm

Jono wrote:My car only has audible knocking noises when going slow... over small bumps..

Well it seems an easy thing to check. Sit in your car whilst it's off and just swing the steering wheel from side to side. If you hear/feel a knock, then get your mechanic to check out the steering rack and associated bushes and links.

As for knocking over small bumps. I get distinct noises from both the front and rear. I will be replacing all sway bar links, I have second-hand ones for the front but looks like I'm going to have to get new ones for the rear. Your problem could be something that simple or it could be the struts. Or perhaps something totally different.

If you want to check your sway bar links/drop links, pull them off and play with them

They should be a stiff, tight fit when you try to rotate them. Push and pull the joint too, there should be no movement in and out, if there is, they're stuffed and need replacement. They will be causing a knocking noise if there is movement in the joint.

All I can advise is get several opinions and steer clear of "franchise" mobs. Look for one shop businesses that _need_ to make sure you're happy because if they stuff you around, they do themselves out of a customer and risk getting a bad name. Try and get the mechanic to go for a drive with you so you can point out exactly what you are talking about too.

RichardH · Post by **RichardH** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:36 am

HiRAEdd wrote:They reckon the steering rack needs fixing/replacing. With the car in a stationary position, if I move the wheel back and forth, there is a slight knocking sound.

Mine has that - very slight, but noticable if you really go waggling that wheel listening for it. But it's had it for four years without any deterioration at all, and the steering is still sharp and confident. Motorsport on sticky tyres probably isn't the way to minimise wear & tear, in any case!!!!

You could just monitor it every few months, or get an honest garage to review it at service intervals. That's if it presents no safety/control threat at all, of course.

- Rich

Jono · Post by **Jono** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:05 am

yeah ill give that steering wheel thing a try tomorow...
Chirs from inline told me i had some noises inside my shocks or struts( io couldnt remember), but said this was due to the actual shock being so stiff.. nothing u can do about it kinda thing.. except replace the whole coilover...so i wasnt going to do that..

with my rear, i get this dinggggg sound when i corner really slow hard corners...this should be the rear droplinks right??

HiRAEdd · Post by **HiRAEdd** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 5:52 pm

Well, after six different opinions, I'm settling with the same mob that is supplying and fitting my new wheels, Superior Tyres at Aspley in Brisbane. I've got two personal recommendations on this crowd and I'm happy with their service to date.
For around $1500 they are going to replace all struts and springs. I won't go into all the details of what they're putting on but I'm happy with it. I'm also going to get them to change the sway bar links and bushes, I think they need doing and if they don't, they can't be to far off.
Hopefully my wheels will be here in about a week so I'll get it all done then

HiRAEdd · Post by **HiRAEdd** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:33 pm

Finally got the suspension replaced today. I now have Koni on-car adjustables on the front and off-car adjustables on the back. Lowered King Springs front and rear. She's about an inch higher now that she was but you barely notice and the ride quality is quite literally about 10 times better. She still has almost no body roll but she now feels like a brand new car to drive. There are now no knocks at all that I can notice.
They replaced the plastic guard liners I bought for her and have fitted some of the rubber boots for the steering and CV joints. Got some back so I'm not sure what they've done, I have to confirm tomorrow.
They refused, upon their own recommendation, to replace the sway bar links because in their opinion they didn't need it so I was pretty pleased about that.
So for $1600 I'm very pleased with the result. Far cheaper than any other place I tried. If anyone is in Brisbane looking for supsension or wheel work, for what it's worth, I recommend SUPERIOR TYRE SERVICE: Aspley 1338 Gympie Rd 4034 - (07) 3862 8244.
Now just have to wait for my new wheels to come in

D-TRAIN · Post by **D-TRAIN** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 12:16 pm

HiRAEdd wrote:Finally got the suspension replaced today. I now have Koni on-car adjustables on the front and off-car adjustables on the back. Lowered King Springs front and rear. She's about an inch higher now that she was but you barely notice and the ride quality is quite literally about 10 times better.

Good to hear another person going with the Koni option.

A couple of questions though if you don't mind answering:

1. What rate did you have the rears set to? Since these are off-car adjustable as you mentioned, I want to get this as close to right as possible. So far I'm thinking a Medium setting, but would like to hear anothers' opinion.

2. You mentioned the car sits an inch higher? Any reasons why? Were your previous set of springs much lower than the Kings you have on now? I'm quite happy with the ride height of my car at the moment, and hopefully it's the springs not the Konis that are affecting the ride height.

Thanks mate.

efteoh · Post by **efteoh** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 3:52 pm

how were they adjustable? rebound? damper? im looking at giving my car a suspention overhaul. how much firmer does your car ride over standard shocks? (keeping in mind the standard shocks are nearly 10yr old)

thanks

HiRAEdd · Post by **HiRAEdd** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 4:59 pm

D-TRAIN wrote:1. What rate did you have the rears set to? Since these are off-car adjustable as you mentioned, I want to get this as close to right as possible. So far I'm thinking a Medium setting, but would like to hear anothers' opinion.

To be honest, I have no idea. I just gave them the car and told them explicitily what my goals were. I didn't even know I was getting Koni Adjustables, they didn't tell me that before I put the car in so I'm stoked!

D-TRAIN wrote:2. You mentioned the car sits an inch higher? Any reasons why? Were your previous set of springs much lower than the Kings you have on now? I'm quite happy with the ride height of my car at the moment, and hopefully it's the springs not the Konis that are affecting the ride height.

Yeah, she was way low! Cut springs which caused the supsension to wear out fast and also caused the car to pull to either side depending on the camber of the road. So they put genuine lowered springs on so they didn't have to cut them. I hardly notice the difference and she's still very low. It'll always be the springs that set your ride height, not the shocks.

HiRAEdd · Post by **HiRAEdd** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:01 pm

efteoh wrote:how were they adjustable? rebound? damper? im looking at giving my car a suspention overhaul. how much firmer does your car ride over standard shocks? (keeping in mind the standard shocks are nearly 10yr old)

Umm...once again, not sure. The front shocks have a dial that connects to the top of the shocks under the bonnet to make them firmer or softer. That's all I know at this stage.
They would no doubt be harder than stock shocks but they are still very comfy, not more jolts like I had with the previous, extremely lowered, suspension.

D-TRAIN · Post by **D-TRAIN** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:32 am

Thanks for the replies HiRAEdd. Much appreciated!