Suspension clunk from passenger rear - BC Coils
03-24-11, 12:38 PM
#16
Check the 3 top nuts, check the center shock lock nut and cehck Preload.
The proper way to set preload on a coilover-
-Loosen both lock rings under the spring (spring seat ring(top) and spring lock ring(bottom)) so that the spring is loose and can move up and down slightly.
-Tighten up the spring seat ring so that the spring is snug, but do not tighten it down past simply holding the spring snug, this will be "0" preload.
-Now bring the bottom lock ring up so that it is just touching the spring seat ring, but do not tighten to lock, you will be moving the spring seat ring next.
-Now tighten up the spring seat ring so that you are now preloading (compressing) the spring.
-Measure the distance between the bottom ring and the top ring as you are tightening, once there is a 3mm gap between the two rings, you have 3mm of preload on the spring.
-Tighten up the lock ring to lock your preload in place
-Repeat for all 4 corners.
You also want to check and make sure the top 17mm center nut is tight, it's best to check it with an impact gun if you have access to one, a wuick hit is all it should need.
Sometimes noise can come from somehwere else, endlinks, swaybars, and chassis contact can all be problems. Make sure now that the car is lowered and stiffer that you don't have exhaust contact anywhere. These are all common noise issues.
The proper way to set preload on a coilover-
-Loosen both lock rings under the spring (spring seat ring(top) and spring lock ring(bottom)) so that the spring is loose and can move up and down slightly.
-Tighten up the spring seat ring so that the spring is snug, but do not tighten it down past simply holding the spring snug, this will be "0" preload.
-Now bring the bottom lock ring up so that it is just touching the spring seat ring, but do not tighten to lock, you will be moving the spring seat ring next.
-Now tighten up the spring seat ring so that you are now preloading (compressing) the spring.
-Measure the distance between the bottom ring and the top ring as you are tightening, once there is a 3mm gap between the two rings, you have 3mm of preload on the spring.
-Tighten up the lock ring to lock your preload in place
-Repeat for all 4 corners.
You also want to check and make sure the top 17mm center nut is tight, it's best to check it with an impact gun if you have access to one, a wuick hit is all it should need.
Sometimes noise can come from somehwere else, endlinks, swaybars, and chassis contact can all be problems. Make sure now that the car is lowered and stiffer that you don't have exhaust contact anywhere. These are all common noise issues.
03-24-11, 12:40 PM
#17
Lexus Test Driver
yeah just have to take the wheel off to make it easier. You may be able to adjust the length of the coilover with your front wheels on but not the back unfortunately.
03-25-11, 12:17 PM
#19
So I jacked the car up today and tightened the center nut on the shock, I was able to do it with a hand tool. That, however, did not fix it. Tomorrow I will be preloading the coilover and checking other possible causes. I will update after I do those.
03-26-11, 08:12 AM
#22
Rookie
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: OR
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
rizzy...this is a little off topic, but wondering how you like the ride of the BC coilovers on the AWD? How is it in relation to the stock ride?
I've been contemplating for some time now, currently I just have fsport springs...but i wish the ride wasn't as stiff. but i don't want to go back to 4-wheeling.
I've been contemplating for some time now, currently I just have fsport springs...but i wish the ride wasn't as stiff. but i don't want to go back to 4-wheeling.
03-26-11, 10:04 AM
#23
Will check this out also. Thanks
rizzy...this is a little off topic, but wondering how you like the ride of the BC coilovers on the AWD? How is it in relation to the stock ride?
I've been contemplating for some time now, currently I just have fsport springs...but i wish the ride wasn't as stiff. but i don't want to go back to 4-wheeling.
I've been contemplating for some time now, currently I just have fsport springs...but i wish the ride wasn't as stiff. but i don't want to go back to 4-wheeling.
03-28-11, 03:58 PM
#24
So I just finished up redoing everything short of taking the coilover out. I reset the bushings, I preloaded the coilover, I checked all the nuts and bolts, and i checked the other suspension parts. Nothing solved the issue. I still believe that there is a "dead spot" in the shock that is causing the clunking. It doesn't seem normal to me to be able to compress the shock by hand any amount, and I can do about +/- 1". I have been in contact with BC Racing and they've requested that I send them pictures of the installed coilover 
. So I snapped a couple pics and took two videos of me being able to compress the shock. Let's hope that this is enough proof they need.
. So I snapped a couple pics and took two videos of me being able to compress the shock. Let's hope that this is enough proof they need.
03-28-11, 04:50 PM
#26
Lexus Test Driver
thats crazy....howd you get the video for the clunk? but no, I dont see anything wrong right off the bat. Just one loose nut can make it clunk like nobodies business.
03-28-11, 05:05 PM
#27
I torqued every bolt/nut that is affixed to a moving part I could find to spec.
To get the video of the clunk I wedge my phone in the tire tread and lifted the wheel up as hard as I could to simulate a bump. The suspension did the rest (i.e. clunk).
To get the video of the clunk I wedge my phone in the tire tread and lifted the wheel up as hard as I could to simulate a bump. The suspension did the rest (i.e. clunk).
