Suspension Noise...

enkrypt3d

enkrypt3d

Legendary Member
Joined
27 June 2003
Messages
4,618
Ok so I am out of ideas trying to figure out what is causing the noise when I go over bumps... its like a rattling sound in the front end as I go over bumps... It started happening after I installed my coilovers... is there some problem with the coilovers? Or is it putting more pressure on the rest of the suspension causing the noise? I have tried putting on the silencer rubber things on both front springs..(2 on each side) so the entire spring is covered... My coilovers have pillowball mount so I'm wondering if its somehow the spring being loose and hitting the upper mount? The spring is not loose even when the coilovers are not on the car...

Any ideas?? Thanks in advance!
 
what sways do you have? Look to see if the swaybars are contacting the battery support tray .
 
docjohn said:
what sways do you have? Look to see if the swaybars are contacting the battery support tray .
Click to expand...

The dali street/track 0.875" sways... I already cut the corner off the battery tray so its not hitting it anymore..... :redface:
 
Pillow ball mounts are noisy - all of them and they get noisier as time goes on and they wear. I just took mine off of my JRZ (brand new) and put the OEM top mounts on. Noise is gone.
 
CL65 Captain said:
Pillow ball mounts are noisy - all of them and they get noisier as time goes on and they wear. I just took mine off of my JRZ (brand new) and put the OEM top mounts on. Noise is gone.
Click to expand...

I looked at that - I still have my OEM shocks.... how do you get the mounts off the OEM shocks?
 
enkrypt3d said:
I looked at that - I still have my OEM shocks.... how do you get the mounts off the OEM shocks?
Click to expand...

Get a spring compressor. After compressing the springs, remove the top nut and hold the shaft with a allen wrench. Then they just pull right off. Look at the service manual and you can see the parts and how they fit together. Once you compress the spring it's a snap. You may have to enlarge the rubber hole to get the shaft of the Teins through it. Stock hole in the rubber was like 12mm and I had to bore it out to 15mm for my JRZs.

The difference between Pillow Ball mounts and OEM is that the OEM use rubber to isolate the damper from the mount. There is a performance advantage to Pillow Ball mounts, how much - will find out next spring at the track, but I imagine it's marginal and I am not racing (we say that 10x a day at HPDEs). The noise from Pillow Ball mounts is very subtle, but it is there when going slow like driving around a parking lot and going over a small bump, etc.
 
Last edited:
CL65 Captain said:
Get a spring compressor. After compressing the springs, remove the top nut and hold the shaft with a allen wrench. Then they just pull right off. Look at the service manual and you can see the parts and how they fit together. Once you compress the spring it's a snap. You may have to enlarge the rubber hole to get the shaft of the Teins through it. Stock hole in the rubber was like 12mm and I had to bore it out to 15mm for my JRZs.

The difference between Pillow Ball mounts and OEM is that the OEM use rubber to isolate the damper from the mount. There is a performance advantage to Pillow Ball mounts, how much - will find out next spring at the track, but I imagine it's marginal and I am not racing (we say that 10x a day at HPDEs). The noise from Pillow Ball mounts is very subtle, but it is there when going slow like driving around a parking lot and going over a small bump, etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input man!

Do you think its worth trying to put 2 flat pieces of rubber between the upper mount and the car, and then another one between the mount and the spring? Of course you would have to cut holes in it....thoughts?
 
I had the same noise tried everything to locate where it was coming from ended up going to my mechanic he had a listen walked away and came back with a can of CRC lube sprayed the top control arm bushes and presto no noise. 12mths later still quite.

Good luck
 
NSX-SA said:
I had the same noise tried everything to locate where it was coming from ended up going to my mechanic he had a listen walked away and came back with a can of CRC lube sprayed the top control arm bushes and presto no noise. 12mths later still quite.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Where can I get some of that CRC lube stuff?
 
vsy05 said:
Walmart carries CRC brand stuff. But I'm sure you can probably use other lubricants. WD-40, Silicone spray, (maybe even KY :biggrin:)
Click to expand...

heh where exactly did you spray this stuff?
 
i think you can get away with motorcycle chain lube.

its in a spary bottle, goes on thick and lasts forever.

that is probably much better then WD40
 
RON98 said:
i think you can get away with motorcycle chain lube.

its in a spary bottle, goes on thick and lasts forever.

that is probably much better then WD40
Click to expand...

DSC00853.JPG


U mean lube the rubber above the rotor in this pic?
 
enkrypt3d said:
Ok so I am out of ideas trying to figure out what is causing the noise when I go over bumps... its like a rattling sound in the front end as I go over bumps... It started happening after I installed my coilovers... is there some problem with the coilovers? Or is it putting more pressure on the rest of the suspension causing the noise? I have tried putting on the silencer rubber things on both front springs..(2 on each side) so the entire spring is covered... My coilovers have pillowball mount so I'm wondering if its somehow the spring being loose and hitting the upper mount? The spring is not loose even when the coilovers are not on the car...

Any ideas?? Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I'm getting the exact same noise. It only happens over stiff bumps. LarryB and I tried to figure it out, but couldn't- unfortunately, the roads in Warwick are much better than those in Port Washington lol. :D He thinks it may be a blown shock. My springs are however missing the rubber cover thingys, though it doesn't seem to have helped you...
 
I would check the steering rack bushing first but after that I'm at a loss.... :confused:
 
enkrypt3d said:
DSC00853.JPG


U mean lube the rubber above the rotor in this pic?
Click to expand...

Lube where the upper control arm mounts to the frame.

My noise was from the front suspension i couldnt believe just spraying the bushes would work but it did.:biggrin:
 
Honcho said:
I'm getting the exact same noise. It only happens over stiff bumps. LarryB and I tried to figure it out, but couldn't- unfortunately, the roads in Warwick are much better than those in Port Washington lol. :D He thinks it may be a blown shock. My springs are however missing the rubber cover thingys, though it doesn't seem to have helped you...
Click to expand...

Thats eactly what i thought a blown shock i even had a spare that i was going to swap it over when my mechanic just sprayed the upper control arm bushes and presto noise gone.
 
NSX-SA said:
Thats eactly what i thought a blown shock i even had a spare that i was going to swap it over when my mechanic just sprayed the upper control arm bushes and presto noise gone.
Click to expand...

Sweet - I'll have to tackle this after the holidays....

DSC00860.JPG


The far left is where it meets the frame...is that where he sprayed? (the other pic is the rear this is the front)

Going to just lube every rubber piece I find under there haha!
 
Last edited:
Yeah the one behind the strut
 
Any idea about the part numbers for the OEM upper mounts and how much they are? I dont want to use my old ones since they have 75K+ miles on them..... Thanks
 
enkrypt3d said:
Any idea about the part numbers for the OEM upper mounts and how much they are? I dont want to use my old ones since they have 75K+ miles on them..... Thanks
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the top mounts of the dampers and using the OEMs instead of your TEIN pillowball mounts? If so, don't worry about the mileage, there are no moving parts or wear items to it. All it does it hold the damper in place and has bolt on the top to mount it to the car.

For new top mounts and rubber pieces you are looking at least $70 x4.
 
Last edited:
CL65 Captain said:
Are you talking about the top mounts of the dampers and using the OEMs instead of your TEIN pillowball mounts? If so, don't worry about the mileage, there are no moving parts or wear items to it. All it does it hold the damper in place and has bolt on the top to mount it to the car.

For new top mounts and rubber pieces you are looking at least $70 x4.
Click to expand...

oh ok... I was just concerned about the rubber being dry rotted...
 
Just for the hell of it, I also had a similar sound problem, but on my old MR2.
It turned out to be the swaybar ENDLINKS being a little loose after I had
upgraded my suspension.
 
ChongLee said:
Just for the hell of it, I also had a similar sound problem, but on my old MR2.
It turned out to be the swaybar ENDLINKS being a little loose after I had
upgraded my suspension.
Click to expand...

Yea I checked that one too... :frown:
 

Similar threads

B
Suspension issues
Replies
8
Views
180
batesandrew174
B
B
1995 NSX Targa Top Rattle Noise
Replies
3
Views
162
BOBBYCRUISER95
B
TANTO
COILOVERS
Replies
19
Views
679
RyanRA
RyanRA
Gansan
Need advice... Damper top mount zinc coating, replace or just spray it?
Replies
1
Views
162
Honcho
Honcho
W
Question on coupe vs targa suspension
Replies
15
Views
385
watchdogd
W
Back
Top