Suspension Front clunk after shocks/springs installation
#1
Front clunk after shocks/springs installation
Hi NAM,
So my shocks were all shot on my 05 MCS with 49k miles and replaced them with Bilstein B4, Swift Spec R, new Meyle front top mounts, new Lemforder rear bushings, and these fixed camber plates. After the installation, I hear front clunking when going over steep speed bumps such as the ones with spike strips entering a gated community. It sounds metal to metal, like coils hitting each other or struts bottoming out.
What should I look for? I checked everything is tight, top mounts, swaybar link, pinch bolt, etc. Am I missing anything? Is there a proper way to tighten the swaybar links? Could it be the motor mount? I see leaking but I am not sure if it has ever been replaced.
Also, not that I am complaining as its not my daily and I plan to autocross/track the car, but is the ride really supposed to be this hard and almost bouncy? Am I riding on uncut bump stops? When parked, the top 4 coils are touching (see pic) Going from blown struts and oem springs, the ride is now noticeably harsher. I can’t speak to the handling yet.
Thanks in advance.
So my shocks were all shot on my 05 MCS with 49k miles and replaced them with Bilstein B4, Swift Spec R, new Meyle front top mounts, new Lemforder rear bushings, and these fixed camber plates. After the installation, I hear front clunking when going over steep speed bumps such as the ones with spike strips entering a gated community. It sounds metal to metal, like coils hitting each other or struts bottoming out.
What should I look for? I checked everything is tight, top mounts, swaybar link, pinch bolt, etc. Am I missing anything? Is there a proper way to tighten the swaybar links? Could it be the motor mount? I see leaking but I am not sure if it has ever been replaced.
Also, not that I am complaining as its not my daily and I plan to autocross/track the car, but is the ride really supposed to be this hard and almost bouncy? Am I riding on uncut bump stops? When parked, the top 4 coils are touching (see pic) Going from blown struts and oem springs, the ride is now noticeably harsher. I can’t speak to the handling yet.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by r53racer; 12-08-2019 at 05:13 PM.
#3
On the plus side, I was able to fix the bouncy ride by cutting the front bumpstops.
#4
The failed motor mount is changing the geometry of the suspension. The front driveshaft is not at the appropriate angle and you are putting extra stress on it with the failed mount. Kinda difficult with out hearing the noise but I had a similar noise to what you describe in the rear because of a loose sway bar link, however - a bad driveshaft will make a clicking sound in the front.
#5
#6
Thanks for the response. So, I've replaced both engine mounts but the clunking is still present. You mentioned that they shouldn't be touching. I thought they were dead coils? Could I possibly installed them incorrectly? could I have gotten the wrong springs? I doubt that i have the wrong struts though. thanks in advance.
#7
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#8
Thanks for the response. So, I've replaced both engine mounts but the clunking is still present. You mentioned that they shouldn't be touching. I thought they were dead coils? Could I possibly installed them incorrectly? could I have gotten the wrong springs? I doubt that i have the wrong struts though. thanks in advance.
#9
#10
any other ideas?
#11
My coils are only touching each other when compressed, not when unloaded. I guess I’ll just take it to a MINI specialist when having the FCAB done since that’s a job I don’t want to tackle. Thanks for your time.
#12
Those dead coils are supposed to touch. Edit: looks like too many may be touching, but that's how progressive springs are designed in order to mimic a helper spring.
Are you positive that the nut holding the whole assembly is fully seated? I had trouble when I last installed coilovers on my Tiguan because I had issue getting the front center shaft nut properly tightened. Made all kinds of noise.
Are you positive that the nut holding the whole assembly is fully seated? I had trouble when I last installed coilovers on my Tiguan because I had issue getting the front center shaft nut properly tightened. Made all kinds of noise.
#13
Those dead coils are supposed to touch. Edit: looks like too many may be touching, but that's how progressive springs are designed in order to mimic a helper spring.
Are you positive that the nut holding the whole assembly is fully seated? I had trouble when I last installed coilovers on my Tiguan because I had issue getting the front center shaft nut properly tightened. Made all kinds of noise.
Are you positive that the nut holding the whole assembly is fully seated? I had trouble when I last installed coilovers on my Tiguan because I had issue getting the front center shaft nut properly tightened. Made all kinds of noise.
I checked multiple times that the top nuts were tight. I used a spring compressor and a pass through socket and an allen wrench and tightened them really well. I also checked other bolts and nuts. I’m inclined to think that the clunk is simply from the dead coils because the car drives tight, and the clunk only happens when aggressively driving over a speed bump (like when you accidentally didn’t see it). Could that be it? Springs decompressing then compressing again?
#14
Hello NAM,
I’m glad to report that my clunking has been resolved. After having a shop replace front control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, ball joints, and tie rods, clunking no longer happens. I don’t exactly know what fixed it, whether it was the FCAB or sway bar bushings or the ball joints as they were all shot.
Thanks again for all the help.
I’m glad to report that my clunking has been resolved. After having a shop replace front control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, ball joints, and tie rods, clunking no longer happens. I don’t exactly know what fixed it, whether it was the FCAB or sway bar bushings or the ball joints as they were all shot.
Thanks again for all the help.
#15
#16
Thank again for the help. On to the next project - r56 brakes.
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