I have CROSS coilovers on an 08 MCS. They use to occasionally make a creaking, popping sound when slowly negotiating a driveway at an angle. The popping/thunking sound is happening much more often now, as if something is loosening. I hear it when I go through a dip at slow speeds, make sharp turns. It's even popped when I've sat down in the car.
It seems to happen whenever there is a substantial transition of pavement angles or towards the end of a sharp turn.

What should I look to tighten? I didn't do the install, so I'm not intimately familiar with the setup.

Thanks.

 

I could be wrong, but I think the nut on top of the shock might be loose. If not, then take off the wheels and make sure the bolts on the swaybar links are tighten really good.

 

I don't think it's the top nut, if you mean the one on top of the shock towers accessed through the bonnet. This was loose when I first had them installed and the sound and feeling from the front end were completely different. It felt as if the wheels could pop off at any moment--overall looseness.

Your second suggestion is a good one. I'll pull the wheels this weekend.

 

Ummm, do you mean the damping adjustment **** was loose? Please don't say you tighten that up all the way?!

With Cross coilovers, the top hat/camber plate should be torqued to the damper out of the box. If not, it will clank like you're describing.

Also, the swaybar drop links will clank the same if they're not tightened fully. The latter is a common problem with DIY installs. The drop link has to hold the entire weight of the car, so it needs to be more than just lightly snugged.

Good luck,
Ryan

 

I had the exact same problem with my cross coilovers. Was silent for a couple months then started making creaking noises when turning the wheel at slow speeds. Eventually the noise got really bad so that it sounded like the tire was going to fall off while driving. Bad enough that I didn't drive for 3 days until I had it checked out. Turns out it WAS the big nut on top that was loose - really loose. I had the shop check the other ones too and the other 3 were loose to various degrees. Tightened everything up and I've had no problems except an occasional squeek since then.

The nut I'm talking about has to be tightened with an impact wrench. You cannot do it with hand tools.