Cool. Are we in for a redesign on the springs or something?

 

we are still in discovery of the real issue/s. Once we know more we'll make a plan and move forward.

 

For those with the spring noise, how many miles have you put on the springs?

 

Hey Dustin, I sent you a PM. If you don't mind sharing your opinion with me on Megans vs H&R coilovers (if I decide to go that route). Thanks!

 

The cross coilovers aren't necessarily quiet. Whenever the weather is wet they make all kinda of springing *boing* noises when I turn the wheel back and forth at low speeds. It has something to do with the springs trying to rotate and then slipping. The ride is incredible though.

 

I bet it is!

 

I drove the car some Fri night and Sat afternoon, and I have to report that the noise is definitely better. Only when I pulled into my driveway and the car shifted weight from side to side did I hear it a little bit. I now have about 200 miles on the springs. I'll drive it to work tomorrow and Wed and get another 160 or so miles. Jeff at TSW contacted me and says basically that they'll "wear in" and the noise will go away. I'm hopeful, and my only concern then is possible corrosion on the spring and the strut tower. I offered that they might want to flat-surface the top coil on the inside where there is potential interference with a rotary file or other tool prior to going to the powdercoaters. That would prob give enough clearance to not be an issue on cars with suspect spring perches.
For all of you who were considering but not have doubts, I have to reiterate that the stance, ride and handling are all I could have asked for. If the noise becomes a non-issue in a couple of weeks, or you don't have any problems from the beginning, this is still a great product and I highly recommend them. Almost can't wait to wear out these struts so I can go Bilstein or Konis.
Mo' later!
Fig

 

Good update Fig.... I'm basically in the same boat in that the noise is getting less noticeable over time.

 

Anything more on this yet?

 

Jeff and TSW and I are corresponding. Love the improvement in ride and handling more every time I drive it. WIll check for noises when I get home this afternoon.
Fig

 

OK, I now have about 350 miles on the springs. Took some speed bumps on a slight diagonal this afternoon and still have some "errr errr" on spring compression from the front struts. Not nearly as bad as at first, but still there. If this was gone, they'd be perfect, I think.
On another note, ran downhill through my county road esses that are shown at 25mph at a little over 60--nice and smooth transitions with no drama. Have I mentioned I really like these springs?
Fig

 

Well, after talking to Dustin today, I'm definitely ordering a set this weekend. Hopefully, they'll still make it in by spring break so I can do the install.

Speaking of which, does anyone know if I have to get that special BMW socket?

 

^what pushed you over the edge Moxie? Just wondering.

I can't decide if I want these, or CF door handles right now.

 

You don't HAVE to. Of course it's easier with it. I just purchased a 21mm deep socket from Northern Tool (which is down the street from me) and ground some flats on it. That allowed me to put a crescent wrench on it to hold it in place while I cranked down on the allen head (or vice versa). Regardless, torque values don't mean much in this case since you are tightening the nut down to the end of it's travel on the shaft. Get it nice and tight and be done with it (my opinion) - no warranties either expressed or implied.....

 

I guess whatever you decide says a LOT about you!

 

Here's another simple solution which worked very well. Needed: 6mm T handle allen wrench (I think it's 6 or maybe it's 5?), 13/16 spark plug socket, 3/4 gearwrench. Clamped the allen wrench in the vice sideways, slide gearwrench over it, put spark plug wrench on strut top nut, and slide the whole thing onto the allenwrench. THen use the gearwrench to loosen/ratchet off the top nut til you get almost to the end. Allen wrench holds the shaft. Not really awkward to hold the strut while you do this, and it gives you a lot more leverage and is like an extra set of hands. Without the vice, you may not be able to hold the strut shaft against the torque needed to break loose the nut the first time.
Also, I HIGHLY recommend using spring compressors for front and back. A pair of these is not real expensive and it makes it easier. There is a lot of preload compression on them and it's the safest way. You can reassemble the struts with the TSW springs by merely pushing down on the spring perches while starting the nut. On the rears, follow Alta's instruction hint on marking and lining up the top perches so they go back in the car the correct way. If not, you may be taking it back apart to try again...
Cheers,
Fig

 

600+ miles and still making noise. I'm hoping they stop as I really like how they ride, and the only way I'm taking them off is for a Cross setup.

 

Well, when I talked to Dustin, he told me that out of the 60+ sets of springs sold so far only five or six have had problems with "the bulge" and almost all of them have reported that after X amount of miles any and all problems went away. In addition, these problems are apparent in all model years. So by simple probability, I'll likely not have any issues. And although normally I'd only accept a 5% chance of error, 10% in this case is good enough for me. My next question to him was about the rubbing of metal on metal and possibly shaving away some of the spring and the perch. To this, he told me that it wouldn't really damaging the spring itself or the perch. It would just be taking off the powder coat, and he assured me that even IF that did happen, that rust would probably wouldn't happen.

My only other concern was the life of the shock. If I'm going to have to replace my struts any time soon, I might as well go ahead and spring the $$$ for some Megan CO's. Apparently, the TSW's would actually lengthen the life of my stock shocks because they're a heavier weight. Ultimately, that's what sold me on them.

If you want to give them a shot, talk to Dustin. He'll hook you up and answer any questions you have. Great customer service before you're even a customer is awesome! I say do it.

 

Thanks Fig and Sapphire! That info will definitely come in handy!

 

Well, they're both going to happen.

My concern is snow, and my driveway. I realize the minor drop of these springs won't effect me too much in the snow, it'll make me snowplow a little bit more then I do now when I'm up in the mountains. My driveway is another story. If i go any more then 1/2 mph, my front bumper scrapes on my driveway. I'm moving in a little over a month.

Sooo... do I get springs, where I potentially wouldn't be able to install them right away, or do I get CF door handles, and install them once I receive them?

 

It depends on what you really want. For me, performance/cosmetics always precedes JUST cosmetics. If I get something for a cosmetic appeal, I think it's more justifiable if it has a "functional" purpose. For instance, I could better justify $1200 on a set of CO's or a new exhaust than $1200 on painting my rubber trim. But that's just me. It's all about what you want.

 

but would you get a set of coil overs that would force you to park on a city street, or get something else to hold you over until you could get the coil overs and not have to worry about getting slammed into while parked on the side of the road.

The only reason I'm getting the CF door handles is that the vinyl looks like complete junk. The other parts in vinyl are fine, but the door handles kill me every time I look at them. They're the only cosmetic part I have on the list. Everything else is suspension, followed by powertrain.

 

I wouldn't feel all that bad about marring up the air dam. That's really the only part that gets the brunt of the damage from bottoming out. As someone else once said... it's to be considered sacrificial. It's easy and not very pricey to replace. Or you can smooth it out with a dremmel and/or sand paper.

I'm not trying to push you either way. This is just how I think about it. And I understand the way you're thinking about it, too. It's all just personal preference, and ultimately it's YOUR car and you make the call. No one can tell you that it's the right or wrong decision. And if they do, then screw them.

 

hahah... yea, well, unfortunately it's not just the air dam. the driveway is at such an angle, I have scraped the lip on the bumper, not just the air dam.

I guess it's a matter of one being ordered March 1st, the other April 1st. Only a month difference. Wheels will be ordered roughly April 10th.

 

Oh yikes. Yeah, I would wait until you move then.