Well, today was attempt number one at installing my H-Sport springs. Needless to say it didn't go well. Getting the shock/spring assembly off the car was a pain but we got it off. Then the lack impact gun kept us (my friend and i) from going any further. We're holding it off until a friend's house can be used for the impact gun.

Anyways, we re-installed the stock spring/strut assembly back on the car. Tightened everything back to normal and we were good to go. A little while later I take a quick drive before leaving my friends house and all is fine. As I'm actually leaving his house, i hear a noise come from the front of the car, more towards the left, but could but in the center. It sounds like a clank or squeek, enough that I figured it was the spring that hadn't set into place correctly. I turn around and jack the car up, double check the spring and all the nuts/bolts and everything seemed OK. So I take another test drive and the same sound. We quadruple checked everything and our only guess is maybe the swaybar rubbing against something.

It doesn't happen all the time, only over some bumps or uneven parts of the road. Any ideas? We're going to check it over when we go for our second attempt at the springs. Any ideas on what to look for would be appreciated. TIA.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to give the background.

 

Make sure all bushings and durometers are lubed appropriately.

 

i know where you stopped.
you don't need an impact gun to remove the nut on the piston shaft.
i posted this before, but you crack it loose while the strut is still
on the car. you won't need to use a key to hold the piston in place
for the initial cracking. do a 1/4 turn ccw and just remove the strut.

then you can remove that nut using your special tool or your socket
over the nut and a hex key to hold the piston and turn the socket
using channel-locks.

 

One other trick if you don't have a slotted socket... use a thin rubber strap wrench around the shaft of the strut... this will lock it down and allow you to thread off the nut.

I hope you're using ratchet straps or coil compressors when doing so - there's a considerable amount of force involved on the fronts!

 

hmm thanks for the ideas on getting the assembly apart.. what size socket is it exactly? I read it was 18mm but my socket didn't seem to fit over it, not even a 19mm??? we found some weird socket that fit over it, but then i wouldn't be able to put the hex key on... Is there any specific tool i can use to get that nut off?

oh also, the stock bumpstops get cut in half right? i wasn't 100% sure

 

oh haha almost forgot,

any ideas on what the clanking/squeeking could be? Since only one side of the swaybar was unbolted, would there be any pre-load or anything that could cause a clank? idk what i'm saying haha just throwing it out there...

 

i think it was a 21mm ... could be wrong. i did mine a long time ago
but that's the only socket that i have with scratches on it from
something grabbing it (channel locks?).

just do the H-sports and tighten everything down. you're not
going to make any progress just thinking about wat may be
causing the clunking. we'll worry about that after your H-sports
are installed.

 

haha thanks a lot Kenchan.. I like your view on the situation and I agree with it. I'll probably install the H-Sports next week sometime. Last question for now haha. The stock bumpstops get cut in half and i use the bottom half right?

 

always move forward.

no use the top half. i think the front even holds the boots in place
if i can remember correctly.

 

Yeah they do hold the boots in place, but its the bottom half that keeps the boot in place ?

 

I KNOW WHAT YOUR NOISE IS!

I had the same noise after initial install of my front M7 springs (did front one day, and rear the next... It's nice to take your time and enjoy!)

Even though you know you tightened everything back properly... Go retighten EVERYTHING especially the allen key bolt that the sway bar/drop link attach too. And this time, tighten the **** out of it! Mine was the drivers side.

I did that and havent heard the noise since...

 

honestly i can't remember... sorry. i did several different cars
after the MCS and i can't remember which was which.

 

dang, would you please diagnose the clicking sound im getting on
one of my cars? i sounds like 'cliiik click clllllllick.'

what is that?

 

Be happy to lend you my ears!