Front end rattle after H&R Spring install?

[mrgroove]

OK, need some assistance! Just fitted some H&R Sport lowering springs to my 996. Went without a hitch, but now I have a rattle, clank noise coming from the front most noticeable going over bumps at low speed (driving up the curb edge to driveway for instance).

It sounds like the new springs are moving in the strut seat carrier. They are very easy to move when the car is jacked up! Everything looks seated correctly so I'm at a loss! I feel like putting some rubber between the spring and strut carrier to see if it is this?? Or grease maybe?

Any ideas gang?? Need help!

Thanks,

Karl.

[mrgroove]

OK, need some assistance! Just fitted some H&R Sport lowering springs to my 996. Went without a hitch, but now I have a rattle, clank noise coming from the front most noticeable going over bumps at low speed (driving up the curb edge to driveway for instance).

It sounds like the new springs are moving in the strut seat carrier. They are very easy to move when the car is jacked up! Everything looks seated correctly so I'm at a loss! I feel like putting some rubber between the spring and strut carrier to see if it is this?? Or grease maybe?

Any ideas gang?? Need help!

Thanks,

Karl.

OK, just spoke to H&R. They have suggested that when loosened the top nut, (With an impact wrench) that I loosened something in the shock body. I had considered this myself, so when I disassembled the shock I tested the rod by pushing it up and down and couldn't feel any play, dampening was also as expected????

Is it possible to loosened something inside the shock body???

[RFM]

I never heart this story, are you sure that all parts are installed correctly? You have to install on the rod: 1 steel ring, the bump stop, 1 parabolic spacer ( the hollow side facing downward ) pull the shock in the carrier, 1 parabolic spacer on top of the carrier ( the hollow side facing upward ) the locking nut. There is a big rubber spacer between the spring and the carrier and available in 2 sizes ( thickness ) depends on the type of spring, perhaps you need the thicker one. Ask Loren for an exploded view, than you can see what i mean.

[mrgroove]

I never heart this story, are you sure that all parts are installed correctly? You have to install on the rod: 1 steel ring, the bump stop, 1 parabolic spacer ( the hollow side facing downward ) pull the shock in the carrier, 1 parabolic spacer on top of the carrier ( the hollow side facing upward ) the locking nut. There is a big rubber spacer between the spring and the carrier and available in 2 sizes ( thickness ) depends on the type of spring, perhaps you need the thicker one. Ask Loren for an exploded view, than you can see what i mean.

I'm confident that all is in it's correct place. I've disassembled them twice... Does anyone believe that I could have loosened a piston nut on the bottom of the shaft inside the strut??

Loren, do you have any ideas - would appreciate any input?

[Loren]

And you have ruled out a loose swaybar mount?

[mrgroove]

And you have ruled out a loose swaybar mount?

Indy checked all over. Is it possible for me to loosen something inside the strut with the impact wrench? Even though I couldn't feel any play at all with the strut disassembled whilst holding the shaft and pulling up and down violently? I could feel no play and the shock performed with excellent compression resistance on the down stroke and rebound dampening on the way up??

It sounds like it's at the top. When I push down on the front (with hood up and pushing down on join) with my palm I can recreate the sound easily and only need to move the body up/down about 1/4 - 1/2".

Any thoughts?

[mrgroove]

I thought I would post the conclusion to this thread so it would prove useful to anyone in the future.

The problem was the spring. Not the shock as H&R suspected. The spring has a marginally smaller diameter than the stock spring. This combined with the lack of pre-load over the stock spring allows the spring to move around on the perch. The noise was a result of the spring compressing and rotating into the perch stop on the lower part of the strut. The spring wants to rotate when compressed as a result of how the spring is wound/coiled.

Solution: Placed a piece of plastic hose on the end of the spring. Problem solved. May not last forever but ensures that I won't go mad in the mean while!