noise developed after lowering

[Rocky Rocastle]

just had the car (lcr) lowered the other week and for a couple of days or so no problems, but now if I go over a bump at low speed whether it be in a straight line or when turning i get a hollow/wobbly knocking sound.

It was lowered using uprated springs and dampers and it had new top mounts and bearings which were well greased. From what i can hear the noise only appears to be coming from the front too. I've sprayed some WD40 around various other accessible bushes in case the new angles and degrees of movement were causing them to stick maybe but 3/4 days later, the noise is still there.

Driving normally however the car appears fine, any suggestions

 

[james walker]

what shocks and springs you use mate...

its not the arb catching on the driveshaft is it?
were the 2 bolts in the wheel bearing housing replaced for new?

were they tightened enough to make sure the strut isnt moving?

wheel catching on strut?

wheel catching on plastic inner arch lining?

you undo the arb mounts at all... were they done back up tight and torqued correctly?

top nut on spring seat? if that isnt tight the seat will hit on the top turret.

top nut in strut.. was this tightened fully, as they are hard to get torqued properly.

spring seated fully against the spring locator on the struts?

try white grease around this to help it relocate if it hasnt.

 

[JamJay]

Checked your ARB bushes for play at all?

What suspension kit did you go with?

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

i went for the weitecs 50mm kit. It's not a deep thud like it's metal hitting metal or the clunk you tend to associate with top mounts. You cant really feel it through the steering when it does it either so I would personally rule our most of the points above. Its more of a hollow sound, i was saying to Phil (EMPI5) before it sounds like that instrument Rolf Harris plays but not the didgery doo

Don't know if the extra strain/flex may have caused bushes to perish but it's funny it's both sides

 

[james walker]

50mm i would say itll be catching the driveshafts somwhere... have you got an uprated arb?

who fitted it?

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

tbh though it hasn't dropped more than 30 mm if that and i though this problem only occured on LC's?

 

[Phillc]

I have this aswell on my LC with just the 50mm Weitec springs, and mainly on the right hand side i put it down to the top mount bearings or drop links, mainly happens when Turing right and over bumps, i have the Weitec dampers and R32 ARB to fit with new drop links, bearings and bushes so hopefully will cure it.
It is not hitting the drive shaft as there are no marks on them and its more of a knocking noise than a scrape.

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

i was kinda hoping you would see this as i know you have the same kit and i wondered whether it may have been the dampers themselves at first, i did get more of a clunk today on full lock and yesterday when driving it did develop into more of a knock over bumps than the hollowy noise (which is very hard to describe) of before, maybe it is top mount related then. Did you torque yours to 60Nm?

 

[james walker]

shocks bottoming out, due to uprated springs and oem shocks?

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

no it's uprated shocks and dampers, i think it could be as said top mount related or ARB related somewhere but could do with someone in the know having a look into it. I would ask the usual but he's away the lucky sod but im having the GEO done on Saturday at Awesome, may ask them take a look if they have 5 mins.

 

[Phillc]

shocks bottoming out, due to uprated springs and oem shocks?

I dont think so as it mainly happens when cornering, i thought i was the spring compressing then getting movement in the bearing causing the knocking,( i know the bearings are knackered) or the drop links being worn, i do get the knocking when going over bumps but nothing that would bottom out the dampers

Did you torque yours to 60 Nm?

TBH no i just tightened them up, didn't know the torque setting.

 

[traumapat]

exhaust?

 

[Fl@pper]

exhaust?

sump

check the anti roll bar links or better still test over a regular noise making bump with a body outside to listen for it ?

 

[Phillc]

sump

it is only 50mm on the "normal" leons on the LCR its only 30mm, my splitter actually scrapes less now I'v lowered it.

 

[Willie]

I'd try spannering all the bolts again.
Or strip them down and rebuild them again

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

exhaust?

no it's defo not the exhaust, it's really a front of car noise only

sump

check the anti roll bar links or better still test over a regular noise making bump with a body outside to listen for it ?

Again, as phil says its not the sump, it isn't low enough and it isn't that type of noise. I do agree it could possibly be the ARB's somewhere along the line though. I'll have to have another look with John and see what his opinion is.

 

[JamJay]

Has anyone else had this issue with the Weitecs? I don't think guys on coilovers get this issue do they?

 

[Fl@pper]

it is only 50mm on the "normal"

Again, as phil says its not the sump

ooh you boys are so serious i even stuck a smilie on too as i was winding you up, seriosuyl though i'd check the antiroll bars first, they are bad enough on standard heights

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

sorry mate i wasn't meaning to sound funny when i put that but reading it how you've quoted them together i can see how you've interpreted it that way. I agree with you though that it appears to be an ARB issue, just need to establish where

 

[JamJay]

Think i'll be going with the KW -40mm kit then