Front Shock absorber “clunk sound”

[sol_j]

I Recently swapped out my full suspension setup on my 2002 LC — went from JOMs/Bluelines to B4s with 35mm Amax springs. Everything’s felt solid, but about a week after fitting the front shocks (same day as the timing belt), I noticed a clunking noise at full lock during tight manoeuvres. I didn’t do the rears at the same time as I was waiting on extra hardware from LLLParts.

To be fair, I didn’t really notice the sound at first as I hadn’t driven it much after fitting the fronts. The video linked below is from when I first heard the noise a few weeks back.

I contacted DPM (where I got the springs) and they said it might just need a bit more tightening. Today I fitted the rears and got the fronts checked again — torqued properly as per AUTODOC, forums, etc. Still getting the same noise. All hardware used is brand new — top mounts, bolts, everything.

Any ideas what it could be?

Clip: https://youtube.com/shorts/vQ2-eDeLJGo?si=LWu8mG-QD3yUhYd3

Thanks in advance!

 

[JamesRil3y]

Nothing to do with your top mounts per se, but could it be that your drop links are knocking on your sway bar? That's something I had after changing my strut/springs, slightly different height obviously affects your drop links (unless you have adjustable ones?)... only thing I can think of tbh

 

[sol_j]

Nothing to do with your top mounts per se, but could it be that your drop links are knocking on your sway bar? That's something I had after changing my strut/springs, slightly different height obviously affects your drop links (unless you have adjustable ones?)... only thing I can think of tbh

From what I’ve checked it’s coming from the top. I also changed the anti roll bar links too when I did the fronts. Nothing adjustable afaik and never did that sound with the coilovers lol. I went oem except for the lowering springs. It drives perfectly fine too. I haven’t aligned yet. Do you think that could sort it out?

 

[JamesRil3y]

From what I’ve checked it’s coming from the top. I also changed the anti roll bar links too when I did the fronts. Nothing adjustable afaik and never did that sound with the coilovers lol. I went oem except for the lowering springs. It drives perfectly fine too.

That's very weird, not sure tbh I've not seen those kind of top mounts before, sorry I can't be of more help!

 

[sol_j]

That's very weird, not sure tbh I've not seen those kind of top mounts before, sorry I can't be of more help!

No problem. I used febi bilsteins from AUTODOC lol. I may just leave it as it is if working and prob do an alignment. May stop for a while as I’ve spent a lot of money on it

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Never thought about the arb and the drive shafts. If they are rubbing, you should see marks on the arb and drive shaft. I remember that if you lowered it much (cant remember how much), then you should upgrade to the VR6 arb, as that one sits below the drive shafts. This also means that you need the VR6 drop links which attach to the shocks instead of arm

 

[sol_j]

Never thought about the arb and the drive shafts. If they are rubbing, you should see marks on the arb and drive shaft. I remember that if you lowered it much (cant remember how much), then you should upgrade to the VR6 arb, as that one sits below the drive shafts. This also means that you need the VR6 drop links which attach to the shocks instead of arm

Ah ok thanks for that. It had stock anti roll bar links afaik as I saw the old ones on the floor at the garage. The only difference before it was on coilovers. I’m not sure how low it was before but now it’s 35mm as that’s the max recommended for the b4s. These are the drop links I got, they looked exactly the same as the old ones on the car https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/23586917...2XVnQv_R2q&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Yes, these connect to the arms. I also had it lowered with Koni yellow, which was 30mm drop if I remember correctly. I used adjustable ones, but they kept breaking on me, probably due to the amount of polybushing. That was just before I sold the car

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Found some more pics, I had the plastic ones first

 

[sol_j]

Found some more pics, I had the plastic ones first

Oo thanks for that, that sounds good. In my case would you just get it checked again elsewhere?

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Check for signs of contact between the arb and the driveshaft if you have the possibility, that should be easy to do

 

[sol_j]

Check for signs of contact between the arb and the driveshaft if you have the possibility, that should be easy to do

I will when I get it checked out properly. I do wanna say the sound comes from both sides at the top(?) from what I can tell

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Hahaha you are not making this easier