Clunking noise...Help!! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

REAPER SS · 12-06-2010, 03:03 PM

I installed hotchkis lowering springs,Spohn lower control arms and toe rods. It handles great but now after about 100 miles on the new suspension I am hearing a clunking noise on the rear drivers side. It only pretty much happens when I make a turn. Please chime in to tell me what you think it is

Beauwulf · 12-06-2010, 03:23 PM

Probably the spring popping out of the perch. My friends V6 w/Hotchkis did it.

axis · 12-06-2010, 03:50 PM

Number one thing would be to make sure everything is tight.

Hotchkis · 12-21-2010, 08:17 PM

As other members have pointed out, the first thing to do is to make sure all of the hardware is properly tightened. It looks like you have replaced multiple suspension components that could potentially have loose fasteners. Control arms are especially notorious for making noise if not sufficiently tightened.

Make sure the rubber isolator between the coil and the top perch is not bound or pinched. There is a slight possibility that the rear spring is not sitting properly in the top perch of the strut assembly when they were installed. We have worked very hard at designing our springs to have the proper free-length and preload for both the front and rear springs. From our experience performing many Camaro coil installs, we have never seen our coils pop out of the shock perches on their own. Make sure the rubber isolator between the coil and the top perch is not bound up or pinched. If the isolator is not properly installed, you must uninstall the coil/shock assembly and unbolt the top perch and re-seat the isolator and spring from scratch. When seated properly, you shouldn’t have a problem with the rear springs popping out.

We are always available for tech calls if you want to call us, or you if it was a shop that performed the install for you, give our tech number to them so we can help.

Hotchkis toll-free tech line: 888-735-6425

BLACK10 · 12-27-2010, 06:54 PM

check your sway bar nuts with the car on the ground

DMSDesign · 12-27-2010, 08:40 PM

One additional thing I will add. I have found that when adding lowering springs, it is possible for the upper strut shaft hardware to make contact with the inner strut bucket in the frame. This is due to additional deflection of the OE strut mount bushing and tolerance variations of the body. Easy fix. But first, as has already been mentioned, make sure everything is tight, and the coils are in the perches correctly.

mike
dms

Saving41 · 12-31-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMSDesign

One additional thing I will add. I have found that when adding lowering springs, it is possible for the upper strut shaft hardware to make contact with the inner strut bucket in the frame. This is due to additional deflection of the OE strut mount bushing and tolerance variations of the body. Easy fix. But first, as has already been mentioned, make sure everything is tight, and the coils are in the perches correctly.

mike
dms

Mike,
Can you clue me in on the easy fix?

TIA

JusticePete · 01-12-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saving41

Mike,
Can you clue me in on the easy fix?

TIA

Dome it. Most Camaros have sufficent clearance in the pocket the rear struts install in. Using a scope you can snake in a mini camera and see if it is touching. It is unusual to have it occur, but Mike is right in that it does happen.

The edge of the gold washer or nut can make contact when the rubber bush extends under load in some Camaros. Rounding the top of the pocket can be done several ways depending on the shop equipment at hand. Sheet metal hand hammer to an air hammer. Chances are it is something else, but we did chase our tails on the WD-40 Camaro we did for SEMA 2009. It made for a long day for Mr. White.

GEEo · 01-12-2011, 11:44 PM

sounds like something lose.

Saving41 · 01-14-2011, 12:58 AM

Thank you JusticePete!

JusticePete · 01-14-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saving41

Thank you JusticePete!

Now worries mate!

Rob@WretchedMS · 01-14-2011, 09:02 PM

sorry mike, i want so bad to make a joke about a van, a ranch, and a bunch of aussies,....lol

12-06-2010, 03:03 PM	#1
REAPER SS Drives: 2010 CAMARO BLK 2SS/L99 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Birmingham,Al Posts: 453	Clunking noise...Help!! I installed hotchkis lowering springs,Spohn lower control arms and toe rods. It handles great but now after about 100 miles on the new suspension I am hearing a clunking noise on the rear drivers side. It only pretty much happens when I make a turn. Please chime in to tell me what you think it is

12-06-2010, 03:23 PM	#2
Beauwulf Drives: '10 LT RS A6 & '04 Acura RSX Type S Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,552	Probably the spring popping out of the perch. My friends V6 w/Hotchkis did it. __________________

12-06-2010, 03:50 PM	#3
axis Search Ninja Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Ark Posts: 4,732	Number one thing would be to make sure everything is tight. __________________ 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Halltech Yellowjacket fed Kooks LT's/ Dynomax VT Pfadted (springs/sways) Aint nobody got time for that

12-27-2010, 06:54 PM	#5
BLACK10 POWER TECH Drives: 2010 CAMARO. 10.04@133mph, 1.4 60' Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 4,429	check your sway bar nuts with the car on the ground __________________ LETHAL RACING.COM 337-258-7692 2010 CAMARO 10.04@133mph,1.4 60'on stock bottom end

01-14-2011, 09:02 PM	#12
Rob@WretchedMS Evil Pedders Guy Since 06 Drives: His Wife Crazy Phone:860-880-0486 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Enfield, Connecticut Name: Rob Anderson Posts: 1,424	sorry mike, i want so bad to make a joke about a van, a ranch, and a bunch of aussies,....lol __________________ PEDDERS\|Brakes\|Exhaust\|Tuning\|Email\|Facebook\|Twitter\|YouTube\|SPECIALS

12-21-2010, 08:17 PM	#4
Hotchkis Drives: 1st through 5th gen Camaros Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sante Fe Springs, CA Posts: 447	As other members have pointed out, the first thing to do is to make sure all of the hardware is properly tightened. It looks like you have replaced multiple suspension components that could potentially have loose fasteners. Control arms are especially notorious for making noise if not sufficiently tightened. Make sure the rubber isolator between the coil and the top perch is not bound or pinched. There is a slight possibility that the rear spring is not sitting properly in the top perch of the strut assembly when they were installed. We have worked very hard at designing our springs to have the proper free-length and preload for both the front and rear springs. From our experience performing many Camaro coil installs, we have never seen our coils pop out of the shock perches on their own. Make sure the rubber isolator between the coil and the top perch is not bound up or pinched. If the isolator is not properly installed, you must uninstall the coil/shock assembly and unbolt the top perch and re-seat the isolator and spring from scratch. When seated properly, you shouldn’t have a problem with the rear springs popping out. We are always available for tech calls if you want to call us, or you if it was a shop that performed the install for you, give our tech number to them so we can help. Hotchkis toll-free tech line: 888-735-6425

12-27-2010, 08:40 PM	#6
DMSDesign Suspension Specialist Drives: 2011 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 65	One additional thing I will add. I have found that when adding lowering springs, it is possible for the upper strut shaft hardware to make contact with the inner strut bucket in the frame. This is due to additional deflection of the OE strut mount bushing and tolerance variations of the body. Easy fix. But first, as has already been mentioned, make sure everything is tight, and the coils are in the perches correctly. mike dms

01-12-2011, 11:44 PM	#9
GEEo OKCamaros Drives: '13 WRX STi Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Muskogee, OK Posts: 4,621	sounds like something lose.

01-14-2011, 12:58 AM	#10
Saving41 Drives: IBM 1SS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 218	Thank you JusticePete!

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