Rattling sound from new suspension

[Bob March]

I recently put monroe sensa-trac struts with eibach pro kit lowering springs. When I drive I notice a rattling sound when I hit bumps.The sound is so annoying, does anyone know what it is. Thanks for the help.

[ancona46]

every grand am does it when u lower it almost,mine does it with intrax and stock struts it worse the hotter/more humid it is outside

[AznGA]

Yeap, almost everyone including myself have this noise with lowering springs. I think it happens no matter what kind of struts you have.

[bandit307]

You bet. It happens to me too. You gota make the choice of a low ride or a quite one.

[AznGA]

Noise is fine because you can crank up the radio, but it's the sound of the strut mount and the bearing plate underneath hitting each other. I was surprised to see those totally destroyed when I took my struts apart. I regret messing with my suspension because I never planned on autocrossing my car. I am ready to go back to stock.

[VanishingImage]

Yup,thats what you get when you want to go lower. The struts/shocks might not be made for lowering. Try going with some KYB's since they are a big aftermarket company that promote using their stuff when lowering your car.

Go with some ST or Sprint shocks/struts. They make lowering springs as well so they make their shocks/struts to go along with their springs so that might help with that noise. The noise is definately the shocks/struts moving,they just can't work 100% with being lowered

[car audio dave]

what what i hear its a washer ebcause the strut mounts are too thin. i have some kyb struts (still not installed) and when i get my new strut mounts im going to see what i need in order to stop that sound form happening.

BTW it happens with my H&Rs with stock struts. i know that my struts are old and need replacing, hence the KYBs.

[Dave C]

Monroe Sensa-tracs weren't the best choice for lowering... They are made to work at stock height.

Basically, they have a softer ride in the center of the stroke, and once you get away from midstroke, they get stiffer. Since you are starting below midstroke, you will hit that stiff zone a lot quicker on compression, and maybe not hit it at all on rebound. This means when you hit a bump, it will be felt more, while if your wheel goes in a dip, the spring will push the wheel down into the depression quicker (depending on where that center "soft zone" is)

Sensatracs are more for comfort than handling. If you want stiffer struts for handling, the Monroe GT's or KYB's would be a better bet.

[AznGA]

Originally posted by car audio dave
what what i hear its a washer ebcause the strut mounts are too thin. i have some kyb struts (still not installed) and when i get my new strut mounts im going to see what i need in order to stop that sound form happening.

BTW it happens with my H&Rs with stock struts. i know that my struts are old and need replacing, hence the KYBs.
I put washers in and it did not do a damn thing.

[RaptorRed67]

Hey there folks,
I've been dealing with the same type of noise ever since I did my lowering. I used Eibach springs with KYB GR2 struts, mounts, boots, and stops. EVERYTHING got replaced with new stuff from the knuckle to the tower mounting point. I finally took it to my mechanic to have a look because I couldn't figure out what it was. Turns out, from what he can find, the car has been basically riding on the bumpstops. He checked and verified that everything is assembled correctly but there is almost NO compression travel left in the front suspension, causing the suspension to shove the force of bumps up thru the barely compressing strut and knocking the hell out of the mounts, not to mention me. I've got calls into some folks at both Eibach and KYB (it pays to have connections :) ) to see if they know any instances of needing to cut the bumpstops down to compensate as my mechanic suggested. I'll be sure to update if I can find out anything but in the meantime has anyone else found a solution/answer to solving the lowered blues? Stay cool.

[ancona46]

i doubt it my car wasnt riding on the bumpstops and i had intrax which is lower than eibach...it never bottomed out once at that was on stock struts......i dont think there is a solution

[rys99grandam]

Is your rattling sound in the front of in the rear or both?

I have this noise in the rear when I go over bumps, like the metal washer is wacking the mount, I have tried the washer both ways, Rebuilt it, etc, nothing seems to correct the issue, And I have finally given up, I don't understand why it makes such a noise. I have looked into every possible thing and I have yet to find it.

The noise in the front I had was like a metal ratling or something, I replaced the mounts and lubed them up with Lithum Grease, Went away for 6 months, Now I have this new noise, I think its my tie rod or something clunking, on one side, Well see though when I look at it.

[Pte Socks]

have you guys tried looking back about this problem and the cause seemed to be that the actual springs should fit on the lower mount but the upper mount should be off center a bit, I cant remember the exact post, does anyone else remember this? Either way, I will be having a look at my strut mounts as I know they have been worn through with the eibach/kyb setup I have.

[rys99grandam]

I just lined it up with stock locations worked fine in the front
In the rear it did not line up to stock lo cation on the mounts, but it works I think. But I do have more noise in the rear then the front.

I had noises in the front for a while untill I replaced my mounts, slaped some Lithium grease on them and wala.
The actual noise I have now the slight clunk are my sway bar end links are shot, there is about a 3-4 mm gap between bar and bushing and it likes to move from what I can tell,

[YEVNTRY]

I just placed a few extra washer on the strut to remove the extra space inbetween the mounting plate and the bolt, You can do this while the struts are on the car, just leave the car on the ground and remove the rod nut, put in the washers and lock the nut back down. Make sure u have the nut real tight and to do this you may have to grab the rod with a pair channel locks while someone else tightends the nut, see the noise comes from the whole strut assembly moving rather then just the strut it self.

[badazz03]

well guys i had that same problem with my grand am i bought the intrax springs and installed them and got that rattling noise from up front driver side if.. my dad is a mechanic so he makes all the calls and said that my strut mount was bad so we replaced it and now my car rides like a cadillac

but i bought brand new struts all the way around so just lettin you guys kno...


so my solution try changin out your mounts in the front not in the back cuz those dont as much as the front let me now what happens....

good luck!:pontiac: