philsbluerx8

This thread is related to the topic/problem discussed on the previous thread, here is the link: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/question-about-alignment-151578/
Since it becomes a different topic, i would like to create a new one and discuss it at here.
Today i went to mazda and got my alignment done. i mentioned the clicking noise to the tech guy and we drove my car to a parking building and we heard the noise again (cuz it will only be detected at underground parking or a really quite place). He looked under the car and checked the endlinks, sway bars and the tein coilover that i installed on my car. He concluded that there was nothing wrong with all the mazda parts like bars and links, but he could move the springs came with the tein shocks when he trying to shake it. He thinks that the noise is coming from the coilover because there isnt enough tension from the springs to the top mounts and seat locks due to the springs are not correctly tight.
I got what he meant and realized the problem that i might had during the installation. therefore, i think people who did their coilovers themselves should tell me the correct thing. Thus, here is the question:
Should the adjustment of the height be done after the installation of the coilovers? so when installing the coilovers, should the seat locks sit low enough to let the top nut (which seal the top mount on the springs) go to end of the screw thread on the center mental stick (which goes in the shock assembly) before adjusting the height?

Hope u understand what i said. i meant the poor description.

philsbluerx8

does anyone have answer for this? Is the main reason why use the seat lock to give enough pressure on the springs when the height of the coilover itself is adjusted?

benh

I don't know if this will help, but it sound like what happened to me before. Unlike you, I heard the noise after I have an unprofessional shop install my sway bar. The mechanic didn't put enough grease on the pushing which make the bar sound like what you described. I would jack the car up and look carefully where there should be grease apply and make sure that those place have enough grease. You never know, they might clean grease off something and forget to reapply grease back on!

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

i don't understand this

can you explain in another way?

It is always necessary to adjust the coilovers after the installation because you are never going to make it even on your first try. Especially for our car where the driver's rear sits lower than the passenger's rear. I have jacked it up plenty of times to adjust the perch collar.

if you jack up your car, and the springs are not seated tightly between the upper mount and perch, that could be the cause of the clicking noise. there is no preload on the coil.

Juice

iTrader: (1)

I second this. It seems as if the collar is too low, so when you hit any sort of bump and the suspension extends itself the spring can clank around because it isn't tight. Try raising the collar while the cars suspension is fully extended until the spring compresses a little. This will ensure that even at full travel, the spring is always tight against the top mount.

philsbluerx8

k, i meant: there is a top nut on the center tube; the springs which come with the coilovers are way shorter and stronger than the stock ones, so there might not be a need of using strut springs compressors. However, if i didnt use the compressor and if i already set the lock seat(the collar on the bottom) to where i want, i wouldnt be able to give enough pressure on the springs if i just tighten the top nut. therefore the right way to do is to set the seat a little bit lower than what i expect and after i put them on, then i adjust the seat higher again to give the springs enough pressure when the shocks are stretched?

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

sounds complicated in your words, lol, but yes.

1-assemble the shock first
2-get that top nut on
3-adjust perch collar (lock seat) up to compress the spring
4-install on car
5-adjust perch collar to your desired height

not exact steps, but you get the idea.

Is the clicking sound coming from a specific coilover?

philsbluerx8

i cant tell, cuz it wasnt too noticeable unless i drive it in the underground parking.
i think it comes from all the coilovers, for example, when i turn right, it comes from the right, and when i turn left, it comes from the left.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

ok, so it happens when you turn. sounds like the spring to me.

did you check this?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

I adjust everything after its installed. no problems for me. I have HiperMax III in my car.

yea it sound like a spring problem.

philsbluerx8

This is what i am thinking too,cuz i remember i made this mistake when installing them; but i am just waiting for the evo-R endlinks arrival so i will do both once. Would raising the lock seat solve this problem or do i have to take the assembly off and reinstall them.

philsbluerx8

alright, i adjusted the collar up to preload the spring but looks like it still makes the noise.
BTW, is tein-basic really height adjustable? cuz what i have seen on other coilovers, they all have another lower seat for height adjustment but adjusting the top 2 seat does not really affect the height. so from the look of my tein basic, i didnt see the lowest seat but the spring seats which only ajust the preload for other coilovers.
whats really the cause of the noise then. could it be the endlinks and sway bars???? should i give it more preload(i dont think it is necessary as long as its already preloaded)???
not to mention, the noise doesnt only come from turning but also hitting the bump when i am at a quite place(usually the curb that i drive on everyday towards my underground parking).

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

the setup of the tein basic allows for the height to affect the stiffness because there is the compression of the spring. some coilovers have a separate lower bracket to adjust the length of the coilover as a lowering method without affecting the spring rate and damper travel.

If you can turn or push the spring when the car is jacked up, then there is still play.

I would say if you wanna test if it is ur endlinks or sways, unhook the endlink and go see if you still hear it. car will be fine just don't think about trying to turn like you usually do.

philsbluerx8

I WILL uninstall my coilover tmr and tight the top nut more then preload the spring cuz i dont want the car to be higher than before, and also i still want it to be lower a little. and i will preload it more. ur endlink way is a good idea, i might try that.
BTW, would the grease be possible the cause of it like what ben said. cuz when i was installing my rear shocks, i twisted the sway bar clockwise a little to make the endlink look vertical to me but i know it wasnt a smart idea. i could feel that there was almost no lubricant on it.

philsbluerx8

damn, all the nuts of my stock front endlinks stripped but i eventually took the one connect with the arm off. i used an allen key and a wrench but all the bolts and nuts are decayed due to the salty winter in canada i think. Now, i couldnt take off the nuts on the other end of the endlinks and i couldnt install them back on anymore. i am going to use a saw to cut them off, would it work???

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

damn that sucks. I would take a drill to it and try not to screw up the threading on the endlink. drill into the side of the nut until you reach the threading to loosen up the material. the break it off. you can always go find another nut.

philsbluerx8

i got those nuts off already. what i did is i went to an auto part store arond my place and bought a mini hacksaw and a little pack of grease(expensive tho, $6.99 for just a little). i spent almost 1 and half hour just cutting those two bolts connected on the endlinks. and i took off the bushings on the sway bar and put some grease on it, then i installed my new endlinks from evo-r. guess what happened? the noise is gone completely...
so i am thinking the noise is due to the grease on the bushings was used up and dried. everytime i go into my underground parking, i will have to let one wheel go on the curb first cuz my car is lowered, however, at this time, the shape of the sway bar will be changed a little cuz two wheels on a same axial cant be lift up together. so there will be some friction on the bushings with the bar to cause the noise. and its the same reason when cornering.
does it make sense?

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

ahh yes. i know that problem. Glad you solved it. I'm thinking it may have been your endlink since you said it was a clicking noise. The sway bar would rub and squeak if the bushings were the problem. nonetheless, you solved it. New endlinks, greased bushings, your good for a while. haha