Clunking sound in rear passenger quarter.

[Sevenernine]

So, I got my coilovers put on about two months ago. Ended up having to adjust the ride height in the rear (i was tearing the bottom of my car up!) to give it a raked look. Then the clunking started.

Every time I hit a bump or am driving down a rough road, it just sounds like something rattling. I had a friend listen and he thinks it could be a bushing, but I was telling my buddy Boggart from here on LXF about it, and he said it could be the bottom bolt that attches to the bottom of the strut.

I can grab the strut and try to move it, but it doesn't make a sound, so does anyone have any input/experience with an issue like this? After swapping the strut (Which the guys from BC Racing were more than happy to ship out) I've concluded the strut probably isn't bad.


Also: The ride height on the side that's defective seems to be lower than the other side. When I first put the new strut on it was maybe an 1/8th of an inch off, just because I didn't have it measured quite correctly, no big deal... and it fixed the clunking, temporarily.

Now, about half a week later, it's clunking again, and the pass side is sitting almost an inch lower.

[smoove7410]

I think your purch is hitting the frame....my Kw's do the same. Mr. Incredible said that he put a double sided rubber tape around the purch and it fixed the sound. I need to fix mine as it has been almost a year of this damn noise. I have had the lead designer for KW look and take apart the coilover and it is ok, so it is not a defective bushing/shock etc..

[Sevenernine]

I think your purch is hitting the frame....my Kw's do the same. Mr. Incredible said that he put a double sided rubber tape around the purch and it fixed the sound. I need to fix mine as it has been almost a year of this damn noise. I have had the lead designer for KW look and take apart the coilover and it is ok, so it is not a defective bushing/shock etc..

Can you elaborate? I'm not very knowledgeable about suspension components, and I only know what i know from tearing mine apart a few times.

What is the purch?

Also, if this is relevant, last time I had the tire/strut off, I noticed the housing area for the spring looked as if the "padding" on the bottom of it was kind of sitting weird. Not sure if that could be an issue... Gah... It's supposed to snow today too.

[smoove7410]

In the above photo, the purch is on the right hand side above the spring. (purple)

With the housing looking out of place, a spring that is not seated correctly will also make noise, so this also could be causing your sound.

[Sevenernine]

Does that perch have a lock on it?

Maybe next time I have my wheel off I'll take a gander at it.

[fireman2118]

I just had the same issues in my car. A clunking from the passenger rear. I too went to the back a grabbed the shock and tried to move it.....Nothing. It seemed tight.

I then had my mechanic hold the shock towards the bottom while I bounced the car at the rear. The shock was moving. It seemed really tight but apparently it wasn't tight enough. He torqued it down and now my suspension is as quiet as a church mouse.

I believe KW's have a tendancy to loosen up at the bottom mounting bolt.

[BadazBEE-423]

I believe KW's have a tendancy to loosen up at the bottom mounting bolt.

You are 100% correct. Mine keeps getting lose on the bottom bolt..... WTH...KW

[fireman2118]

You are 100% correct. Mine keeps getting lose on the bottom bolt..... WTH...KW

I've heard that the bushings can go bad. If yours keeps loosening up, you may need to replace the shock mount bushing(s).

[Sevenernine]

I don't have KWs, I have BCRs, but I'm guessing its' pretty much the same design.


And actually, now that I think about it, ti didn't start making the sound til after we first adjusted it... After I got it back from the initial shop, it didn't make a sound. I guess I"ll take my wheel off this weekend and torque the hell out of it, to see if that helps...

Either that or go to my exhaust shop and have htem lift it for me so I can do it without having to pull my tire... seeing as how it's gonnna prolly snow tonight, and I dont' have a garage.


You must have to tighten it down really far though, because I definitely tightened it a lot.

[fireman2118]

I don't have KWs, I have BCRs, but I'm guessing its' pretty much the same design.


And actually, now that I think about it, ti didn't start making the sound til after we first adjusted it... After I got it back from the initial shop, it didn't make a sound. I guess I"ll take my wheel off this weekend and torque the hell out of it, to see if that helps...

Either that or go to my exhaust shop and have htem lift it for me so I can do it without having to pull my tire... seeing as how it's gonnna prolly snow tonight, and I dont' have a garage.


You must have to tighten it/them down really far though, because I definitely tightened it a lot.

No,no,no....You need to tighten it down with the full weight of the vehicle on the shocks. That's probably the reason why they're loose. I had to pull my car onto ramps to get under it.

[Sevenernine]

No,no,no....You need to tighten it down with the full weight of the vehicle on the shocks. That's probably the reason why they're loose.

Aha...

That makes sense... although it's fairly difficult for me to do without an alignment rack or lift. It sits too low to get underneath it.

I have to drive it up on a 2x4 or something just to get the jack under it, and I'm even raked.

[fireman2118]

Just crawl under it and tighten the mounting bolts. Don't jack anything. An alignment rack will work.

[Sevenernine]

I can't crawl under it. I'm 6'3" and 290 lbs. The car is too low now for me to get under.

I wasn't saying I was going to jack it, just saying that I had to drive it onto something in order to get a jack under it, for illustration purposes as to how low the car is.

[CircuitMotorsports]

Could be a loose bolt or the spring perch itself might be moving around in it's seat if it's a little off.

[smoove7410]

I put money on the spring purch. I've had the cradle down 10 times by multiple shops, including the guy who designed the KW coilovers for this and every other car they manufacture kits for. I am going to try the tape route this weekend and will update, hopefully with good news.