pm'd

 

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I figured I'd add my .02...

I've noticed over the last year since I've installed my BC BR-type coilovers, some awkward sounds. BUT, they'd only happen when it's extremely cold outside. I first noticed it last winter, and recently over the last week(down into the low 30s).

Well, I got home from work today, jacked the front up, and started looking at EVERYTHING. I was able to simulate the sound by putting a 17mm wrench on the lower control arm bolt head where the coilover bolts to. I just jolted it back and forth(but not enough to tighten it or loosen it). Sure enough, I was able to produce the same inconsistent coil sounding clunk.

The sound was coming from where the top of the spring sits against the metal top hat. Just seemed to be extremely dry, dirty and I'm figuring the cold weather would just make it worse. Cleaned it all up and soaked everything with some silicone lubricant. Tried to produce the sound again, and it was gone. I know the silicone won't hold up forever, but it's nice to know what was causing it. I still get some different sounds from the rear(very minimal ones), but with some coilovers, that's the cost to have non-OEM rubber tophats and stiff springs.

I've thought about possibly getting some type of super thin hard rubber strips, to put between the spring and mounting points on the shock. This won't soften the ride at all, but it will fight against most of the harsh metal-to-metal contacts.

Sorry for the long post, haha.

 

Don't the BRs have a polyurethane insert on the coil side of the top hat?

Springs would eat through thin rubber, a more permanent solution would be to cut out a form out of a good duro poly sheet

You could try some coil sleeves for the bottom of the coil as well, might be more pricey though.

I don't know how much the coils compress on the BR's but if you throw the car on a lift and jack up the strut to full compression you'll be able to tell if it's simply coil slap?

Just speculating Pete.

I'm installing my coilovers on satruday

 

Poly will make a ton of noise when cold.

I switched back to tein springs on stock shocks and havent looked back since.

 

I get the same noise on my CL9 TSX/Euro since i got the springs changed and now on my S2k.

Thanks for the update FISH22, gonna give that a shot on both cars and see if that helps!

 

shouldn't be the case with thrust bearings

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/QA-1-Coil-Ov...g-Kit,6001.html

 

The BCs don't have an insert between the coil and top hat. I've seen a few other people mentioning their BC BR-types being a tad noisy, and I'm guessing this would be the culprit. Especially when the contact between the two gets dry and dirty.... If the spring is to ever move/spin just from the suspension compressing, it would create the noise I was able to reproduce earlier.

 

what a coincidence i found this thread...i've been hearing a weird clunk myself on my buddy club RSD's and thought aw man maybe my shock was blown...but no leaking. i bought the set used and the rubber boot inside is all shredded up so i thought that was causing the noise but i'm glad to hear it's not something that's mechanically damaged if it's the same problem i have as fish22.

 

I think it really comes down to build quality. Not to say that Buddy Clubs and BC BR-types are complete crap... they're just not on the same level as KWs, or some other double-adjustables out there.

Plus, like most sub $1k coilovers, factory tophats don't exist. The factory tophats with the thick rubber seats definitely help in dampening harsh bumps and sounds.

 

I had the same problem of popping sounds going real slow over little bumps and inconsistencies. Found that the rear sway end links were not tightened. The threads of the bolt were skipping.