BC's knocking!!!!
30 December 2009, 09:46 AM
#33
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My car has Whitelines fitted and the BC's still knock...
I'm taking the rear shock off this week and having it compound / recoil tested so i'll let you know if its the shock or the top mount.
I'm taking the rear shock off this week and having it compound / recoil tested so i'll let you know if its the shock or the top mount.
30 December 2009, 02:40 PM
#34
I had quite an irritating knocking sound from offside rear after fitting BC's a few months ago. After tightening Whiteline ARB & also adjusting to medium setting, it has reduced a lot & now only comes on bumpy roads occasionaly. I have not re-greased my Whiteline ARB bushes in over a year so I do think that once that is done too, the noise should almost stop. So in my case I dont think it is the coilovers but the ARB.
30 December 2009, 03:04 PM
#35
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the heads up ricky.
Any idea how to 'soften' the ride, My RB5 came with the BC's already fitted and no paperwork was provided.
Any idea how to 'soften' the ride, My RB5 came with the BC's already fitted and no paperwork was provided.
31 December 2009, 04:31 PM
#41
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
yep on the bottom, 25 notches from hard to soft on the back
and 15 notches from hard to soft on the fronts..
I've wound mine right to soft and the ride is Much Mich better.
Cheers Ricky ..
and 15 notches from hard to soft on the fronts..
I've wound mine right to soft and the ride is Much Mich better.
Cheers Ricky ..
01 January 2010, 12:49 AM
#43
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Fleet, Hants
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had knocking from my coliovers at low speed if I had a jerky start or at higher speed if there was a dip in the road like a sunken drain cover. Took it for a service and the Subaru garage couldn't sort it.
Fixed it by looking at some of the suggestions on this thread. Turns out there was not enough preload, when I jacked up the car it was pretty obvious as the springs could be spun around by hand, just added an extra turn on the adjuster ring after they engaged the springs and now totally fixed.
So thanks everybody.
My coilovers are the exotically named Wangan Monoceros but the design looks very similar to AST, BC et al.
Happy New Year!
Fixed it by looking at some of the suggestions on this thread. Turns out there was not enough preload, when I jacked up the car it was pretty obvious as the springs could be spun around by hand, just added an extra turn on the adjuster ring after they engaged the springs and now totally fixed.
So thanks everybody.
My coilovers are the exotically named Wangan Monoceros but the design looks very similar to AST, BC et al.
Happy New Year!
02 January 2010, 12:07 AM
#44
I am glad I am not on my own - think the BC's are ace but have had mine 2 weeks and are knocking. only on the front near side though - rest are ace. going to check the pre load again - second time now to see if I can get ride of the creaking and knocking I get at low speeds and pulling from a snad still. Does feel lick pressure is comming off the spring and gowning back on when I brake - any one else feel this when they pull away?
02 January 2010, 09:18 AM
#45
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, i had mine compound tested, the NSR produces the same resistance as OSR so its not a spring issue, But since turning DOWN the overall pressure its seems to have 'quietened' down the knock. Granted the ride is very 'fish tail' in the wet, but i'm looking at upping the pressure bit by bit (thanks Ricky) until i get a decent handling car but without the knock.
04 January 2010, 11:01 PM
#46
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: solihull
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
sorry to sound thick but what is meant by checking the preload of the spring ? i have a knock on o/s front but not over bumps,it is wen i put gas on when i pull off (slow or fast) any ideas welcome,cheers, ps i have the bc coilovers (not inverted,my 02 )
05 January 2010, 09:56 AM
#47
If anyone has any problems that they want to dicuss and work through then feel free to give us a ring on 01274 683633. Ask for Kev 
Just not today as we are struggling with the snow and hes not here yet.
Just not today as we are struggling with the snow and hes not here yet.
05 January 2010, 07:00 PM
#48
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fife
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Same problem here, I've had my BC (BR series) coilovers on my 53 plate Sti on the car for 7 months (2k miles) and the rear passenger side has rattled/clunked/knocked since day one. All the nuts/bolts/locking rings are tight. I was told from Apex that the uncompressed spring length is printed on the spring, mine has 220, so with 5mm of preload the spring should measure 115mm. Mine measure 106mm (BOTH sides) so why is only one side making a noise ?!?
I'm not keen on adjusting anything any further or removing the strut as I'm skint after spending £1000 on coilovers+strutbrace+brakepads, and geo setups cost money! (and time!)
bj
I'm not keen on adjusting anything any further or removing the strut as I'm skint after spending £1000 on coilovers+strutbrace+brakepads, and geo setups cost money! (and time!)
bj
05 January 2010, 07:03 PM
#49
Anyone here run any other coilovers ?
They will all transmit more road noise to the cabin when you are running spherical bearings than the normal rubber bushed top mounts. Its why car mfrs spend millions on NVH research and development.
My EXE-tc are super plush and stunning coilovers but there is always a small knock, creak or whatever noise - spherical bearings do that.
They will all transmit more road noise to the cabin when you are running spherical bearings than the normal rubber bushed top mounts. Its why car mfrs spend millions on NVH research and development.
My EXE-tc are super plush and stunning coilovers but there is always a small knock, creak or whatever noise - spherical bearings do that.
06 January 2010, 12:33 PM
#50
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Fleet, Hants
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone here run any other coilovers ?
They will all transmit more road noise to the cabin when you are running spherical bearings than the normal rubber bushed top mounts. Its why car mfrs spend millions on NVH research and development.
My EXE-tc are super plush and stunning coilovers but there is always a small knock, creak or whatever noise - spherical bearings do that.
They will all transmit more road noise to the cabin when you are running spherical bearings than the normal rubber bushed top mounts. Its why car mfrs spend millions on NVH research and development.
My EXE-tc are super plush and stunning coilovers but there is always a small knock, creak or whatever noise - spherical bearings do that.
However, what signaled something amiss to me was the crashy 'clonk'. Apart from being annoying it makes you lose a bit of confidence in the car and drive like a granny for fear of something dropping off which just utterly defeats the purpose of owning a subaru.
Anyhow, checking the preload (as recommended by bren@apex in a previous post I think) really helped me and transformed by feelings about the setup. I know this will not fix everyone's issues but I think it is worth pursuing a fix/taking it to a suspension specialist as your enjoyment of the car is vastly improved if you are not imagining imminent suspension collapse or a wheel coming off!
My Subaru garages suggestion of replacing each coilover in turn with standard suspension to isolate the problem was probably not the most sensible/realistic therefore I reckon suspension specialists for your particular coilover is a must and will probably save you a fair bit of money in the long run as they will isolate the problem in minutes rather than hours/days.
Cheers
06 January 2010, 07:28 PM
#52
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fife
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fleetwood
"However, what signaled something amiss to me was the crashy 'clonk'. Apart from being annoying it makes you lose a bit of confidence in the car and drive like a granny for fear of something dropping off which just utterly defeats the purpose of owning a subaru."...
..."as your enjoyment of the car is vastly improved if you are not imagining imminent suspension collapse or a wheel coming off!"
Hit the nail on the head mate ! - exactly how I feel !
Ok I think I will persue checking the preload properly myself,
or can anyone suggest a good suspension speciallist near me in Leven, Fife, Scotland ??
Cheers
"However, what signaled something amiss to me was the crashy 'clonk'. Apart from being annoying it makes you lose a bit of confidence in the car and drive like a granny for fear of something dropping off which just utterly defeats the purpose of owning a subaru."...
..."as your enjoyment of the car is vastly improved if you are not imagining imminent suspension collapse or a wheel coming off!"
Hit the nail on the head mate ! - exactly how I feel !
Ok I think I will persue checking the preload properly myself,
or can anyone suggest a good suspension speciallist near me in Leven, Fife, Scotland ??
Cheers
10 January 2010, 09:34 PM
#53
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Herts
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
now both rear coilovers are making noise
thought it was just me thinking i could hear something, but a friend could hear them both knocking too!
thought it was just me thinking i could hear something, but a friend could hear them both knocking too!
11 January 2010, 02:11 AM
#55
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Wes'ide (of London)
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I officially have knocking/clonking/twanging BCs now too and am getting quite peed off with the whole thing. Have tried adjusting ride height, preload (I think) and dampening but to no avail. It really is disconcerting.... so much so.... I just don't want to drive the car. Rich (fiestaboy) will be looking at it for me on Wednesday so hopefully he'll recognise the symptoms and offer a cure.... I'm just glad that its not just me and that some solutions seem to be available.....
11 January 2010, 08:07 PM
#56
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've just purchased a Hawkeye wit BC Coilovers & Whiteline lift kit on, they where fitted in November and has only done 1000 miles since fitting. Ive had the knocking noise on n/s/r and sometimes o/s/r shock... Also i herd a twang noise on way home
Any ideas peeps.
Any ideas peeps.
11 January 2010, 09:33 PM
#57
Used to have Ohlins on my classic... very hard suspension compared to my newer BC's which are a bit more forgiving.
No knocking from the BC's, but I did suffer from knocking from the Ohlins and I went to over 3 garages to try and get it sorted as it got so loud and clunky - it was unbearable!!
Car was still under warranty from the garage I bought it from at the time and after they conceded it wasn't the jack banging around in the boot, they changed the drop links and bushings, which made no difference. Didn't think that was the issue, but got uprated parts in the process!
Finally after going to several other garages and a lot of head scratching I had the luck of coming across a Subaru mech who apparently worked on the WRC cars at some stage in his career; he simply tightened a nut on the top mount... problem solved after months of agonising embarrassing clunking.
Maybe not be your problem, but hope you manage to get it sorted!
No knocking from the BC's, but I did suffer from knocking from the Ohlins and I went to over 3 garages to try and get it sorted as it got so loud and clunky - it was unbearable!!
Car was still under warranty from the garage I bought it from at the time and after they conceded it wasn't the jack banging around in the boot, they changed the drop links and bushings, which made no difference. Didn't think that was the issue, but got uprated parts in the process!
Finally after going to several other garages and a lot of head scratching I had the luck of coming across a Subaru mech who apparently worked on the WRC cars at some stage in his career; he simply tightened a nut on the top mount... problem solved after months of agonising embarrassing clunking.
Maybe not be your problem, but hope you manage to get it sorted!
12 January 2010, 05:42 PM
#58
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For those with clunking rear BC's.
1) What type of top mount are you running? Adjustable spherical bearing or fixed rubber?
2) Have you changed any other components? ARB, droplinks, etc?
Mine have the rubber top mounts and are clunking. It's doing my head in! I've checked the spring pre-load, top nut tightness, ARB & droplink bushes and everything looks okay.
Overall the ride & adjustability is great but the 'clunk' is very disappointing given the time, money & effort it took to get these fitted.
Mark
1) What type of top mount are you running? Adjustable spherical bearing or fixed rubber?
2) Have you changed any other components? ARB, droplinks, etc?
Mine have the rubber top mounts and are clunking. It's doing my head in! I've checked the spring pre-load, top nut tightness, ARB & droplink bushes and everything looks okay.
Overall the ride & adjustability is great but the 'clunk' is very disappointing given the time, money & effort it took to get these fitted.
Mark
13 January 2010, 12:06 AM
#60
When you say knocking, what sort of thing do you mean? I can hear a lot of road noise with my BC's, and the wheels make more noise when hitting bumps in the road, but is this a rattling type noise or something?