soprry to say this but I would take the car back to somewhere that knows what they are doing and know how to set precise alignment that you need. those settings are garbage and no wonder the car handles weirdly.

 

its ok.
I was expecting this the problem i have is there are hardly any laser geo places in the south of France and I probably picked the worst one...
the second problem is that the car isn't listed so no settings available for my car!.

 

Hi Bren,

Have you heard anything back from the factory yet? The sounds are getting louder again - I think the rubber mounts are getting compacted and causing more knocking. Really need to get these pillow-ball mounts sorted.

Cheers

 

Yeah they say that they dont think the pillowball top mount will help and are suggesting the new rear spring option to anyone with noise.

They point out that the 2000-2007 Imprezas are well known for being noisy at the rear no matter what brand coilovers are fitted. However, thats beside the point, the point is that you guys dont want a noisy set up and the fact that the issue is common accross a range of brands is irrrelevent.

The new rear spring set up is the solution. However the 2000-2002 GDB uses a larger diameter rear spring than the 2002-2007 so Im waiting for their input regarding rear springs for these earlier New Age vehicle.

 

Bren

Can you explain why fitting pillow-ball mounts on rear won't fix the knocking/rattling,
I have pillow-ball mounts on the front and the fronts are totally silent ?
doesn't make sense. I'm no expert but I can see that the pillow ball gives the strut
the ability to swivel and settle at any angle (not just 90 degrees to mounting plate).
Cos I think its a comination of the rear stut angle and a possible design flaw in the rubber mounting.

 

Bren,

I have a 2006 WRX - so could use the new rear spring, however, will this not affect the handling of the rear adversely as it is a conical spring rather than straight? Personally I would also prefer the pillowball top mount as most of the users on this forum haven't had any problems with them. I believe using the original OEM top mount with the BC coilover is a workable solution but may not give the desired handling expected from a coilover.

Best regards

Koke

 

In a word, no, the factory just say that they dont think it will be a guarenteed fix. I would suspect its because the pillowball just amplifies any noise inherent in the original suspension design and only the ultra compliant original top mount is capable of absorbing such noises.

It will make negligible difference to the handling on all but the most dedicated track/race car. Thats why we run the rubber BC rear top mounts over pillowball by default on the majority of applications. The Subaru is slightly different because you can go for camber adjustable pillowball top mounts which brings added benefits over 99.9% of vehicles which dont have MacPherson rear struts and so cant utlise this added benefit.

In a back to back test Id be suprised if the majority of road going customers could tell me which car had rubber BC top mounts and which had the the original top mounts on the rear.

 

Bren, in that case, would you be able to compensate me with the new springs using the OEM top mounts with fitting and alignment as mentioned earlier on the thread?

Thanks and best regards

Koke

 

If you can bear with me a little longer. Im working through the options with the factory. Ive asked them to produce their own version of the original rear top mount with slightly harder rubber. This would then allow the later 2002-2007 new rear springs also fit the 2000-2002 cars.

It would also ensure that the kit is still a full bolt on complete coilover setup.

Theyre looking into it now. Ive offered to source original rear top mojnts for them to work worm. If any has any kicking around that they dont need then it would save me buying a new one from Subaru I could do with one from a 2000-2002 and then 2002-2007 if possible.

 

Im going to have some very soon hopefully..

I am hoping to get the new coilovers on this weekend if i do i will give you a shout.

 

Bren

Just a suggestion... If you are planning a redesign of the rear top mounts, wouldn't it
make more sense to redesign them to fit the springs that came with your original kit ?
then you wouldn't have to supply both different mounts and springs, and would be a direct replacement for people that already have the original BC rear springs ???

 

Good idea, Ill put it to the factory. It depends on how much extra work is involved in starting again with a new design. If they just replicate the original set up then its nice and simple but, as you say, it would be far more convenient of everyone if the design accepted the original coilover springs.

 

Thought I add one to this. My04 STi has had BC's fitted. Whilst the noise is slightly more then the standards it not over bearing and acceptable as I was expecting. However the other day i went ove a sligthly larger bump in the road with the N/S/R and the sound was bone crunching an extremely loud clang/knock sounded metalic. It was loud enough to drown out the Blitz NUR Spec R. Not happy with this I found another couple of larger bumps, not even pot holes and the sound was the same. I run some bumps and potholes over the O/S/R and the sound is nowhere near the same a loud thud as expected with stiffer suspension but not a patch on the N/S. The fronts are brill and the overall handling improvement is excelent but just the noise from the N/S/R is excrutiating any idea please not sure if its the same noise as anyone else has experienced. I didnt fit them either they were done at Scoobyworld who to be fare were brill with everything.

 

SteveJT,

Yep, exactly the same symptoms here mate.
I also purchased my BC's from Scoobyworld but fitted them myself then got the geo setup at a performance centre. I phoned Scoobyworld recently about this very noise issue and they said that they had fitted lots of these kits and did not have any noise issues !
would be interesting if you took the car back to them, just to see what they have to say.

 

This is true for my Eibach coilovers i have just had fitted to my 03 WRX 2 weeks ago. I have more rear cabin noise than i had before. I also moved to 18" wheels and different tyres so this will/may contribute.

 

Hi Guys,
I notice that you are saying about rear cabin noise that is common on the newage`s, what type of noise is this as mine make a noise from the rear.

 

PM sent about paperwork for returning these

 

Bear in mind i have Eibach coilovers though. My noise, to me, sounds just like increased road noise in the cabin. I have no knocking or rattling like i did after i had the old Eibach springs fitted. They knocked like a bugger for a while.
Another thing for me is the move to 18" wheels and even lower profile tyres. I have not had them before so i do not know how much this adds to my road noise.

 

I fitted my BC's this week and with the advice from Kev@APEX the only noise i get is a knock when i go over pot holes (which i got on the standard shocks and TEIN Springs anyway) so i am happy with them.

I have got the pillowball camber adjustable top mounts on both front and rear..

Probably the easiest suspension i have ever fitted in my life.. only think i did find a bit strange is the wierd shaped bolts on the front shocks (top one of the bottom 2) anyone have an explaination for the shape of these?

Lee

 

Guys - received the new springs from BC - they're smaller at the bottom to fit the coilovers and bigger at the top to fit the OEM top mounts.

Had them fitted yesterday and aligned (yet another wad of money unfortunately) but it's PERFECT! Yes I would actually say the handling is BETTER than before too, as less lateral movement!!!

Thanks very much Bren and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this fix to anyone! No knocks/clunks on bumpy roads nor over pot holes either!!!!

 

shame we all didnt get them

 

but surely these will be provided to those who have a genuinely faulty product?.
im yet to fit my bc's.
i will install them as brens instructions and if they knock they will be going back or ill expect replacement springs to sort the problem

 

I fixed my rattle today, which was a C link at the rear that was loose- still a slight creaking from the springs but all else good.

Any ideas for the creaking spring noise?

 

have you got a pic of them fella

 

I got

 

Hi Bren,

Have you made any progress with the factory on this?

Thanks, Mark

 

I have done exactly the same today.. and i have got to say i was not that fussed with the noise from the shocks but someone else was.... so i have changed the springs and top mounts and they are soo much better no noise at all and i have also got to agree they seem tighter than the original coilover springs.. not sure if they actually are or i feel more confident without the noise but hey whatever it is its certainly a good thing..

A BIG thanks Kev@APEX for such a good deal on the new springs..

Would highly recommend anyone with BC's that knock to go with this option its 100 times better..

 

Guys, 2 weeks on and still no knocking - the ride is of a very good quality indeed! Feels like that is the way the Hawkeye's should have come set up from the showroom!

The OEM top mounts and springs are definitely tighter than the standard BC spring and top mount with absolutely none of the clonks/clashes/knocks/clucks/etc - just a smooth and pleasing ride! Handling is so good now too.

Sorry mate, no photos of the springs as they're on the car already - you don't notice them when they're on and the fitter said they were simple to fit.

I'm running 8 clicks from soft on the rears and 10 clicks from soft on the fronts as London Streets are pretty bad at the moment

Personally I before I had them fitted I was going to wait for the factory to issue out a replacement top mount, but I'm glad I went with this suggested set up.

Thanks Bren!

Hope you guys all get your suspension issues sorted in time for the Summer! Bring it on!

 

Is this going to be run out to all those with problems or just a chosen few ?
When some people have been moaning about this problem for a long time to be fobbed off with the car must have other issues to then find out its a design issue seems to take the pi ss a little,
Ive spent hundreds trying to sort this issue when I would never be able too.

 

Bren has been off this week due to illness but will be returning next week.

Any further information that he has received from the factory will be posted on here so that you guy's know what is happening and can see that this is not an issue that we have ignored and we are working to resolve.

If you are not happy with the way this has been delt with, please call so that we can discuss this further.

As you can see, Bren and Kev are doing whatever they can to help people and get this sorted.