grey_uk

iTrader: (1)

Hi,

Just fitted some BC Coilovers to my Hawkeye and I’m getting a knocking sort of noise from the rear left when I hit a pot hole, I don't get any noise from the front. It almost sounds as if the camber plate comes away from the body and moves back up in to position but I’ve checked the bolts and there nice and tight. The rest of the time there faultless and don’t make any unwanted noises.

I use to get a similar noise from my old car on coilovers, it turned out to be the spring coming out of position when I hit a deep pot hole.

Is this just something that happens with coilovers or could there be a problem.

Any help appreciated.

mattwrxCS

iTrader: (1)

Exactly the same here mate, the back seats have been in and out for a few months now as i'm trying to get to the bottom of it. Its doing my head in there is nothing i can see thats loose or worn, the top mounts are secure and there is no play in the suspension.

ntsub

Hi i had the same noise from my brand new D2 coilovers it came front the near side rear, swapped the shocks side to side the noise moved to the off side?
took the shocks off again and stripped the actual shock no problems found, tried again and same noise still there?
In the end the noise drove me to buy a new set of BC coilovers, no more noise and all round better feel and ride.
my conclusion is a possible faulty top mount the actual ball part, if they are new you should be able to take them back shouldnt you?
Wish you luck.

grey_uk

iTrader: (1)

I ended up taking a sound clip and sent it off to Bren at Apex, he agrees they don't sound right so sent the clips of to the manufacture. Just waiting for a reply now, will keep you posted.

mattwrxCS

iTrader: (1)

Nice one, it's both rears that knock on mine. The passenger rear being the worst.

davedipster

the rear suspension seems to knock out every mac ph strut known to man, probably due to the weard loadings put on the stuts by the geo.

dipster

davedipster

Im sure the rear geo of the struts, the loadings on the damper- seem to knacker struts quickly.
I have fitted BC's and they are better then std struts so far.

dipster.

mattwrxCS

iTrader: (1)

Mine knocked from new though.

imf1

iTrader: (2)

Mine too, but only on decent potholes or deep sunken grates, recently fitted camber adjustable tops and its a bit better but still does it both sides, but at first seemed to be only passenger side, maybe more grates kerbside.
Had mine a year and love the ride and handling so I put up with it, almost sounds like something jumping in the boot. Its never got any worse and no problem at all really, fantastic on good roads and track

grey_uk

iTrader: (1)

After further investigation it would appear both the rears are making the noise although the left rear sounds louder.

Have any of you guys spoken to Bren at Apex about the knocking, he's really helpful and might be able to help.

mattwrxCS

iTrader: (1)

Yes, He thinks it might be the camber top mounts and suggested the rubber ones, but i would like to keep the adjustability of the camber ones. I thought the fronts would knock too as they are camber ones also?

imf1

iTrader: (2)

I've just changed my rubber non adjustables and they were worse if anything, see my above post.

mattwrxCS

iTrader: (1)

So whats causing the knock? Damper fault?

davedipster

I was told ages ago that coilovers do tend to knock over potholes.
Could be due to the lower droop that they mostly have?
So when the suspension unloads over the pothole the damper extends to its limit and knocks?
I have noticed that the droop is much less with coilovers, so much so That I can jack up the front side of the car and the rear comes off the ground now.

dipster

mattwrxCS

iTrader: (1)

It seems to make the knock on the way up, like its trying to hit the top mount through into the car.

If its normal, then fine, I'll put up with it. But i just doesn't sound right.

Has anyone else had this with BC Coilovers?

davedipster

I'm no suspension expert, and it shows

Have you checked your anti roll bar bushes/drop links?

dipster

imf1

iTrader: (2)

All new whiteline on mine so its not that

imf1

iTrader: (2)

Same but living with it
Over a year and no worse though.

fpan

iTrader: (11)

A friend has tried Bilstein and Greddy coilovers and they both knock.
The Greddys are much better though as they come with their own top mounts. In the bilstein he had to modify the OE top mount and the noise was caused from it.

mattwrxCS

iTrader: (1)

If its normal, i thought more people would say there's knock too?

davedipster

I know a guy with AST's and they knock, only on the back though.

dipster

fpan

iTrader: (11)

Is there any solution that DOESN'T knock?
There is not much point of replacing OE springs with coilovers only to have the knocking again....
AFAIK the problem with coilovers knocking is the top mounts.
Dave, do the AST's come with their own top mounts or do you have to modify the existing OE ones?

Cheers.

davedipster

No idea about the top mounts, the bonus of coilovers is the greater adjustability and performance over stock.
The coilover knock is not the same as the sti rear strut knock, the std shock knock is at slow speed and small shock movements, and the shocks tend to bind up as they fret on the pistons.
Coilovers seem to knock when going rather quicly over large potholes, to be expected really.

dipster

wrxseeker

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for that - its exactly what I have just started hearing.

Reversing or pulling away etc driving slowly and at low speed a sort of clonk/knock that sounds a bit like a socket rolling around in the wheel well.

AL99

iTrader: (1)

cant believe im reading this, thought it was just mine that were knocking at the rear but seems as though its effecting quite a few. For me its the rear nearside which is the worst but both rears do it. Whats the best thing to do? has anyone spoken to Bren about it?

prwatts

I got a knock once then found the jack was loose in its housing in the rear pasenger side. Very embarassing.....

imf1

iTrader: (2)

Emptied the car of all loose and removable items, cos I thought that could be problem, but sadly no
Its not so bad to p*ss me off, just notice it now and then really

Monky

I was going to get a set of BC's for my classic wagon but it's put me off a little bit, I've run coilovers on lots of cars wothout knocking so seems very strange. Anyone getting knocking from expensive shocks like Ohlins?

Trying to see if it's based on the cheaper sets or just an inherent problem as knocking noises will do my head in on a daily runner!

M

prwatts

Guys, here's a thought: if your car is quite low on the BC's, and the damper is only set to 4 or 5 clicks above softest, what is the chance the coils are clashing under a hard knock? Clashing = coils momentarily close fully.

prwatts

Hi, I had a thought to try and check my theory - those of you who have knocking, find a spot where you know the rear shock knocks. Then turn your damping right up hard and drive over the same pothole and see if the shock still knocks. If it does, it is probably not spring clashing. If it does not, my theory may be right. Peter