Question about Whiteline COM-C + KW V3. Video Inside.
 

Hey Guys,

Just installed the the Whiteline COM-C on some KW V3 (put the com C directly on to the purple top piece on the KW's) When out of the car it rotated 100% freely, but now it seems to be flexing a lot while the car is on the ground and the wheels are turning.

Does anyone else with these know if this is normal or if there is something wrong with my car?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-a1mzPcmSM"]White line Com-c + KW V3 - YouTube[/ame]

That is not normal...

I will not run those Com-Cs due to all the problems I have read about on other forums.

Too bad because the idea is excellent, seems the execution is not there.

If you want stiffer front mounts, I believe standard (2002-2007 Impreza) Subaru front Group-N top hats fit. They do not alter geometry in anyway; just a harder durometer rubber.

To embed a YouTube link use the long link format without anything after the video identifier part of the link.

Yeah, shouldn't be doing that. Looks like the rubber insert is moving inside of the mount itself, it should be stationary. When it moves like that it is changing the camber and caster angle...not good.

I would contact Whiteline US office now and offer to send them that video. Whiteline makes a good product and it will only help them to get feedback like this so they can make changes and improvements.

I emailed Whiteline for help as well. Hopefully I made some sort of installation error!

You made an installation error. You need a conical washer in there.

EDIT: this is a "Subaru" thing...and anyone packaging top mounts for this car should be aware of it. The OEM upper spring perch has a washer integrated for the brz...however when you switch to coilovers its obviously not there since you are using the coilover perch. The WL top mounts do say to use the OEM conical washer since they were originally designed for GD body impreza and THAT car used the washer as a separate piece. Not having that piece causes all sorts of problems.

- Andrew

Can you please elaborate some more and give details on the type and size of washer? My Com-C's were doing exactly what the video shows in this thread, where they were rattling over bumps, deforming rubber, and bearings were notchy upon removal.

Whiteline sent me a new set with good bearings (that I have been reluctant to install) but now I'm not sure if it was the lack of conical washer that killed the bearings and caused all the noise in my original set.

There is no washer included in the packaging, nor do the provided instructions that I have mention using a conical washer, nor have I heard any mention of it officially being necessary until now, before it was just mentioned in phone conversations I had with Myles.

I edited my post above. I'll try to get a pic of the part I'm talking about but I'm in the backseat of a car being driven home from physical therapy typing on a smartphone.

Note: this only has to do with coilovers. If your WL tops are making noise with OEM dampers then they very well could be busted.

- Andrew

Hmmm ok. I have OEM dampers and RCE Yellows. Are you sure a washer wouldn't help OEM dampers? Mine were allowing contact between the upper spring perch and the bottom of the Com-C's, and the rubber was deflecting like crazy just like in the OP's video. I switched back to the OEM top mounts and no issues.

This thread describes the conical washer for GD body Impreza:
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gr-suspe...uspension.html

For the BRZ and FR-S this part is integrated into the upper spring perch. This means that you need to do something else when you are using a coilover since the OEM upper spring perch is removed. Its a cheap part. I don't have the number memorized or I'd post it.

Again this is for coilovers only and may depend on which top hat you are using.

- Andrew

I'll check mine later but I didn't notice it after installing them. I'm using OEM dampers with the COM-C, Eibach springs and OEM spring perch.

All the info you want: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1757339

Part Number: 20326AA000

EDIT: Andrew beat me to it, lol.

I'm tempted to get a couple of these and test fit them with OEM dampers on top of welded washer on the upper spring perch and see if this new set of Com-C's will play nice and stay quiet and not bind up. Is that a bad idea? Will I run short on threads with the upper mounting nut?

Sorry for the slight derail.

See what RaceComp said. The washer should only be necessary for coilovers, not OEM dampers.

Yep, but would it help if I was experiencing the same issue using OEM dampers? See my post here

My thoughts are that a washer would give some needed clearance between the bottom of the Com-C's and the upper spring perch, which were coming into contact over the slightests bumps when I drove around. They were also binding up and I could see the rubber deflecting just like in the OP's video when I turned the wheel even with the suspension unloaded.

Just checked mine, they move, but not as much as the OPs. :(

Any noise over bumps or while turning?

They good news is my dealer got those washers in two days for about $1.50 each. Just unfortunately a bit of a pain to reinstall after that fact. Glad I got mine ahead of time.

I'm not convinced that it wouldn't help those of us who have had issues with the OEM struts+ com-c's.

http://i.imgur.com/kAMWD.jpeg

The welded washers on the OEM upper spring perches are NOT conical. The marks around the outside of the perch are from contact (rattling noises) with the Com-C's over bumps. It was not driveable like this. Swapped back to the stock top mounts and no noise, no issues.

My car makes all sorts of noises, but none that I've noticed coming from the top hats specifically. The main one I'm concerned about at the moment might be diff noise, hoping it's just pads though :)

So what I need to do is install those Conical washers inbetween the Purple upper spring perch and the COM-C mount correct?

Is this going to make it so the spring perch 100% only contacts the inner part of the bearing? It spun freely before putting them in the car so I was hoping that they were fine.

I've ordered the washers and they should be in on Monday.

It's more than an installation error. it's a buying parts on the internet error. A good vendor who sells both KW and Whiteline for these cars should know about this.

TBH I bought the parts myself through wholesale accounts so I didn't go through a vendor, just didn't find any info on the washer in my research on the COM-C mounts.

This is my first Non BMW strut suspension car so I'm encountering a bit of a learning curve.

The conical washer thing has fucked up many people's installs in the Impreza world. Live and learn.

we need a FAQ.....

below

The issue is this:

The BRZ "built in" washer that is WELDED to the top of the upper perch WONT move and is...JUST small enough to *reek havoc on the COM-C bearing/race.

The GD impreza conical washer has a flat section and then a beveled section. The beveled section is meant face up and mate perfectly to the OEM/ COM-C style bearing. This was it rest on the INNER part of the bearing and NOT......repeat...NOT The outer section which doesnt allow the inner to spin freely.

http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/w...2/DSC02532.jpg

So with regards to using the OEM conical on KW V3 top spring perch, yes it would allow for the conical washer to rest on the KW perch and sit perfectly on the bottom of COM-C OR GROUP-N mount bearing and move freely as intended.

Myles

Oh sorry BRZ ATL....my point was this about BRZ perch and sTOCK shocks....

I think the issue would be that you would RAISE the front of the car 5mm if you used it with stock shocks......

something thats not an issue with coilovers as you can just lower the perch.

Myles

thanks. appreciate your contribution.

what i really mean is a sticky FAQ thread.

I see, so how do you recommend those of us with stock shocks and RCE yellows to keep the Com-C's from binding up with the OEM welded flat washer? Is it possible to use WRX upper spring perches without the welded washer and then use the OEM conical washer to allow them to contact the right area of the Com-C inner bearing? That way the ride height isn't changed.

Either way, I think something needs to be in between the upper spring perch and the Com-C's. They were hitting each other over bumps when I used the Com-C's. I think that the FLAT-ness of the OEM welded washer is also not playing nicely with the angle it's attacking the Com-C bearing due to the increased negative camber added.

I don't want to have to buy coilovers just to use the Com-C's without destroying them or compromising the ride height given by the RCE yellows.

It's reasonable to expect the combination of parts included in the RCE suspension starter pack to all work together or at least be tested to ensure this kind of issue doesn't arise.

Bump

Adding a conical washer on top of the OEM spring perch MAY solve your issues. It will add maybe 5mm of ride height though. You can't use the older Impreza spring perch because the spring diameter is not the same.

The WL tops were tested on our car and have been working fine on many cars. The fact of the matter is, and I'm sure you'll agree, the quality control on both the bearings and the rubber of the whiteline com c mounts is very disappointing. I think the bearings you received were bad, and I think the rubber in your tops was deforming too much too. Frankly if I were you I would not feel comfortable running the WL tops anymore and we're a little disappointed ourselves. At this point I would recommend group n tops with the AVO control arm bushing, which is what we are running now. If you want to try the conical washer on the OEM perch with the com c tops, its worth a shot but if you want to get rid of them we would like to help.

- Andrew

FWIW, a video of the stock top hats while turning the wheel while stopped showed the exact same behavior.

Oh ok, well that makes sense. I'm going to install the washers tomorrow morning (just got them in today) and I'll see if there was any change. The mount spins freely when out of the car.

i thought i'd just continue here rather than starting a new thread regarding my issue with Com C and KW.

i had the above installed by a mechanic on Friday with the Subaru conical washers and it was fine for a few days. then after getting alignment done today, the right hand side is making knocking sound while turning. the alignment guy only undo the 2 big bolts at the bottom of the strut and didn't touch the strut top. he got me to turn the steering while putting his hand on the Com C rubber and he said he could feel the knock from it. does this mean the bearing is bad now?

thanks in advance.

Is it a loud PING sound?

no, it's just "knock" "knock" "knock" as i turn. the rubber seems to be in proper shape (ie. not like the video posted by OP).

It's your helper spring slipping on the coupler to your main spring possibly. Lube it with teflon spray.

thanks. let me try this. very much appreciated.

would lithium grease be ok to lube? i have a spare can at home.