Clanking from Rear Suspension After Alignment(w/ KW V3, Cusco LCA, Whiteline Toe Arm)
 

Hey everyone, I had:

KW V3, Cusco LCA, Whiteline Toe Arms.

And I kinda slammed the car. -1.7 camber every corner, 0 toes all around.

I heard some clanking from my rear suspension after alignment. And I can only hear it at LOW SPEED....

When I turn or hit bump at low speed, I can hear 1-3 clanking from rear suspension. It sounds like someone lose a socket there. I dont think the clanking comes from trunk cuz I dont have this issue before alignment. I can replicate it every time.

It is kinda strange that I can't hear anything at high speed.

So I m thinking whether it comes from KW V3 or from other suspension parts. I can not hear any noise before the alignment. Before that I did not drop the car alot cus I just waited the coilovers to be settled.

Here r some pictures. You may see that the springs touch together.

Anyone has the same issue? Thanks.

Could be from the spherical bearing on the Cusco LCA. I was beta testing a LCA for Figs Engineering and had a clicking/popping noise come from the spherical bearing at the subframe mounting point. I installed SPC LCA's when I was done beta testing and it's been silent.

One way to troubleshoot this is to get under the car while someone pushes down on the rear and see if you can isolate where the noise is coming from.

CV Joints? Mine apparently were clanking at a low speed and when hitting bumps at low speed. Eventually my CV snapped on the driver side.

i can't open your pictures to view bigger. that top spring is the helper spring, its almost always compressed but why is it compressed with all weight off the car?

my cusco LCA's dont make any noise, the only noise i have is from my whiteline tophats, but thats a known issue.

is there enough clearance between the rear sway bar and the coilover? could that be hitting at low speeds?

also this should be moved to suspension sub forum as this is not an OEM issue.

But I dont have problem before.. I run Cusco LCA for about 3 weeks and no issue. The clanking noise just created after I dropped it and did alignment..lol..

I will try to figure out where the noise come from.

Thank you Jive..

I will try to figure out the issue. But first I just need to make sure that its wont be dangerous to drive a car with this kind of noise..:iono:

So sorry to hear about that. Did you fix it?

Mine is like this as well. I don't have adjustable rear arms, to get the camber I wanted I raised the car higher than the KW's would normally run at. Preloaded the spring a bit but no biggie.

I had that happen a few weeks after install of my coils too after driving on a bumpy road. The nut that holds the shock to the top mount is probably loose. See if you can turn it. If so you will have to take the rear coils off, tighten the top nut and reinstall them. Will only make sound a low speeds.

it shouldn't be dangerous to drive, you suspensions wont fall off and it doesn't sound liek you will damage anyhting.

it could be the top hats, but there are so many possibilities just go back and re-TQ everything and make sure lube is where it needs to be i guess?

Thank you. I will check the lube first and to see whether the issue is going to be fixed or not.

Iv seen someone has a similar problem and fixed it by making the center nuts of KW V3 tighter. I think I can turn it without taking it off right? Just dont want to mess up the alignment..

if you just unbolt the coilover and dont adjust any heigh or anyhting else you wont change a thing. its all fixed.

you might be able to get a thin walled socket in there but you also need and allen key to keep it steady...might be a bitch on the car.

or see if hte shop that did the alignment will fix it for you since the symptoms happened AFTER alignment?

^ this.

If all you do is take off the coilover, use a hex wrench and a socket to tighten the nut and reinstall the coilover you won't effect anything with the alignment.

I doubt the shop will do anything since that has nothing to do with making alignment changes they are not going to take the blame.

Yes, my driver side was completely destroyed. I bought DSS axles to replace the OEM (they weren't that much more $$). I know a number of locals that after lowing their car they started getting a "clicking" from the rear, it appears to be the axles. Double check your spindle nut on the axle make sure it is tight and in factory spec. Seems like some people have had them slightly loose from the factory and the axle is able to shift slightly in and out of hub making a clicking sound. Depending on your height you may just bee too low. What is your current ride height like?

Now I hav a little bit less than one finger gap on the rear. I just drop it for 1 day, so might not be the issue of the axis right?
I can only hear noise at low speed, its OK at high speed.

I will have to check it anyway. lol.. hope its not a issue of axis.


I will check the alignment first. Can only do it on Saturday cuz they close at 5pm at weekdays. :iono:

I say this in every post, but about this, disconnect the rear sway bar end links at the bar and zip tie them up and test drive.

The end links connect to the OEM with such low torque and are so easy to strip that if they have any play when you lower it will clunk like as if you had a blown shock. It's impossible to re-create except at low speeds.

I also went through and replaced both control arms (precaution) and all suspension bolts as recommended by service manual when doing any removal and install. If you don't at the very least use red thread lock on bolts as that is how the factory pieces come.

See picture

Thanks. Another possibility here.
I was just praying that its not a issue of axis.
So if the problem is like this, I only hav to change the end links, not sway bar, correct?

Yes simple replacement endlinks bolt and nuts, not bar. Simple to test before you jump to conclusions.

If you are lower than -2.0" then you should just go straight to adjustable endlinks as the OEM links will be heavily pre-loading the bar.

I think I am about -2'', so can I change the endlink without changing sway bars?

Thanks

Disconnect and test first. If that the links are the issue just replace the ends with adjustable links to avoid issues in the future and eliminate pre-load. (Bar does not need to be replaced)

If it's not your links, find the problem first before changing anything else.

it would make sense why i dont have the noise you speak of...i put in kartboy endlinks when i put in my coilovers.

Did you have both front and rear end link when u install the coilovers?

I remember you have front sway bar only, correct?

I dont have any noise from front suspension, which is strange. Cus I drop more at the front and the front link is recommended to be changed.

I will try to figure it out tomr. Thank you so much. Btw if the problem is the end links, can I drive it for weeks without damaging my car?

stock front bar/endlinks.

rear kartboy endlinks.

Man why have there been so many threads about clanky KW V3s lately? It makes me hesitate on buying some.

Yeah no issue as long as you tie the bar out of the way and the end links.
It may just under steer a bit more other than that no mechanical risks.

I dont think the clanking comes from KW V3. Cuz it doesnt hav any issue before. I heard the clanking after drop the car alot.

sounds cool...why not get front endlink? lol.

didn't think i'd need it? i'm going to do the front swaybar come spring anyway so i'll do that together.

thank u so much.

I fixed the problem already. It was the springs on my coilovers. when they adjusted height, the springs moved a little bit and was not at the correct position.

nice! glad it was a simple fix.

tks for update.