Coilovers + stock end links = low speed noise?
 

So I recently installed Megan coilovers (pleasantly surprised and impressed by the ride quality afterwards) but I'm hearing a slight groan/creak when turning the wheel at low speeds. No noise over bumps or when turning fast, only when slowly pulling in or out of parking spots. Happens going forward as well as reversing.

Would adjustable end links fix this? Or should I apply grease to the stock end links?

I wonder if this is the same problem I am having. Except I just have RCE yellows on stock struts and camber plates.

Only happens at low speeds when turning the wheel. Got really bad the other day when it was hot outside. Jacked the car up and turned the wheel and no noise.

Could it be coil bind?

I had a similar noise, turned out to be the camber plates, specifically the spring perch rubbing against the plate which would only happen when the suspension isa bit loaded up and the wheel turned harder than you usually do when driving around, unique to parking lot maneuvers creating a weird angle for the strut. Eventually it rubbed itself clear.

If you can get underneath/wheel off you might be able to spot any new rub marks.

Get a set of Torrington bearings. They did wonders for reducing some of the NVH issues I had while turning the steering wheel after my coilover install.

Preload has been set to 0 (per Megan's recommendation). Maybe I should loosen it up by a mm or 2?

Not sure how much it has to do with preload, but I would recommend keeping it within manufacturer specs. You could get some silicone/rubber tubing, cut it up into a spiral and put it onto the springs where they're making contact on them self and see if that gets rid of the noise. But it's also worth checking out if the top hats/bearings/whatever need grease.

OP: Did your Coilovers come with replacement End Links? (Mine did... not same brand as yours...). If they didn't, and you're using the OEM End Links, it's possible that there could be some level of noise from the EL but... it would be more of a "chunk" noise.

Based on your description of the noise and when it happens, I'm also going to guess that it's "Coil wind." I added some Torrington Bearings (i.e., replaced the upper perches) so that as the springs "wind," the Torrington Bearing(s) would move with the "wind." A set bought online ran me $100.

Back to End Links... I recently had to replace my front End Links (the ones that come with the Coilovers...) and went with White Line KLC 179. I also then replaced the OEM rear End Links with White Line KLC 182. IMHO, a significant (better) difference with the beefier links. In the front, a new-found firmness in steering and when turning-in, very crisp as the beefier links work better with the OEM sway bar.

And in the rear, there was a little of what I'd call "squishiness" (or some call "squatiness) when accelerating. All that is gone now... there sure seems to be a better delivery of power to the drive wheels. This rig has always put a smile on my face... the smile is now larger over the last week with this new-found improvement. (Cost about $400 in parts and labor to upgrade to the White Line links.)

Install note: After initial install and putting on some miles, go back and have all install nuts and the nuts that help set length (adjustments) checked for tightness! Torque those puppies down! (Don't ask how I know to recommend this... chalk it up to NVH.)

Fronts
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps3iacrwla.jpg

Rears
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...pspjwbpinv.jpg

Comparo - WL vs. OEM (pix from Internet)
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps9a0rgzzc.jpg