[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by PNW FRS

Background: Added struts/coilovers (Speed by Design Pro Street). Asked a question earlier in this post re: spring bind (wind) and ended up buying some Torrington Bearings (Fortune-Auto) for the front... and no more spring bind(wind). Huzzah!

However, the Torrington Bearings haven't eliminated some erratic occurrences -- coming from front-right (best as I can discern...) -- that sounds almost like a metal-on-metal "crunching" noise. I've gone through the setup and best as I can tell, everything on the strut is buttoned down.... top nut, lock rings, bolts tight, etc. Just got back from a 60 mile drive that I knew would provide a good mix of smooth asphalt, mild to medium bumpy asphalt, to "Oh yeah.. that's rough..." asphalt.


The good news... at speed (e.g., 50+ on smooth asphalt or cement), everything runs nice... nothing odd sounding. If I throw in some quick right-left-right-left etc. maneuvers.. there will be a slight crunching sound (very mild... as if the weight shift is making something move)


Then... straight-line path... transitioning to mild-to-medium or rough pavement... the first sound of the "crunch" comes through loud and clear... and most times, is followed by continuous "crunching" until the car comes to a stop. Same in a parking lot...driving slow... smooth asphalt... no noise.. but go over a speed bump (slowly) and the compression and release of that brings on the "crunch."


And far as I can tell, it is only coming from the front-right of the car. (I know that noise can emanating elsewhere, but it's pretty loud and clear from the front-right.


Pretty sure that spring pre-load is where it should be. All four corners are set the same... there is no noise coming from the other 3 corners.


Looking for suggestion for where to start the next round of troubleshooting... go back to the alignment shop and see if maybe "something" didn't get buttoned down after the alignment (cuz it kind of sounds like "knuckle-crunching" when it's at its worst. Or.. is the culprit likely the strut itself (which if so... how best to phrase the question to the vendor since the strut is still under warranty.

Thanks in advance for any additional insights....


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Do you have any heim joints in your suspension setup?