Coil Binding on Coilovers

[ericmpena]

Originally Posted by Danklvr

some light binding is common, but if it seems like it is getting worse by the day, thats deff not common, something more serious going on then spring wrap would fix anyway.. best bet as you say, wait for manufacturer to come back with info.

Good luck getting sorted

It's definitely getting worse. Started where it rarely made 1 ping noise, and then went to 3-5 pings, and tonight it's louder and pinging 10+ times for every turn. I'm pretty picky about the slightest noise that my cars makes...so you can imagine how annoying this is.

[KKaWing]

Unless it's cause by some other problem, why not look into the Koyo radial bearings Fortune Auto offers as an option for their coilovers?

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Danklvr

dude, go to local auto parts store, buy some "Coil Spring Wrap", and install it = problem solved.

This is not a coil spring issue, it is a spring binding issue. The reason why it is happening is because as OP turning the front wheels, the strut is moving (from the bottom up) but the top isn't rotating as freely as the bottom is, and the spring is winding up and unwinding, causing the ping ping noise.

Originally Posted by ericmpena

Seems like the most common fix I see if to grease up the areas shown here:
http://www.meganracing.com/tech/faqs...37&subject=CDK

The shop I took it to recommended the same thing, but the only thing they want to make sure of is which lubrications are safe to use on these coilovers. That's the information I'm waiting to hear back from Chris, unless someone else can chime in and let me know which lubrications are okay to use.
The Megan Racing site says to use Petroleum based lubes. Would this be universal for all coilovers?

Lube is not a fix, it's a patch.

Either you can fix yourself using thrust bearings (http://performanceshock.com/index.ph...8ca8a0494ce81f for more options), or you can have SBD fix it.

This is a design flaw and/or poor bearings... I've had this experience before.

-alex

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by KKaWing

Unless it's cause by some other problem, why not look into the Koyo radial bearings Fortune Auto offers as an option for their coilovers?

http://www.fortune-auto.com/radialbearingmounts.htm

[lightdir]

You may not have the preload set properly on the springs.

[ericmpena]

Originally Posted by dradernh

http://www.fortune-auto.com/radialbearingmounts.htm

Thanks! I watched the video they have on their site and this seems like exactly what I need. For $80 I just might purchase these now instead of waiting for Chris.

In the video they talked about the 7" spring needing a 1/4" preload...so after preload is set the spring should be 6 3/4". Any idea on what the SPD coilover preload should be?
The mechanics who originally installed decided to tell me after the install that they weren't too familiar with coilovers. I'm afraid they may have adjusted the preload in order to set the ride height on the car. Is that possible and could this be causing this exact issue? From talking to Chris he told me to set the preload to 3 or 4 threads above where the spring moves freely. That's what I've done in the past and had to do today again. It didn't get rid of the binding though.

[KKaWing]

This pretty much covers spring preload on these types of coilovers.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlqOA35NmAw"]BC Racing Coilover Spring Change and Preload Adjustment on Vimeo.mp4 - YouTube[/ame]

[Fizz]

Seems silly but sometimes the solution might be the simplest/easiest one. Have you double checked whether your top nut is torqued properly (i.e. using the pass through socket method)?

[ericmpena]

Originally Posted by KKaWing

This pretty much covers spring preload on these types of coilovers.

Probably a stupid question, but the preload should be the same on all 4 corners, correct? My front springs always seem to have a little play when I go back to check them after a few weeks...however the rear springs are extremely snug.

I'm thinking about going back through and adjusting the preload on all 4, but I just want to make sure that I follow the 4mm procedure on all 4 corners. Thanks!

[ericmpena]

Originally Posted by Fizz

Seems silly but sometimes the solution might be the simplest/easiest one. Have you double checked whether your top nut is torqued properly (i.e. using the pass through socket method)?

No I haven't checked that...mainly because I haven't come across 1 thread on the Internet that says to check that. lol. Everything points elsewhere.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Fizz

Seems silly but sometimes the solution might be the simplest/easiest one. Have you double checked whether your top nut is torqued properly (i.e. using the pass through socket method)?

A loose pillowball nut would result in a loud clunking noise when the suspension goes up and down. It wouldn't be the pinging noise as noted in the video previously.

More importantly, a loose pillowball nut wouldn't make noise if the car was stationary and simply turning the wheels.

-alex

[Calum]

Can you run the stock top hats with those coilovers? If so I'd put them on until you have the new bearings to fix this. There was a thread a couple days ago about a guy who had a strut separate while driving because of this same bearing binding issue. Looked like it wouldn't have been fun.

Sent from my samstone

[sshole]

Originally Posted by lightdir

You may not have the preload set properly on the springs.

I had a buddy with a set of Fortune Auto coilovers that had terrible spring bind. He took it up to Fortune Auto to have them look it over and they found he never set his preload. The spring wasn't compressed enough or something.

[ericmpena]

Hopefully it's just that simple. Gonna try to fix it again after I get out of work.