suspension clunk, what do u guys think Options

[nightryder]

hey guys. I noticed recently ive been having an issue with a loud clunk coming from my front end when i hit cracks/potholes in the road.


also when i have 4 people in my car, when i hit these same cracks/potholes i hear the tires hit in in the wheel wells.



i was going to replace my springs, put in some tein s-techs, but im pretty sure that wont help with my clunking, what do u guys think?



p.s. this whole system has 170k on it...

[soulshadow]

I had this clunking in the rear for my corolla. When I took out both struts they were beyond dead. You could pretty much move the piston inside the struts left and right and the only thing holding em from coming out was the nut at the top of the tube.

[presure2]

yea, its time for some suspension work nate.
springs, shocks, shock mounts, sway bar bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, and end links are all shot @ 170k..lol

i would start with all 4 shocks and springs, and possibly front and rear strut mounts if theyre bad.

i like to replace the sway bar bushings as well, theyre cheap, IIRC ~6-7$ each.

[Salica]

does the clunking come from the bad suspension ?

I initially thought it would be from a bad axle.. i have the same clunking on my celica. I did notice my cv boot was exposed so i still have to change it. If the clunking usually comes from the suspension then i have alot more work then i thought initially i will take a look at the suspension system.

[Rayme]

blown strut will make some noise sometimes, clunking noise... When you go over pot hole it will make alot of thumping sounds because there isn't anything to damper the wheel's up and down motions and this will also mean its easier to hit the bumper stops...blowns struts also make it feels like the whole wheels are lose from the cars over rough roads..it sucks!

[Salica]

I lifted my car and started pushing it up and down and the clunking was pretty evident and i think you are correct it seems to be coming from my strut but the car is old so im thinking i might as well change the springs and shocks i was thinking of changing the sway bar do you guys think that is neccesary the car has 180k i doubt it has ever been changed. A drive axle with ripped cv boot(the rubber covering) do you think that would need replacing? should that be done in pairs?

[nightryder]

yea, its time for some suspension work nate.
springs, shocks, shock mounts, sway bar bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, and end links are all shot @ 170k..lol

i would start with all 4 shocks and springs, and possibly front and rear strut mounts if theyre bad.

i like to replace the sway bar bushings as well, theyre cheap, IIRC ~6-7$ each.

aight well im ordering up my tein s-tech's now, what shocks do u guys think i should be looking for? where would be a good place to get em?

[Salica]

yea im also looking for shocks my shocks are dead...

[Rayme]

The KYB-GR2 seems to be the best option price wise and availability...there isn't that much choice out there. I had those and they were a good drive on the tein s-tech, no noise, comfortable and didn't bottom out. However they are not "sports" springs, they kinda sucked at the auto-cross events I went to.

-remy

This post has been edited by Rayme: Dec 30, 2008 - 9:08 AM

[nightryder]

i did find some kyb's but i have another question for y'all...



there seems to be specific shocks that i can put into my car because it is a vert...is this true or would any shock work for me?

[nightryder]

will kyb gr2's work for me? they look right but i need to be sure...


anyone know?

[Salica]

Sadly thats the only shock i can find.. I think they work, i am ordering mine by the end of this week. Are you getting the strut assembly with the shock or just the sleeve shock?

A few others use the GR2's i dont think they are much for performance but i cant afford a full coilover at the time.

[silver6gc]

hey nightryder, presure2 mentioned strut mounts, are you planning on getting them? i know you said you were tein s-tech and new struts, but you didnt mention mounts. you should plan on it, you dont want to put it all back together and still have the same noise.

[nightryder]

salica, i will be picking up the whole assembly, i guess ill just have to go out on a limb and hope it works


silver, yeah I'm planning on it, ive learned my lesson about doing things half assed. im just parts gathering right now and then ill just do the whole job in one fell swoop. cuz it blooows working on the car in new england weather without a garage in mid winter...

[stephen_lee]

same issue as here
i know i need struts, springs, and mounts as i can see the rear of the celi is sitting too low lol

[Salica]

sounds good nightryder, im sure the shocks will be better than stock ones. I just ordered mine but i ended up getting the sensatracs since the gr2's are nearly the same except i get lifetime warranty on the sensatrac's.

Im about to order my lowering springs, they are from megan racing they seem to be well designed. Hopefully they are ok.

[Galcobar]

Odd, the KYB GR-2 also have a lifetime warrenty -- and unlike the Monroes, the warrenty is considered good even if you lower your car as much as 1.5".

That aside, couple other parts you'll want to look at are the boots/bumpstops (if you buy aftermarket they're usually integrated), and the spring insulators (these would be the little, dealer-only rubber plates which keep your suspension from rattling like mad).

[Salica]

ahh i fear i have made a mistake in ordering the sensatracs if there isnt a restocking fee ill return and try to purchase the GR2's. Im not sure what will come with the springs & shocks i bought.

I spoke to my neighbor and he suggested i should just measure out the compressed length and the extension and try to purchase some shocks by dimensions. Anybody try this?

This post has been edited by Salica: Jan 3, 2009 - 3:51 PM

[soulshadow]

ahh i fear i have made a mistake in ordering the sensatracs if there isnt a restocking fee ill return and try to purchase the GR2's. Im not sure what will come with the springs & shocks i bought.

I spoke to my neighbor and he suggested i should just measure out the compressed length and the extension and try to purchase some shocks by dimensions. Anybody try this?

This only works if you have a truck / domestic car with shocks instead of struts.

KYBs are pretty much OEM Toyota parts but much cheaper and if I were you I rather just get the KYBs. The monroes are crap, and avoid any GABRIEL struts even if you life depend on it.

[Salica]

cool i returned the monroes and will be ordering the KYB's i hope thse GR2's are worth it.

It only works for trucks? hmm ill have to do some research on this and see if manufacturers give out these numbers.