Creaking And Clanking Bilstein Strut Tops

[rondofj]

Hi SAU, I need your help. This is a long going issue with my R34GTT that I havent bothered fixing yet, I fitted Bilstein coilovers from another R34 and got new bumpstops n grooves cut in by Sydneykid sometime ago, the pics are old btw.

Issue is all the clanking (esp from the rear strut tops) when hitting mild bumps and imperfections at even 30-40km/h. The fronts also do this, on top of that they creak real loud like a mofo when turning/braking esp on drives, humps etc. At normal speeds you cannot really hear the creaks when turning.

I need to identify which part from my first pic I need to replace, from what I know its the strut mounts or tops but my ones not a single item, rather a series of washers n rubbers>>first pic. So what do I replace and from where, any alternatives or has to be Bilstein? Thanks

[GTSBoy]

Well.....only the washers and nuts are Bilstein. Everything else is Skyline.

OK, OK, the bump stops are not OEM, but hell, as if they matter.

They're not really strut tops at either end of the car either, because all they really are is upper spring retainers. There's no bearings in there to make noise. if there's creaking and shit going on, then it's probably in the dampers themselves (or possibly in any one of the other bushes/bearings in the rest of the suspension) and perhaps you should just take it to Gary and get him to have a look.

[rondofj]

The noise only started with my Bilsteins- it wasnt there at all with my Cusco coilovers and its definitely coming from the top of the struts both front n rear ( front creaks during turning), so what else could it be- as u said it dorsnt look like these struts have bearings..my suspect is those thick black rubber/plastic washers but please enlighten me

[GTSBoy]

Well, at no time does any part of the damper need to rotate around its axis - there are not "struts"....therefore, any creaking from turning the wheels is either coincidental, or maybe just maybe because the top nuts are loose or something. Otherwise, it's as I said in 1st reply.

[Trex]

The springs are not fully captive if they're banging and clunking, possibly from deteriorated rubber or that the springs are too short for the shock. Creaking from the top hats could be that the rubber has deteriorated and causing the spring edge to rub in its mounting position because it's not completely captive.

Does the spring move at all if you try and jerk it in its mount? Try it on a bench vise.

[rondofj]

Sorry guys been pretty busy with stuff, the 'loose spring' is what it probably is because it is not that sprung when captive in the car, I am pretty sure I could turn it on its mounts with a little bit of effort while its still on the car. Will report back later

[rondofj]

And loose possibly because I moved it down on Sydneykids standard cut grooves to give the height I want.

[Trex]

And loose possibly because I moved it down on Sydneykids standard cut grooves to give the height I want.

I always wondered how people went with the grooves. You could try getting some spacers and placing them inbetween the top hat and lock nut to force the spring captive. But I hold no responsibility if anything happens, as it's just the first idea off the top of my head.

[djr81]

The problem with all this is you are running out of shock travel - note shock travel not spring travel. I don't care how good the shock absorber is if you don't have any stroke for it to work in it wont work.

See here.

http://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/374385-bilstein-coilover-conversion/page-1

Part of the fix is to replace the strut tops which gets you shock travel back. As an aside replacing all that old stuff will also get rid of your squeeeeeking & clunking.

[Trex]

^^ looks very interesting, will be a good read.

I completely forgot about spring spacers Ron. Come in all thicknesses and I/OD

[rondofj]

Wont the use of spring spacers simply be the same as moving my springs UP on the cut groves- will give more height n shock travel like spacers will. We pinpointed the creaking to the front left strut (not sure if its from the strut tower top or bottom joint) when turning during the LAST 20-30% of full lock and when the car is leaning sideways on that shock during turning. During the last turns close to lock is when the creaks happen even when parked but moreso at low driveway speed.

The rear strut clanking n rattling tops during small bumps is a separate story

[Kinks]

My R34 GTT has similar symptoms, I had bilsteins fitted and re-used the stock springs at near-stock heights (dropped the rear a little bit via the circlip grooves on the shock to make it sit level.. the front stayed the same). Occasionally clunks a bit when at slow speeds and turning, eg into/out of driveways. I haven't managed to narrow down what's causing it yet.

[colourclassic]

I seem to have this issue as well. Clanking and clunking when going over speed humps or moderate road imperfections. I'm running Bilstein B6 Dampers and King Springs.

Rather than a dull thud, the car makes more of a 'crashing' sound for lack of a better term, when going over bumps.

[Kinks]

Rather than a dull thud, the car makes more of a 'crashing' sound for lack of a better term, when going over bumps.

Check how much "droop" you have. By droop I mean measure the centre-of-wheel-to-arch when the car is on the ground and then jack the car up so the wheels are hanging in the air and measure it again. You need at least a few inches of droop or your shocks will 'top out' out on the exit of a bump. Basically, your car goes over the bump, wheels go up, which pushes the car body up a bit. On the exit of the bump the body is higher, wheels extend and BANG the shocks reach the end of their travel, there is no bump stop in this direction and it sounds really ugly (and will destroy the shock).

The workshop who installed my Bilsteins (who SHOULD KNOW BETTER given their proximity to the Bilstein importer) did not remove the spacer inside the shock that limits droop when used with lowered springs. They gave me a car back that had zero droop at the back. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it.

[colourclassic]

I installed them myself and they definitely have around 8cm or more of droop with the spring captive. I'm starting to think a bush or two have had it.

[colourclassic]

Just and update, I remove a front dust boot and reinstalled the strut into the car. On level ground there is about 1cm of travel between the (shortened) bump stop and the shock body. That is with King Spring lows and a 1cm lower slot in the spring perch. So I guess I have been bottoming out on everything larger than a pebble lol. Time for some base-height adjustable coil overs.

[djr81]

Just and update, I remove a front dust boot and reinstalled the strut into the car. On level ground there is about 1cm of travel between the (shortened) bump stop and the shock body. That is with King Spring lows and a 1cm lower slot in the spring perch. So I guess I have been bottoming out on everything larger than a pebble lol. Time for some base-height adjustable coil overs.

No. Time for some new strut tops to allow the reinstatement of shock travel.

[colourclassic]

Which strut tops would you recommend? Link?

[djr81]

These ones.

http://www.isccoilovers.com.au/coilover-spare-parts

Get the ones with the rubber bushes front and rear but you have to ask them for the front ones as they aren't listed.

But read this first to understand you need a couple of other bits to make them fit your Bilsteins - plus they work with 65mm springs not the Kings. If you want to retain the King springs you may need something different. Not sure what that would be.

http://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/374385-bilstein-coilover-conversion/page-1