Suspension clunking after changing coilovers driving me mad!
Discussion
Hi all, I have fitted a Nitron Kit NTR one way to my Lotus Exige, and followed correct procedure, everything has been tightened to the correct torque levels as specified in the Lotus manual, I even cleaned up the threads with a wire brush to ensure they are torqued up correctly. All the relevant spacers are fitted and yet the suspension 'clunks' over each small pothole/manhole cover etc that I go over. What is more bizarre is that each corner does it, so its obviously something to do with the units themselves or indeed the way they are fitted/setup. I have fitted coilovers to cars before and never come across anything like this. The rideheight and damping is adjustable, the current damping is set to factory settings and I have messed about with the rideheight but it is in the right ballpark.
Someone suggested that it could well be that I have overtightened the joints at the top and bottom (I did do them up pretty tight after I initially fitted them with the correct 45Nm) of the coilovers and hence seizing the bushes/ball joints. I struggled away in the dark tonight after work and slackened them off and there is no improvement what so ever.
If anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated. Its driving me nuts! I have tried all the Lotus forums I am a member of but to no avail.
Thanks in advance.
Someone suggested that it could well be that I have overtightened the joints at the top and bottom (I did do them up pretty tight after I initially fitted them with the correct 45Nm) of the coilovers and hence seizing the bushes/ball joints. I struggled away in the dark tonight after work and slackened them off and there is no improvement what so ever.
If anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated. Its driving me nuts! I have tried all the Lotus forums I am a member of but to no avail.
Thanks in advance.
you need to describe the 'clunk' better? (one man's clunk is another man's thud etc)
also some pics of the install might help, specifically the joints top and bottom.
dampers themselves do make some noise, Nitrons are not immune from this, but their normal Elise range it's not noticeable.
also some pics of the install might help, specifically the joints top and bottom.
dampers themselves do make some noise, Nitrons are not immune from this, but their normal Elise range it's not noticeable.
When I fitted my Nitrons all sorts of previously unheard bang, thumps and clunks became apparant. They all dissappeared once I renewed all the articulating parts of the suspension - the car now rides as near silently as an Elise will ever (I suppose).
That was on a 70k mile S1 though so everything was past its best although maybe if your car has had a lot of track use and spent time riding kerbs then it might be time for simiiar?
Not much help really, but improving my dampers and fitting stiffer springs just showed up tiredness in the rest of my supension.
Just as an aside, as you originally tightened the bolts to over 45nm then you may have overstretched them so they might be worth replacing? I'm sure Scuffers or someone else more knowledgable will confirm or otherwise.
That was on a 70k mile S1 though so everything was past its best although maybe if your car has had a lot of track use and spent time riding kerbs then it might be time for simiiar?
Not much help really, but improving my dampers and fitting stiffer springs just showed up tiredness in the rest of my supension.
Just as an aside, as you originally tightened the bolts to over 45nm then you may have overstretched them so they might be worth replacing? I'm sure Scuffers or someone else more knowledgable will confirm or otherwise.
polus said:
Have you had a pry around the various joints to see if anything has excess play in it?
Apart from my steering rack needing a refresh everything on my car felt fine - the difference after a refresh was night and day though. Certainly not a subtle difference. It would have passed through an MOT with no problems (apart from the rack) but after doing the job is was abvious everything was waaaay past its best.Might be completely unrelated to your issue - i can't see if yours are loud when stationary
On my S1 after replacing the rattly konis with a set of S2 dampers i was expecting a silent ride but was baffled by a rattling/knocking sound.
Turned out to be the rs42 pads rattling in the front callipers! I'm still amazed at the amount noise they made. When fitted they had the anti-rattle buffers in place but had fallen out over time.
Driving along and just dragging the brakes fractionally would make the car silent - took me a while to work out though....d'oh
On my S1 after replacing the rattly konis with a set of S2 dampers i was expecting a silent ride but was baffled by a rattling/knocking sound.
Turned out to be the rs42 pads rattling in the front callipers! I'm still amazed at the amount noise they made. When fitted they had the anti-rattle buffers in place but had fallen out over time.
Driving along and just dragging the brakes fractionally would make the car silent - took me a while to work out though....d'oh
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