Springs and struts WTF?!

Matt · 10-01-2003, 06:25 AM

I'm strting to have some concerns with the new Sprints and KYB struts. Earlier today drove over a couple speed bump, very slowly. The rear made a clunking sound. What the hell? I know that when wight is off the rear the spring can moove somewhat, is that what the noise is? Is it always going to make this clunking sound?

Dman · 10-02-2003, 12:23 AM

well, my'95 does the exact same thing. When I go over a speed bump or hit a bump in the road. you can hear a matal sound, that sounds like metal on metal then a clank or 'clunk' sound as you call it. What your hearing, if you have shorter springs like me, is your strut moving around in there. Because the spring is shorter (I still have the stock struts), and the struts are the same length, you get much more travel, and if the struts don't compress as fast as your car bounces, you get that clank sound when you springs compress, leaving about a 1/2inch bit of strut poking up, and then your car comes back up and they hit the housing.

I haven't had any problems yet. I've had my springs on for 5 months. I'm not gonna replace the struts until I get the other mods out of the way. but If you are worried about it, you can get shorter struts.

**Ssicarman** · 10-02-2003, 01:23 AM

I assume that the springs that you put in are lowering springs. If they are ones that get the lowering by being shorter than the stock springs then you wil be getting noise over bumps that cause a decent amount of suspension travel as the strut will be set up for the length of the factory springs and the strut is what will limit (or do most of the limiting) the amount of suspension travel.
So you get to get used to the noise or find a set of springs that when fully extended are still the length of the factory springs but get their lowering by allowing the car to sit lower due to a spring that is not as strong as factory.

Matt · 10-02-2003, 01:28 AM

^^Yep, they're the 2" Sprint drop springs. Do I have to worry about future damage?

**Ssicarman** · 10-02-2003, 01:46 AM

Not real familiar with a lot of the after market stuff so I don't know exactly how your's sit in the strut seats. If they sit properly in the seats then you should not have a lot of trouble but the looseness and the banging around will eventually cause problems. If they don't mount in the seats like factory then you will see problems sooner than later.

Matt · 10-02-2003, 02:25 AM

They seat fine, but say if I jack up the rear end the springs will have some play, due to being a shorter spring. With the car on the ground they are fine.

SC2_GT · 10-02-2003, 08:52 PM

Matt, I get the same noise outta my sprints and I have had them on for 2yrs now with no other damage. It is just a noise that you will have to get used to.

Matt · 10-03-2003, 03:06 AM

Ah, that sucks. I guess it's the sacrifice for a lower drop. Jeff said he had the same problem too, so I guess it's no big deal.

SCdyne · 10-05-2003, 12:38 AM

Get some MAD strong tie wraps and use the water drain holes in the strut to tie the spring down. The other option would be to cut some large fuel hose or water line and wrap it around a few of the bottom coils.
This will make the noise go away. All sprints do this. My progress never did, but the sprints do.