car - lowering, rattling.. Options

[funks]

Hello,

Any of you guys who lowered you car (my car was lowered using TRD springs) hear a rattling on the rear end from time to time? I removed everything from the back including the spare tire / jack and etc but the rattling still occurs..

Any ideas on what can be causing it?

[Supersprynt]

Is it a rattling or more of a bumping.

If its more of a bumping - sounds like something big, probably your springs. Mine do that, they're smaller than stock so theres extra space where they bang around back there.

[boosted_K2]

double check to make sure all the bolts are tight from when you took apart the suspension, same thing happened to my dads mustang when we put his suspension kit on, one of the bolts to the shock wasnt torqued down and it came loose, popped out, and he got the same clunking noise from the bottom of the shock hitting against the mount, i bet you have similar to the same problem

[funks]

QUOTE (K2_Celica @ Jul 22, 2003 - 9:18 PM)

double check to make sure all the bolts are tight from when you took apart the suspension, same thing happened to my dads mustang when we put his suspension kit on, one of the bolts to the shock wasnt torqued down and it came loose, popped out, and he got the same clunking noise from the bottom of the shock hitting against the mount, i bet you have similar to the same problem

hmmm, I don't think the strut is bottoming out as even on slight bumps it does it.. sounds like a thump - thump.. The rear suspension has what looks like an anti roll bar.. I thinking that the bushings holding it onto the frame has worn out and is what's causing it..

I'll double check the bolts and replace the rear stabilizer bushings and see if the noise disappears..

I have 160K on my car but then again, I've gotten the shocks/struts replaced with KYB's about a year and a half ago (when I got my TRD springs installed)..

This post has been edited by funks: Jul 24, 2003 - 3:24 PM

[presure2]

funks, i know what ur talking about,....i have the same thing in my car......sway bar links...the bushings are AWFUL.check yours, bet they're wasted too..

[boosted_K2]

i wasnt saying the shock was bottoming out, im saying that the bottom of the shock (right above the bushing that the bolt goes through) may be bumping against the mount on the rear axle, that would be really loud even on the smallest bump. if it isnt that it is definatly a bushing.

[funks]

QUOTE (presure2 @ Jul 23, 2003 - 7:56 AM)

funks, i know what ur talking about,....i have the same thing in my car......sway bar links...the bushings are AWFUL.check yours, bet they're wasted too..

hmmm, I bought some sway bar bushings from the dealer today (the bushings that attach the rear anti roll bar the frame, not the links themselves) - won't get them in till tommorow..

Do I have to replace the bushings on the links themselves? or just the bushings holding the sway bar to the frame?

This post has been edited by funks: Jul 23, 2003 - 9:46 PM

[boosted_K2]

didnt you check if that was the problem before buying the parts?

[Akimbo]

I've heard from a friend that lowering your makes you like 20% more likely to get in an accident, anyone got any thoughts on this?

[Jeremy1210]

QUOTE

I've heard from a friend that lowering your makes you like 20% more likely to get in an accident, anyone got any thoughts on this?

How would that be possible??? THe only thing I can thnik of is that the people with lowered cars drive like idiots adn think they are on F&F. Think of the accidents that you know of after those movie in the parking lot... Also, If that stat were true, I bet that 18% of those are honda civics..stupid ricers

[funks]

QUOTE (K2_Celica @ Jul 23, 2003 - 7:51 PM)

didnt you check if that was the problem before buying the parts?

well, I really don't know what's causing it because it only happens when I hit a bump (even slight).. The springs were made for the car (TRD Springs for the 6GC Celica) and there's no play.. I checked the bolts and they seem to be tight.. The only thing left is the fact that the rear suspension bushings are shot. It's kinda hard to diagnose as one has to be physically moving in order for the noise to occur..

I contacted the dealer and basically, they sell rear stabilizer bar bushings (for around 8$ each), they also sell bushings for the rear (front control arm only) for around 36$.. The rest, you have the buy complete arms (not cheap)..

Fensport - sells superflex polyurethane replacement bushings for the rear arms

http://www.fensport.co.uk/partsfiles/st200chassis.htm - around 90$ for a kit (which comes with 4 bushings, but then again, don't know how if that's for both sides sides - considering there's a front and rear arm (which requires about 4 bushings total), it's might be per side)..

G

This post has been edited by funks: Jul 24, 2003 - 3:22 PM

[funks]

QUOTE (K2_Celica @ Jul 23, 2003 - 8:08 AM)

i wasnt saying the shock was bottoming out, im saying that the bottom of the shock (right above the bushing that the bolt goes through) may be bumping against the mount on the rear axle, that would be really loud even on the smallest bump. if it isnt that it is definatly a bushing.

I'll check the bottom of the shock and see if I can see damage - if it's bumping against the mount then it will definitely show some wear..

G

[Akimbo]

I had figured that lowering a car would give better handling and stuff...my friend is dumb. He drives a Windstar...but he's getting a silver Tiburon with VeilSide...

[funks]

I finally figured it out..

replaced the rear stabilizer bushings, didn't fix it.. So I double checked it again, noticed that the lower bolt on the stabilizer bar link was loose (had a little bit of play).. So I took out an allen key, and a 14 mm open ended wrench. Tigthened that mother up and no more clunking noise.. It's weird how a lose stabilizer link makes so much noise..

[Komlofske]

I'm having the same problem and I don't even know how to fix it. It's a good thing you posted it because I was getting woried about it. If you get any knowhow on how to fix it please let me know. Please.