Lowered my Celica, UPDATE* More Pics Options

[jordisonjr]

Alright so I recently Lowered my celica on Tein springs. It looks great and everything, Im really happy with the ride and everything, but there's just one problem. When the car is stopped or moving very slowly when i turn the wheel I hear a clunking sound, almost like what a ball joint would sound like.

The sound only comes when Im moving very slowly or stopped and crank the wheels pretty hard.
I looked at it with a few buddies and we saw that when you turn the wheel the strut and spring both turn as well. Now I don't know a whole lot about cars and this is the first one i have lowered, but should the spring be moving as well? or did I do something wrong?

I did my research before lowering it and even followed the instructions on the stickies, and I've never come across someone with this issue, and yes I did use the search button and found nothing.

Someone please help me out cause I don't know what i did wrong.




And Of course, here are some before and after pictures, and I'll post them once the springs settle as well.

BEFORE:



AFTER:


I think it looks waaaay better, and it rides great, all I need is some 18's and I'll be set

UPDATE: Got some new pcs I took quick with my point and shoot, Should have some legit photos once my rims come in which i order last week.









This post has been edited by jordisonjr: May 17, 2010 - 4:53 PM

[johnnehh]

Mmmm. Looks good! I'd get 17s though

[garin]

it does look good! 18 are too big. get 16's, or at the biggest 17's.

[samir0189]

it does look good. im diggin the meat on your tires...

[jordisonjr]

hahaha yea i got those tires with the rims for real cheap so i wasn't too picky, but can anyone answer my questions?

[jordisonjr]

Anyone got anything for me?

[95CelicaST]

You didn't seat the springs properly. Make sure that the flat end of the spring is facing upwards. The bottom of the spring will actually "lock" into position on the strut, so it shouldn't be spinning at all. Remove the front assemblies and snap some photos perhaps they're just loose, but I think you might need to reseat the spring on the perch.

This post has been edited by 95CelicaST: Apr 8, 2010 - 12:11 PM

[jordisonjr]

Well there was a groove on the bottom where you lined up the end of the coil into the groove on the bottom of the strut i guess you could call it.

I was thinking that maybe we just didn't tighten the top nut on the strut enough, and that if i waited for the springs to settle a bit more, I would be able to tighten it more since there would be less pressure on it.

[95CelicaST]

If the coil is sitting in the lower perch correctly then it shouldn't be turning, however if you didn't tighten the top nut that could be your problem. The top nut has zero influence on the spring settling. Take your wheels off and turn the coil until its seated correctly, and then tighten the top nut. Make sure to reach through the spring and hold the shock cylinder, as it will try and rotate while you're tightening it down. Then double check the top nut once the wheels are back on and the car is on the ground.

[94celigts]

I had the same problem with my car man, tein springs as well, i was told to take it apart and grease up everything even the top of the spring and the boots they sit in, it makes all movement nice and greasy no sticking it worked well!

[azian_advanced]

There is an arrow on the strut, this needs to point outwards or the spring will make that popping noise....

[mgnt232]

yeah I have 17's and the tires are pretty lowpro (not the lowest) but cranked all the way I have about a 1/2" clearance on both sides. I wouldnt recommend 18'S

[ajmorris1977]

yeah I have 17's and the tires are pretty lowpro (not the lowest) but cranked all the way I have about a 1/2" clearance on both sides. I wouldnt recommend 18'S

i have 18's and they don't rub at all, and in answer to your question i have the same noise (the clunking) when i have it in the air whenever i put it back down it makes that noise until the springs settle, it goes away and i don't worry about it...nice looking Celi though, keep up the good work.

[jordisonjr]

94celigts: So you basically greased everthing, like the top of the spring and the rubber boot it sits on, and like the bearing inside the mount and all that, and the popping went away?

azian_advanced: Thanks for the diagram, do you know exactly what causes that popping noise? Is it going to cause any damage if I don't fix it right away? or is one of those things thats just going to be annoying more than anything, if you know what i mean.Also, I'veseen this diagram before, and I looked for it on the back struts and I couldn't seem to find it, is it only on the front ones, or was I just not looking good enough?

mgnt232: What size 17's are you running, like what width, and what size tires?

ajmorris1977: thanks alot , unfortunately I can't cure my mod bug without any money so it's been tough, but I start work through college soon so hopefully Ill be gettin some more things for it.

Thanks everyone for the input, appreciate the help.

This post has been edited by jordisonjr: Apr 8, 2010 - 8:13 PM

[D-Man]

WHOA!! YOU DID A FULL HOUSE CONVERSION TOO?!!!! AWESOME

looks great man, good job

[jordisonjr]

HAHAHAHA, nah its just the next door house, haha. thanks though, can't wait to get some wheels on it, can't really decide what though

[azian_advanced]

the popping should only be coming from the front. the reason it pops is that the top hat is stuck and won't rotate. if you get someone to turn the steering wheel, you'll see that the strut rotates independently from the spring and the popping comes from the end of the spring popping off the groove on the strut where it's supposed to sit.

[95CelicaST]

yeah I have 17's and the tires are pretty lowpro (not the lowest) but cranked all the way I have about a 1/2" clearance on both sides. I wouldnt recommend 18'S

i have 18's and they don't rub at all, and in answer to your question i have the same noise (the clunking) when i have it in the air whenever i put it back down it makes that noise until the springs settle, it goes away and i don't worry about it...nice looking Celi though, keep up the good work.

You have the clunk because you're on coilovers, and your springs never seat on the perch. These are springs.

[tomazws]

One word. BEAUTIFUL.

[Galcobar]

Clunking after installing new springs, as others have pointed out, is usually due to having the springs incorrectly seated on the spring seats.

The issue is often the top spring seat, which is supposed to be installed in a specific alignment. Often that alignment is lost when the strut assembly is being bolted into the car, or the strut rod nut is being tightened. A pair of bent needle-nose pliers is an effective substitute for the SST to keep the upper spring seat correctly aligned.

And of course, there's always the question of whether or not you installed the spring seat insulators (the rubber rings which sit between the end of the spring and the seat) correctly. They also must be aligned to the seat.