New Coilovers What Now??, I got ?'s Options

[j0ch0a94ST]

Hey guys I just installed a pair of Tom's Motorsport coilovers on the front of my 94 ST Hatch. I have 17x7's on the front wrapped with 215-45-r17 rubber. I noticed that when I make hard turns that I get a single popping noise most noticeable in the driverside front. I believe that the top of the tire is hitting the bottom of the shock assembly. ? is how detrimental is this and what is the best course of action. I know solutions could be wheel spacers () or adjustment but I won't be able to adjust them until this weekend due to my restrictions at my townhome residence(not really supposed to work on the vehicles in the parking lot) I'll be able to work on it at a different location this weekend but wanted to see just HOW UNSAFE my situation really is. Thanks for the input guys!

This post has been edited by j0ch0a94ST: Dec 2, 2009 - 10:47 AM

[j0ch0a94ST]

Bump B/C I really need help on this! Thanks

[nics]

are those fully threaded or partially threaded coilovers? or are they just coilver sleeves?

might be not enough shaft travel if its a partially threaded or coilover sleeves

u might need to adjust camber as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ztmsUiU5Xo

[95CelicaST]

Pictures of the coilovers, please.

[j0ch0a94ST]

Pics soon. They are the partial-threaded I know that I'm going to need an alignment but I can't get it until Saturday. Thanks for the help.

[trdproven]

sounds like coil sleeves and you are reusing the top mounts from your stock.

[j0ch0a94ST]

sounds like coil sleeves and you are reusing the top mounts from your stock.

yes I guess they are sleeves b/c I am using the stock top mounts, do you think that an alignment will clear up my clearance issues on the driverside (the knock at full-wheel lock????) thanks

This post has been edited by j0ch0a94ST: Dec 4, 2009 - 12:01 PM

[95CelicaST]

If they are threaded sleeves slipped onto a regular strut, then you don't have "Tom's" coilovers, and someone screwed you. Remember - Tom's is just "Tom's", not Tom's Motorsport.

Popping in this situation is generally caused by the coil not having anything to seat into and it moves, making a pop noise.

Do your coilovers look like this?

Or like this?


This post has been edited by 95CelicaST: Dec 4, 2009 - 1:16 PM

[nics]

ill bet on the top pic

[trdproven]

i honestly think Toms won't make coil sleeves.

[yarik83]

In my experience popping noise came from interaction of kyb shocks and struts and the coilovers. Front kybs come with a little circular lip that was wider than opening of the threaded cylinder of coilovers. I took my car to my mechanic and he grinded it down so it sat in place but I still had popping sounds. I fixed that problem by getting rid of the metal hat that you see in the above picture and used stock one. Your popping sound comes from the fact that your spring is rotating with the wheel. It is probably stuck on your strut or rubs up against it just enough to grab on to your entire coilover threaded thing so it spins that, your spring and as it jumps it makes that pop pop pop pop. Take off your front wheels and see if that is the case. Grind that lip thing down and make sure that your shock does not rub up against the threaded coilover cylinder. Remove the top hat AND make sure that all your bolts (under hood top of strut) are bolted shut. That alone may be causing your thing to move about freely. Many shops forget to re-torgue your top strut bolts after setting the car down...

[j0ch0a94ST]

If they are threaded sleeves slipped onto a regular strut, then you don't have "Tom's" coilovers, and someone screwed you. Remember - Tom's is just "Tom's", not Tom's Motorsport.

Popping in this situation is generally caused by the coil not having anything to seat into and it moves, making a pop noise.

Do your coilovers look like this?

Or like this?

First off, I never said they were a "TOM'S" product the company that makes them is "Tom's Motorsports", which is different than the legendary "TOM'S". Also I didn't buy these a 5th gen owner gave them to me, so I'm really not at a loss. They do appear to be "sleeves" and not "coilovers" now that I have been educated on the subject. Would replacement of the OEM strut caps be a solution to the popping noise?

[nics]

got actual pics?

[Dragondog]

i had the same problem but mine was cuz i didnt put spacer back on that goese under the nut ont top of strut when mounting them back in car.......so ther was a gap between top support and nut