Another "clunking noise" thread

[joonsup]

So I got H&R Sport Springs and Bilstein shocks installed last week by a couple friends of mine who never worked on an e30 before. We did it in a garage and took us from 7:30pm-1:30am to complete.

Anyways, this past weekend I hear this clunking noise comign from the rear whenever I drove over a small bump. And on top of that yesterday I started to hear a weird creaking noise from the rear. I first thought it was the spring noise but I don't think that's what it is. Seems like something is rubbing against something.

First thing that came to my mind was that the rear shock mounts weren't tightened enough. They are the ones from Ground Control. However it said in the directions to tighten the top it said to hand tighten it and then turn it 360 degrees with the wrench. Is that correct?

I took out everything in my trunk to make sure it wasnt the oem jack that was making the noise but it didnt help. I did a search and it seemed like the bushings were a common problem or swaybar links or something.

Can you guys give me a list of things to check and what to check for and the proper names of the parts (in case I need to order new ones from pelican/bma/etc..). Thanks

[joonsup]

no suggestions? is it b/c i have gold wheels on a bronzit or is it because I don't have a coupe. haha

[whiltebeitel]

This is one of those things you just need to poke around and look for. It's too broad to be a fix-it-all thing. Just go around an "nut-n-bolt" the car, check to make sure everything is snug, look for loose exhaust sheilds, loose exhaust, make sure everything is lubed up properly. Start with what you messed with last (suspension) and work your way around.

[joonsup]

yeah that's what i plan to do this weekend. i just figure i get some ideas from people who may have been in a similar suggestion so I "attack" those areas first. I'm not the most mechanically inclined person so I could use all the help I can get. Thanks for your suggestion though.

[whiltebeitel]

Look for a clean spot or shiny metal, like someone took a grinder to it. Tug on stuff, shake stuff, push on th car, see if you can re-create the noise

[joonsup]

will do. thanks man

[joonsup]

When tightening the top nut on the RSM, a friend told me that you can't do it by hand or else the shaft will continue to spin so an impact gun is needed? Is this true?

[whiltebeitel]

I used a thic piece of rubber, like hose, and some pliers to hold the shock shaft while I tightened the nut.

But get yourself an electric impact if you can, they save so much time and hassle with stuff like this.

[joonsup]

I used a thic piece of rubber, like hose, and some pliers to hold the shock shaft while I tightened the nut.

But get yourself an electric impact if you can, they save so much time and hassle with stuff like this.

i'm not sure if this makes a difference but I realized that I have the Ground control race mounts instead of the street mounts. Would that have anything to do with it?

race: http://www.ground-control-store.com/...hp/II=656/CA=8

street: http://www.ground-control-store.com/....php/II=7/CA=9

I wasn't aware that there was more than one kind. I ordered it through a friend who knows a supplier of these mounts.

[whiltebeitel]

The solid mounting could very well be the cause. I'd check everything else first, though.

[M-technik-3]

You are not supposed to tighten the shocks with Impacts. It says so right in installation instructions.

As how are your rear sub-frame mounts worn out also your rear trailing arms? These if they are coupled with new stuff tend to amplify noise from worn areas.

[joonsup]

ok here's an update. so i went to my friend's place after work and he took another look at it. It was another friend that had installed the rears while this friend installed the front.

I guess that guy didn't know the proper way of tightening the top screw. What he did was to screw it by hand until it didnt turn anymore and then used a wrench to turn it one revolution. HOWEVER, he didnt know that you had to use pliers or monkey wrench to hold the shaft while tightening the nut since the shaft will keep spinning.

So my friend followed the instructions and tightened it until the washer wasn't loose and then did one full rotation. Most of the sound went away. I "think" i still hear something minor but that could be worn bushings or what not. But there's no more clunking sound over each bump.

What I want to do as you guys mentioned is to replace the old mounts and trailing arms, etc.. since they look like they are 20 years old. I'll probably do that in the near future and especially before I take the car to the track this coming november. i've spent a good amount of money recently so once I build up my e30 fund again I'll replace all those parts.

The solid mount from the "race" ground control rsm may be contributing to the noise so I'm still debating whether or not I should swap them out and get other RSMs like the one from bimmerword that a few others have talked about. What do you guys think?

[whiltebeitel]

I'd leave them in.

[joonsup]

any particular reason why? Will it hurt my suspension driving them on the streets with all the bumps and what not?

[sector6]

So I got H&R Sport Springs and Bilstein shocks installed last week by a couple friends of mine who never worked on an e30 before. We did it in a garage and took us from 7:30pm-1:30am to complete.

Anyways, this past weekend I hear this clunking noise comign from the rear whenever I drove over a small bump. And on top of that yesterday I started to hear a weird creaking noise from the rear. I first thought it was the spring noise but I don't think that's what it is. Seems like something is rubbing against something.

First thing that came to my mind was that the rear shock mounts weren't tightened enough. They are the ones from Ground Control. However it said in the directions to tighten the top it said to hand tighten it and then turn it 360 degrees with the wrench. Is that correct?

I took out everything in my trunk to make sure it wasnt the oem jack that was making the noise but it didnt help. I did a search and it seemed like the bushings were a common problem or swaybar links or something.

Can you guys give me a list of things to check and what to check for and the proper names of the parts (in case I need to order new ones from pelican/bma/etc..). Thanks

[ATTACH]20907[/ATTACH]

I am having the same issues with my car. Koni GC coil-overs. creaking, popping, etc...Did find one front shock tower nuts were loose. That took care of one noise (the big one) but still many smaller noises persist. Let know what you find with yours!