took out front spring pads- binding

[Jbpka06]

I recently installed drop hats and and removed the spring pads. There is now a sound that comes form the front end when i turn the wheel for a 90 degree turn. It sounds like the spring is moving around on the perches and I am wondering if this happens to anyone else due to the fact that it is very loud and sounds like my car is a pile.

The drop hats are not binding, i modified them to fit.

[Teaguer]

Witht he weight of the car on the springs they should not be loose or moving on the perches .

Maybe you trimmed too much from the drop hats and the spring is slipping off ?

[Jbpka06]

the sound occurs when i turn the wheel so it probably changes the angle on the spring and having no pad creates less friction. Thats all i can think of.

[NC325iC]

are you sure its the spring thats making the sound

[Jbpka06]

no, I'm not but that is the sound I can relate to. It obviously doesnt make the sound when the car is in the air and I havent had the chance to have someone help me out.

[JRKOUPE]

..its prolly the spring "grinding" on the un protected perch ........we are assuming all parts are torqued down.

The only drop hats I know of are sold by BMP or Bekkers...are those the ones?...

[Jbpka06]

Bekkers, and yes everything is torqued

[MR 325]

Are you sure your upper strut bearings are still good?

[egk2]

Clunk sound? I mentioned this a few times after installing these with spring pads.
After gridning them down to stock diameter, I still got a clunking noise during slow turns (ie. parking lots) in my right front. Before grinding them down it was in both sides and very loud. Basically what's happening is the perches are turning and the springs bind to a point and finally catch, gives off a clunk sound, annoying as fuxk. I hated them.

[Jbpka06]

I just installed new strut mounts so those and the bearings inside are good. I have ground mine down to the stock size and they're nice and smooth. Yeah its probably considered a clunk sound. I have had the drop hats in for a week and I hope I can get rid of them within the week. I am planning to either buy a 60/60 drop or GC's

[JRKOUPE]

I just installed new strut mounts so those and the bearings inside are good. I have ground mine down to the stock size and they're nice and smooth. Yeah its probably considered a clunk sound. I have had the drop hats in for a week and I hope I can get rid of them within the week. I am planning to either buy a 60/60 drop or GC's

gc what?....c/o's?

60/60?

are you just interested in dropping frt?....

you can get Vorshlag camber plts....theyll drop car a bit.

[Teaguer]

When I first installed the stock drop hats they would bind or hit in the strut towers .
One I trimmed to size they were fine and never gave off a single peep .

Just running without the pads should not cause any noise either , I've taken the rubber pads out of dozens of BMW's without any noise .

I would say once you can get time to get it on a lift or preferably an alignment rack you should be able to track down and remedy the problem quickly .


Joel , I snicker at the thought of installling camber plates just for the drop . :D

[JRKOUPE]

"Joel , I snicker at the thought of installling camber plates just for the drop "


I agree.......but Id choose them over drop contraptions....sounds like a nice way to preload shocks and lose travel..hehe

and I wasnt sure what OP really wanted........

[Jbpka06]

When I first installed the stock drop hats they would bind or hit in the strut towers .
One I trimmed to size they were fine and never gave off a single peep .

Just running without the pads should not cause any noise either , I've taken the rubber pads out of dozens of BMW's without any noise .

I would say once you can get time to get it on a lift or preferably an alignment rack you should be able to track down and remedy the problem quickly .


Joel , I snicker at the thought of installling camber plates just for the drop . :D

I got an alignment on sunday and the specs are the same as before i replaced he strut mounts which was the whole reason I was in there. I just decided to put drop hats in while I was there.

I will scan my results in later and I am now just looking to get rid of the drop hats and get GC coilovers or get in the lowtec 60/60 drop GB.

[Teaguer]

I will scan my results in later and I am now just looking to get rid of the drop hats and get GC coilovers or get in the lowtec 60/60 drop GB.

No no , I don't mean to check the alignment specs .
I meant , get it on a rack/lift where you can still have the weight of the car loaded on the suspension ....so you can see what going as if you were driving .