cleslie21

I had a great time last weekend in my 944 at Barber. Unfortunately there is a popping noise in the passenger front spring, and sometimes in the drivers side. It sounds/looks like the spring is missing something from stopping it rotating under load. Anyone know what to do? I'd like to run Road Atlanta or VIR this weekend....

thanks
cameron

V2Rocket

can't see photos while at work but there are "detents" top and bottom to stop the spring from rotating.
with a big enough bump/rebound freak occurrence it would be possible to pop the spring out.

MAGK944

It doesn't seem like that popping is coming from the spring movement. If you look at the spring cap/camber plate area when you go "back", the spring cap seems to jump off the camber plate bearing just when you hear a pop.

Are you sure the spring cap is riding just on the camber plate bearing or is it actually riding on the camber plate itself?

Mines on stands right now but I have a similar setup to yours and here's how mine behaves off load if this helps:

cleslie21

Thanks a lot guys. What is the remedy if it is slipping? Is there a hat that should go at the top. I do see the plate jumping when the spring is turning "back" on the video. Thanks again!

MAGK944

I added a video to my post so refresh your thread and see if that helps you see what is going on. Jack the corner and see what it's doing off load, that might help you diagnose. Also, is there a spacer between the spring cap and the camber plate bearing, sometimes there's a spacer there to stop the cap riding on the plate instead of riding on the bearing.

cleslie21

It looks like I don't have a red hat at the top of the strut at all. I'll drop it out and see what it looks like. Thanks a lot for the video, I'm a rookie!

MAGK944

You do have a top hat/spring cap it's just that yours is silver, your components might be different to mine. I cannot determine which camber plates you are using either so there's a difference there also.

Post back when you figure out what's binding up there.

thomasmryan

does the diameter of your strut match the camber plate bearing?

cleslie21

The struts are One Koni Cup's, on the pictures on paragon they have red hats, but they may have changed over time. I bought the car last summer and have tracked it 3-4 weekends since so I'm learning as I go. Will update later, thanks guys!

wildcat077

Cameron,

I have a used set of Ground Control Konis with a bottom mount camber plate similar to yours, i`ll try to dig them out of the garage and take a few pics for reference ... i`ve never had popping issues with them before switching to MCS !
Perhaps it might have to do with the correct length springs , maybe helper springs would fix your issue if your springs are too short and unseat themselves from the hats when the suspension is unloaded, could also be ride height too high ?

MAGK944

Phil, I can see that the op has helper springs fitted already but these don't come into play here as the "popping" is happening even with the suspension loaded (like in the video).

It looks more like the spring hat is seated on the camber plate instead of the camber plate bearing. I cannot see the spring winding up and I can see the spring hat moving with the spring, so I assume the hat is binding on the plate. Some setups have a bushing or spacer between the hat and the bearing to provide clearance to avoid that binding, maybe that's missing.

cleslie21

Ok so I got the car to my house and got it on stands. The silver plate at the top sounds broken and is loose. The drivers side is tighter, but not firm. Here is a video. Plz let me know what you think it is. I think I will be dropping the strut out tonight.

wildcat077

Yup, that sure doesn't look right ...
I'll dig out my Ground Control setup tomorrow , it's in the same assembly order as when i removed it
from the car , maybe it will give a better idea of what's wrong with yours !

MAGK944

Like I said it's almost like there should be a spacer on there between the hat and the camber plate. What camber plates are those and did they come with a spacer or bushing, maybe that's what is missing. I tried to take a video of mine, using one hand to hold the phone and the other to manipulate the hat didn't really come out too good (see below). I checked using both hands (no video) and with the spring lowered all the way, the hat simply turns on the strut top bearing and it doesn't wobble like yours.

The only reliable way to check what's wrong is to remove the strut and then the spring hat. Place the hat alone onto the camber plate and then you will see exactly what s wrong. I'm guessing you need either a bush up there between the hat and the plate or you need different hats.

cleslie21

Couple more vids. I had someone suggest a thrust bearing??? Is that the washer in the second video? Thanks so much guys, hope it's not a big fix.