Tightening suspension front mounts - ViperBob?
08-11-2006 | 01:01 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,689
Likes: 4
From: Leeds, where I have run into this many lamp
Tightening suspension front mounts - ViperBob?
After doing a search, ViperBob has replied to a number of 'clunking suspension' threads. I have quite a bit of front clunking and it is NOT swaybar droplinks - the usual suspect. I know its not them as I firstly tightened them and stil got the clunk, then disconnected them from the swaybar altogether and still got the clunks. I am guessing its either the stru top mounts or the sway bar mount on the strut. Is tightening the top mounts a fairly simple DIY?
08-11-2006 | 10:32 PM
#2
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 6
From: MIAMI
have someone stand in the trun and bounce the suspension andlay sdown with your hand under the car (im not liable if you stick it somewher u shouldn and get pinched) and put you hand on each piece till you feel it (only works if you can duplicate it while bouncing the car) the locator arms usually clunk the control arms usually sqeak
08-12-2006 | 09:21 AM
#3
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
You know, my front suspension just likes to clunk every no and then. Everything has been checked and rechecked. Nothing is worn, damaged or defective. I just gave up and let it clunk lightly. Maybe if I wait for something to fall off, I will find the problem! 
08-12-2006 | 12:54 PM
#4
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Los Everglades
Check for the spring hitting the lower spring mount (spring perche) or the upper spring mount.
Tightening the strut top to the camber plate is tricky. There is no space to fit the torque wrench, and you need to hold the allen end on the strut, so it doesn't rotate while tightening the nut.
I use my impact cordless drill to tighten these nuts.
Lift the front and check if under full extension the spring is tight or loose. If it's loose, you can get helper springs, or raise the ride height, or buy cheap Torrington bearings.
Tightening the strut top to the camber plate is tricky. There is no space to fit the torque wrench, and you need to hold the allen end on the strut, so it doesn't rotate while tightening the nut.
I use my impact cordless drill to tighten these nuts.
Lift the front and check if under full extension the spring is tight or loose. If it's loose, you can get helper springs, or raise the ride height, or buy cheap Torrington bearings.
08-14-2006 | 06:28 AM
#5
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,689
Likes: 4
From: Leeds, where I have run into this many lamp
Originally Posted by NJ-GT
Check for the spring hitting the lower spring mount (spring perche) or the upper spring mount.
Tightening the strut top to the camber plate is tricky. There is no space to fit the torque wrench, and you need to hold the allen end on the strut, so it doesn't rotate while tightening the nut.
I use my impact cordless drill to tighten these nuts.
Lift the front and check if under full extension the spring is tight or loose. If it's loose, you can get helper springs, or raise the ride height, or buy cheap Torrington bearings.
Tightening the strut top to the camber plate is tricky. There is no space to fit the torque wrench, and you need to hold the allen end on the strut, so it doesn't rotate while tightening the nut.
I use my impact cordless drill to tighten these nuts.
Lift the front and check if under full extension the spring is tight or loose. If it's loose, you can get helper springs, or raise the ride height, or buy cheap Torrington bearings.
you can get a special socket which has a cut-out for the allen key (or some people make their own by modifying a socket with an angle grinder!)
Impact wrenches on dampers can be a bad idea apparently, but its only what I have heard..
Re: clunking, I think it is the dampers internals. I think they are just knackered - theyv'e seen 38k miles, after all. I have some play in the fron left wheel. After checking all the suspension joints I think it is play of the rod/piston inside the damper.