I have a rattle from my front shocks/tyres/brakes when I hit a bump. Its kind of embarrassing to the point where I replaced the shocks with KYB's last weekend. This did not completely eradicate the noise but it did make a fair improvement as the shocks were fairly buggered anyway.

When we did the shocks we also inspected the spring insulators and bump stops and they appear OK as the bump stops are only ~6 months old, 9 at most.

When I got my "alignment" done during the week (wont go into this saga) I mentioned the rattle and they said theyd have a look. They checked all the bushes etc and said they couldnt find anything at fault, but they definitely could hear the sound as they commented on it. So basically I paid for them to do SFA.

Upon inspection of the car myself I can find a couple of things that may have something to do with it

- No hub locator rings installed (the things that go inside the center bore on aftermarket rims to make it sit properly on the hub)

- Brake calipers rattle, able to be moved quite easily by hand. I have tightened every bolt in the vicinity but I cant seem to make it stop. I checked on BJ31OS's TF and they are able to move a teensy bit but nothing like mine.

- Brake rotor able to be moved in/out when there is no tyre/rim attached. I dont know whether this is normal as I have never really pulled at a rotor while the tyre is off.

Any ideas? Any of this normal? Because I have resorted to driving with the windows up because the noise is just plain ****ing embarrassing.

- Brake calipers rattle, able to be moved quite easily by hand. I have tightened every bolt in the vicinity but I cant seem to make it stop. I checked on BJ31OS's TF and they are able to move a teensy bit but nothing like mine.



Do the calipers have pad shims installed?




- Brake rotor able to be moved in/out when there is no tyre/rim attached. I dont know whether this is normal as I have never really pulled at a rotor while the tyre is off.



This is normal. As there's nothing holding the rotor against the hub, a bit of movement is normal. Does the rotor slide out uniformly, or does it rock at an angle when you pull on it?

Do the calipers have pad shims installed?



This is normal. As there's nothing holding the rotor against the hub, a bit of movement is normal. Does the rotor slide out uniformly, or does it rock at an angle when you pull on it?

I will have to check both of these tomorrow afternoon. Will advise.

I think I have the same problem. Dont think having the windows up or down makes much of a difference, but the suspension is quite noisy over bumps, kinda sounds like the wheels might be loose. I reckon its either the suspension bushes or some people have replaced something on top of the springs or struts, cant remember exactly, like an insualtor or top plate or something, and they reckon it stopped the noise. Let us know if you find the problem, im just hoping to replace the whole let when I get new suspension down the track.

Ollie

Dont think having the windows up or down makes much of a difference

Sure does make a difference: I cant hear the stupid rattle.

I have a metal sounding rattle from the brake region when I hit bumps or go over rough roads ever since I changed my front brake pads. At first I thought it was loose calipers but they were tight. Then I thought it could be the brake pads themselves jumping inside the caliper housing if that is even possible. Then I didn't worry about it and like you keep my windows up around traffic. But now that veradabeat has mentioned it, it is probably the lack of anti squeal pads. With mine, the noise goes away if I press the brake pedal (even very slightly) and also when I am driving in the rain. So, it could be that maybe?

- No hub locator rings installed (the things that go inside the center bore on aftermarket rims to make it sit properly on the hub)

This one's pretty serious if the rims dont fit the hubs, means the studs are taking the weight of the car.

Considering how well the "alignment" went how well do you think they checked the spring insulators? Very possible your coils are touching over bumps considering how low it is.

Considering how well the "alignment" went how well do you think they checked the spring insulators? Very possible your coils are touching over bumps considering how low it is.


Very well, because we did the springs ourselves.

- No hub locator rings installed (the things that go inside the center bore on aftermarket rims to make it sit properly on the hub)
if the rims fit the hub nicely they wouldn't need to use them. i have a similar sound and it definately isn't caused by the rims since my rims sit snuggle on the centre bore. there is probably only 0.1mm movement as i had to bore them out so that you didn't need a crowbar to get the rim off.

hmmmmm

if you still have this problem, can u check the top strut nut to see if it is loose or not. Even if it is not loose, the spring still may not be located properly in the strut housing. Causing to hear a knocking noise over small bumps as such.

Oops, forgot about this thread.

Well a rattle gun to the strut top nut didn't solve anything.

Ive actually nailed it down to the brakes, when I have my foot on the brake pedal (even just the lightest touch) the noise goes away.

I really CBF investigating it, I think Ill just pay somebody, cars are so much less interesting to work on when I cant smoke cigarettes.

Oops, forgot about this thread.

Well a rattle gun to the strut top nut didn't solve anything.

Ive actually nailed it down to the brakes, when I have my foot on the brake pedal (even just the lightest touch) the noise goes away.

I really CBF investigating it, I think Ill just pay somebody, cars are so much less interesting to work on when I cant smoke cigarettes.

I've been chasing the exact same noise.... I have low (maybe superlow??) pedders sports ryder springs/shocks.
The noise is when the coil touches itself when being compressed.
Didn't do it in the rain, or when under brakes...even when going around corners helped the noise too.

I changed the little rubber pads on the top and bottom of the springs, checked the insulators all ok...
All calipers jiggle a little bit.. as for the rotors, once you tighten the wheel nuts the rotor will seat and will not move....

Get some grease,and a rag.... jack the car up and take the wheel off the offending side.... have a look with a torch where the spring's coils touch themselves... easy cos' the might come up as a little rusty.. clean these spots and apply a little grease... pay particular attention to the very first coil that sit's at the bottom of the strut.... where that rubs on the first winding of the spring... clean and grease that up.

NOTE: apply the grease sparingly. if you slap on half a kilo of the stuff it's gonna get real messy... use just enough to coat the rubbing surfaces.....

Put the car back together and take for a spin.... if the noise goes... you can either keep doing this or get your springs "coil wrapped" That's what pedders calls it... I think it's like a tape they wrap the coil in to stop the noises....

*edited to say* I did that to my car late last week and it's stopped the noises. I just bought the standard suspension off rodpolky and I'm going to purchase some coil wrap from pedders and I'll use the pedders springs and the standard shocks/struts to soften things up a little. I'll wrap my coils up when everythings apart.....

I chased this Godaweful noise for a few weeks....sounded like the front end was gonna fall off any day,
I knew it was the strut.... give it a shot on yours and lets us know what happens...

BTW: I smoke like a chimney and find working on cars blows even with beer/burbon in hand and a fresh pack of smokes...
If you're off them don't ever go back... smoking sucks when it controls people... :rant: <-- I'm like this little guy without a smoke....
Thankyou for that community message....:nuts:

Steve

Coil wrap - pah - they use the same stuff to keep cables for computers organised, costs less too :)

Its just nylon spiral wrap, cheap as chips, available in black or white nylon.

Coil wrap - pah - they use the same stuff to keep cables for computers organised, costs less too :)

Its just nylon spiral wrap, cheap as chips, available in black or white nylon.

Where would I pick some up in town man?

Jaycar Electronics - 230 Maitland Road, Newcastle West

They call it spiral binding - Get it in 12mm dia IIRC, clear (cat HP-1219) or black (cat HP1222) your choice, $6.15 for 1.5m - more than enough for your front springs.

Cheers
Heath Young

Jaycar Electronics - 230 Maitland Road, Newcastle West

They call it spiral binding - Get it in 12mm dia IIRC, clear (cat HP-1219) or black (cat HP1222) your choice, $6.15 for 1.5m - more than enough for your front springs.

Cheers
Heath Young

Cheers man, Ill grab some tomorrow.

EDIT: Actually, I just borrowed the boss' bike and went for a ride up the street.

Coil wrap - pah - they use the same stuff to keep cables for computers organised, costs less too :)

Its just nylon spiral wrap, cheap as chips, available in black or white nylon.

Thankyou for letting me know that!!

Never seen the stuff so I wouldn't know....... but hey.... good to know..
Off to Jaycar I go!!!

Steve

If you're off them don't ever go back... smoking sucks when it controls people... :rant: <-- I'm like this little guy without a smoke....
Thankyou for that community message....:nuts:


Ive been clean for 10 days now. :)

Ive been clean for 10 days now. :)

Brilliant..... you've got it in the bag if you can do 10 days..... I couldn't do 3 days..
The only time I went for any length of time was a week and that was only after being off my face on morphine after having my shoulder reconstructed after a BMX crash....

Anyhoo keep it up.....

Steve

Coil wrap - pah - they use the same stuff to keep cables for computers organised, costs less too :)

Its just nylon spiral wrap, cheap as chips, available in black or white nylon.

Quick question so i don't end up buying 600 metres..... for those that know where exactly do you wrap them.....??
I'm thinking....
Only where the coils touch and the top and bottom faces to stop the spring holder having metal to metal contact...

Is that sounding right??

Steve

Yep, pretty much. Just take off the tyre to get to the spring (duh) and wind it around. You wont need much.

Update:

Did this trick yesterday, as well as put some shims on the brake pads and some anti seqeal glue and now the front of the car is silent.

Thanks to everybody who suggested everything, and im sooooo happy the noise is gone now :)