In the last few days my rear suspension has become quite noisy. It 'thumps' & knocks over any and every bump or hole, no matter how small.

I fitted Kings springs about 30,000k ago, superlows at the front and lows at the rear.

I fitted a Selby 26mm rear sway bar a few weeks ago, and it creaked & groaned a bit at very low speed after a week or two, once the water based fitting lube evaporated away. I think it's the nolathane bushes. I haven't done anything about it and now it's a bit better, the creaks & groans are quieter. I suspect the warmer weather is the reason.

I've since found that my right rear damper is leaking fluid. Not a lot but noticable. It seems to work OK, still seems nice and hard & no 'bounce' when I press down on the right rear corner.

The handling is still good.

I've read that stock 380 dampers don't fare very well with lowered springs, and give up the ghost after about 30,000km.

So I'm trying to figure out what is the cause of the suddenly noisy rear suspension.

Is it the dampers?

Is it the Selby sway bar?

Is it the Kings springs?

Is it some combination of these?

My money is on the dampers. I'm guessing that the combination of Kings springs & the Selby rear sway bar has tightened up the rear end more than the stock dampers were designed for and they are on the way out.

I'm already talking to Shawn from Philcom about new dampers.

Thoughts, advice & experiences much appreciated.

KJ.

KJ I have done 45000KM with the King Lows in the rear & the Selby bar is on mine with no problems. I do have the firmer VRX dampers though which may be better. If yours are leaking oil I'd say it is time to upgrade anyway.

Hi KJ ,yeah I have A bit of a knock from the left rear when going over speed bumps or sharp bumps in the road.But its just the left,is yours coming form just one side or does the whole rear sounds noisy?

Hi KJ ,yeah I have A bit of a knock from the left rear when going over speed bumps or sharp bumps in the road.But its just the left,is yours coming form just one side or does the whole rear sounds noisy?

To start with I was getting more noise from the right than the left, now it's much the same both sides. Another reason why I reckon it's most likely stuffed dampers, with the right damper deteriorating earlier/worse than the left.

KJ.

To start with I was getting more noise from the right than the left, now it's much the same both sides. Another reason why I reckon it's most likely stuffed dampers, with the right damper deteriorating earlier/worse than the left.

KJ.

Yeah,reckon you could be right.It would be very unusual for both shockers to go at the same time,one always seems to go before the other.I notice you mentioned Philcom,what replacements you thinking of using?I guess we'll all be needing them sometime!

Dampers definitely mate. Look at getting some Koni reds all round.

Yeah,reckon you could be right.It would be very unusual for both shockers to go at the same time,one always seems to go before the other.I notice you mentioned Philcom,what replacements you thinking of using?I guess we'll all be needing them sometime!

Shawn is looking to source some Boges. If he can't, then looks like my only option is KYB Excel-Gs, as they seem to be the only after-market dampers for a 380 around at the moment. Not real 'sporting' but apparently similar to VRX/GT dampers.

Disciple - not sure about Koni reds, maybe a little hard core and/or exxy for my tastes. Any idae of price? (all four).

KJ.

Shawn is looking to source some Boges. If he can't, then looks like my only option is KYB Excel-Gs, as they seem to be the only after-market dampers for a 380 around at the moment. Not real 'sporting' but apparently similar to VRX/GT dampers.

Disciple - not sure about Koni reds, maybe a little hard core and/or exxy for my tastes. Any idae of price? (all four).

KJ.

Not sure on price, but they aren't hardcore by any means. They were standard fitment to Ralliart Magnas and my old one rode beautifully. I remember replacing my rear shocks and at trade price they were around $250 each.

I created this thread here which might be a good read. I finally nutted my issue out and it was coil clash but yours may be a different problem... Still worth a read though.

I created this thread here which might be a good read. I finally nutted my issue out and it was coil clash but yours may be a different problem... Still worth a read though.

Thanks mate, now I've read the thread I'm thinking this could be my problem, partly due to the dampers being knackered.

Where you say "So they applied the magical tape around a single loop of the coils each side and presto, she is a fixed!", what magical tape is this? The Dick Smith cable shield or something else?

And if I could get some of this magical tape, is it an easy DIY job to apply it or do I need to take the springs out first?

KJ.

Its some sort of thick electrical tape (over 1mm thick). I would suggest calling a suspension place and asking what it is. Maybe Suspension City in Melb where i took mine to. Just call and ask what the tape is called that you use to stop coil clash.

its a form of insultation tape, the guys that did my springs for my TL applied some just in case the coils clash, the factory springs have them as well, I'd say your nearby suspension place would have some, they probably try not to use if where possible to save on time and money. To some business it all about time and money, not quality and money.

Ripped the rear wheels off today and had a close look at the springs.

The top three coils both sides show definite evidence of hitting together - scarred on the upper & lower faces. Only the top three coils, which sit much closer together than the other coils.

Couldn't locate any of the 'magic' tape, so as an experiment I bought some thick cloth tape and liberally applied it to the upper & lower faces of the top three coils on both sides.

Fail.

Didn't make any difference at all, if anything the 'clonking' noise when going over any sort of bump or hole was even worse!

I reckon the obvious signs of coil clash are from when I have the car really loaded up (like last weekend) and I hit a large bump or depression at speed. With no load in the back the coils don't clash, and the clonking noise is caused by something else. The noise also doesn't sound metallic enough to me to be coil clash, it's a really dull clonk, like a cross between a thump and a creak. And there is no jolt, just noise.

I'll try another experiment tomorrow. First, I'll shove plenty of copper grease into/around the sway bar bushes.

If that doesn't work I'll take the sway bar off. And consider putting the stock bar back on.

If that doesn't work that pretty much leaves the dampers as the culprits.

KJ.

Problem solvered!

As usual, it was nothing complicated.

It was simply that the four nuts holding the tie ends or links (or whatever they are called!) on were loose. Three of them slightly loose, one very loose almost ready to fall off.

Took the bushes off and coated them with copper grease anyway, seems to have got rid of the low speed squeaks as well.

Right side damper seems to have stopped leaking too.

All good now.

The moral of the story is first check the obvious - loose nuts, bolt or connections.

KJ.