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suspension clunk

Started by _Holdenmad_ , May 12 2007 07:13 PM

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14 replies to this topic

#1 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 12 May 2007 - 07:13 PM

My LH has a horrible clunk from the Left front suspension area when I go over bumpy ground or spoon drains. Unfortunately there is a spoon drain at each end of my street.
Closer inspection revealed the spring was making contact with the chasis frame where it passes thru. There were also rub marks on the spring to confirm this.

I decided to check the height of the front suspension on each side, since the car does have a slight lean on the drivers side. And no its not coz I am a fatty :tease:

The passenger (LH) side height was 59mm, which is correct. The drivers side (RH) was about 49mm, which is 10mm low.

Could the lower RH suspension be causing the rubbing problem on the LH suspension/chasis?

Any ideas from the Torana technical gurus? What should I do to fix the problem/

I am by no means a suspension specialist, unless it is a nitrogen/hydraulic fluid oleo system as found in aircraft :tease:

Would love to do the work myself if I can, but is it easier to fix suspension problems at the suspension mechanics?

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#2 rodomo

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Posted 12 May 2007 - 09:23 PM

Have a good look.
You might have a broken coil.

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#3 arrimar

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Posted 13 May 2007 - 09:01 PM

is the coil located properly in its upper housing?
about ten mm thick locator up inside the crossmember.

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#4 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 15 May 2007 - 09:25 PM

Will have to jack it to get a closer look. I will let you know what I find.

The odd part is that the clunk is on the side that has correct measurements. I suppose someone might have lowered it and done a dodgy job. I hope I don't find cut springs :blink:

Edited by Holdenmad, 15 May 2007 - 09:26 PM.

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#5 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 16 May 2007 - 09:06 AM

ok, got the car up high enough to get a really good look.
The passenger side, which clunks, is definitely the problem.

The spring has actually slipped from where it used to sit. I can see inside the cross member, it sits inside of the retaining lip, but there are marks from where the end of the spring used to sit outside of the lip.

Any ideas how best to get the spring back over the lip?
Do I take the weight off it, Spring compression tool to close it up and just move it?
Or should I leave it for the professionals?

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#6 TerrA LX

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Posted 16 May 2007 - 12:20 PM

^thats right, put the clamps on first to save screwing them up as much, use two, one each side of the spring where you can fit them in then jack the car up.
You got some axle stands or something to throw under the car while you are working on it?
Have a look while you are there to see if there is any damage that could have caused the spring to shift. Compare the opposite side if you have to.

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#7 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 16 May 2007 - 12:24 PM

Yeah I always use stands when I work under the car.
The other side looks pretty well the same, I had a look this morning.
I reckon the lip has been bent, which has allowed the spring to slip in.

I will let you all know how I go.

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#8 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 17 May 2007 - 09:18 PM

stinkin cars! :furious:

Got myself some coil spring compressor tools, but the mongrels dont fit. They are outside ones, and I need the type that goes inside the spring in place of the shock absorber.

Anyone know where I can buy one?

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#9 TerrA LX

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Posted 17 May 2007 - 09:21 PM

I use the outside ones always.

Are there different kinds?

Edited by ALX76, 17 May 2007 - 09:22 PM.

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#10 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 17 May 2007 - 09:45 PM

yeah, supercheap only had the outside ones. i.e. with two hooks on each end, making a total of four hooks. The outside ones are shaped to the curve of the spring's outside curve.
I also found that as I started doing them up, the thread or the hex head would end up rubbing on or hitting the spring or the crossmember.

How do you find using your ones ALX76? perhaps I am doing something wrong.
jacked car, wheel stands under, wheel off, compressors on. One end of the compressor grabs the spring and the other end grabs the wishbone, no where else for it to go.

Also found that coz the spring is not sitting where it should, as it compressed, part of the spring would compress down until it hit the crossmember. It would sit just up where the little horizontal lip is. The stinkin thing is so off course, that it prevents me even compressing the spring all the way.

If I compress the spring from inside, I should end up drawing the spring towards the middle, making it shorter than the space it sits in and alieviating my current dilemma. According to the gregory's manual, it should be done from the inside. I had figured it would be done from outside, but it just ont work for me.

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#11 TerrA LX

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Posted 17 May 2007 - 10:00 PM

I have only ever had the outside ones, like a long bolt with a hook each end.
Try fitting them before you jack the car, you only need compress them enough so you can move it into place.
You mentioned earlier that there was some damage that could have contributed to the spring shifting. How do you plan to address this?

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#12 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 18 May 2007 - 08:44 AM

Initially I had thought the lip was bent, but with the spring partially compressed It looked ok.
I reckon that whoever put the spring in, didn't do it with enuff care with regards to getting the top end into the retainers.
The only other option is that it had a big hit to the passenger front suspension, like running up a curb.

If there is any damage, I will have to replace the cross member. Here's hoping its not damaged. :blink:

I will be looking for a single hook each end type compression tool this arvo. Then fixing it hopefully.

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#13 Toranamat69

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Posted 18 May 2007 - 09:30 AM

I posted a contact ages ago when Chopper was looking for an inside set of spring compressors - it was a place down in Melbourne that made them. I am trying to remember their name - it is on the tip of my tongue.

Alternatively a bit of high tensile bukka rod with some nuts and steel plates would do the job as well.

M@

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#14 arrimar

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Posted 18 May 2007 - 04:27 PM

get a 6 ft crow bar and just lever it down while a mate kicks it into position.

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#15 _Holdenmad_

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Posted 18 May 2007 - 09:26 PM

Got hold of one of those single hook type compressors. Put it inside the spring. Once I got it compressed a fair bit, it aligned itself and I backed it off and it was all good.
Car is nice and smooth over bumps now. Steering doesn't pull over bumps and steering is a lot lighter.

All happy now.