Knock in suspension

[r33GTS-t-200kw]

Hi all

I have been noticing a fairly solid knocking sound coming from what i think to be the front end. Any kind of bump it just knocks along the road. Has anyone had this before and what could it be. It may be the ball-joints or possibly sway-bar bushes but I was wondering if any of you knew what the problem maybe as possibly someones skyline out there has had the same problem

Cheers

[dangerous_daveo]

I have coilovers and one of the nuts on one of them keeps coming loose. Could be something simple as that, just a loose nut. (behind the wheel? sorry had to say it)

[Ronin 09]

could be any number of things... bushes worn, bolts loose... but I had a knock that was blown seals on the shockers

[GIGOLO]

Get a pedders suspension check for $14, which is good value considering it takes them almost an hour to look over all of the parts.

[r33GTS-t-200kw]

hahha very funny dave.. i have yet to get the car on the hoist at work so hopefully its something simple. I too have drift coil overs and hope it is a nut loose... well.. better check in case the ****in thing falls off

[SRG33]

If its only when you go over rough patches in the road then i have the same problem.. I recently replaced the bushes so im sure it wont be that.. either way gotta get it checked out..

Oh, and it doesnt help when u got a mate thats 200 odd kg sitting in the passenger seat... :spcartman

[konect]

Just been to pedders with the exact same probly described in the original post. (Except mine is mostly in the left rear, but also the other corners less noticably)

They were kind of vague about what the problem was exactly but seemed to think that it was the "top mounts" where the struts attach to the car. Seems there is a bearing or something in there that is gone (Apparently).

Anyways I am in the market for some new top mounts if anyone knows where I could get some ?

[Ronin 09]

They were kind of vague about what the problem was exactly but seemed to think that it was the "top mounts" where the struts attach to the car.  Seems there is a bearing or something in there that is gone (Apparently).

Do you have aftermarket struts? If so they're talking about the 'pillow ball' top mounts which are a metal bearing between the top hat and the strut itself. Non pillow ball has a rubber bush top and bottom as the bearing between the top hat and strut.

It will make a knocking noise when it is gone - imagine rocking a metal ball end inside a metal socket that is slightly too big for the ball - that's what it would be like

[r33GTS-t-200kw]

how do you go about replacing them?

[konect]

how do you go about replacing them?

Same question from me ?

BTW I have TEINs but im not sure what type as they were on the car when i got it.

Dont want to have to buy all new coilovers!

[Trust33]

for aftermarket strut repairs i would suggest sending them to www.shockreco.com.au

they can repair nearly every aftermarket shock on the market.

HTH.

P.S when i sent my hks shockies to them with the same knock sound that you are describing in the struts.They said the seals needed replacing.So i gave them a full reco For $140.00 ea shock.

somthing about them letting pressure past the seal in turn creating too much travel in the shock.

[R32_GTS-4]

my suspension came in the car when it was imported, its a brand i have never heard of b4, its ohlins, with one of those " above the o...has anyone heard of them, are they any good, i also have a sound comming from my front left hand side, even the smallest bump in the road causes a major sound, like bottoming out....anyone shed any light would be appreciated

[Ronin 09]

how do you go about replacing them?

The upper mount is the plate that holds the spring down, and then has the 2 bolts that go into the strut tower. A 'normal' upper mount is basically a disc of metal that is bolted to the shock absorber insert with a rubber bush on either side. A pillow ball mount has a metal bearing between the shock absorber insert and the metal disk. My car has std upper mount as below.

Top left corner, gold disc thingy:

If you find that it is the pillow ball mounts, you need to find a pair that fit skylines then:

*Pull out the strut (so you get the whole thing out like the pic)

*Compress the spring (or wind the height adjuster down all the way so the spring is no longer captive or compressed)

*Undo the top bolts that hold down the upper mount.

*The top mount / pillow ball will then slide off.

*Replace the top mount pillow ball with the new one and reverse the process

It's a little unclear, but I hope that helps. I may be changing my rear springs soon, if I do I'll take some pics of what I did

[Ronin 09]

my suspension came in the car when it was imported, its a brand i have never heard of b4, its ohlins, with one of those " above the o...has anyone heard of them, are they any good, i also have a sound comming from my front left hand side, even the smallest bump in the road causes a major sound, like bottoming out....anyone shed any light would be appreciated

Ohlins is a very well regarded brand.

Your problem sounds like a stuffed shocker - it has lost all damping and rebound capabilities and is blowing through it's travel and hitting the bump stops with the shock going straight up into the body. Otherwise you may get away with a blown seal on the shock

If it is the shock you will have to get that reconditioned by the sounds of it

A rudimentary test to see if it is the shock or suspension arms / components you could jack up that corner grab the wheel and try and push/pull the top of the wheel in, generally shake it and see if anything feels like it is knocking. If you can feel the wheel moving in a plane that is not up and down (along the stroke of normal up-down travel) or in the steering plane, then it may be a stuffed bush or joint.

I by no means am any sort of suspension expert but having blown a number of front shocks I can tell when they're not right!