Front end noise after lowering CX-5

[dls4523]

Good Day All,

I lowered my 2015 CX-5 GT a couple months back on H&R springs, with stock shocks. All has been well and i like the ride and look of the vehicle, but more lately I am noticing a slight knock/thump noise while turning the steering wheel at low speed. For example, i always hear it when i back out of my driveway, put the car in drive, turn the wheel and start to proceed on the road, or when turning slowly in a parking lot/space for example. I haven't pulled the wheels off yet to check everything, but I know I got the springs seated in the rubber "holders" properly, and pretty sure everything was torqued down properly at install. I also had a full alignment done. Is there anything specific that I need to check? Sometimes it sounds like a single light knock, and sometimes it is more of a light double or triple knock sound from the front end, and have only noticed it at very slow speeds when turning (<5 mph).

THanks in advance!

 

[paris1]

I have noticed something similar on my H&R lowered 2013 Touring. Generally, when the car has been sitting for a while and I back out of my garage and then put it in drive I get a little "pop" from one end or the other. It sounds to me like something in the suspension is reseating itself after being disturbed from its steady-state sitting idle for a period of time. The same thing can occur when the car has been parked in a lot for a couple of hours and I back out of the parking place and then proceed forward. It seems to be resettling on its suspension and won't do it again until it has sat idle for a period of time. It may have something to do with a slight change in geometry caused by the 1.5" (average) drop, but then again I've had cars that have made similar sounds with no suspension mods, so I've chosen to ignore it. I've had the H&Rs on for about 10k miles now and, other than a bit of expected inner tire wear from the resulting negative camber, I have not had any problems with the setup. Since you seem to be noticing it more from the front than I do, I would check to be sure your top shock bolts (especially the actual shock rod/collar bolt) are properly torqued. Other than that, I would just keep a close eye on things.

 

[CX-5um]

My understanding is that:

Lowering springs on stock shocks = short lifespan of stock shocks.

 

[paris1]

My understanding is that:

Lowering springs on stock shocks = short lifespan of stock shocks.

I've never seen any proof of that. As long as the shocks aren't bottoming out (and with only a 1.5" drop on a vehicle with this much wheel travel, that's hardly the case), the shock is just operating in a slightly different range of its travel and I don't think that's a problem. I guess I'll find out if I keep the car long enough!

 

[tibimakai]

Steering maxed out to the left?

 

[dls4523]

I have noticed something similar on my H&R lowered 2013 Touring. Generally, when the car has been sitting for a while and I back out of my garage and then put it in drive I get a little "pop" from one end or the other. It sounds to me like something in the suspension is reseating itself after being disturbed from its steady-state sitting idle for a period of time. The same thing can occur when the car has been parked in a lot for a couple of hours and I back out of the parking place and then proceed forward. It seems to be resettling on its suspension and won't do it again until it has sat idle for a period of time. It may have something to do with a slight change in geometry caused by the 1.5" (average) drop, but then again I've had cars that have made similar sounds with no suspension mods, so I've chosen to ignore it. I've had the H&Rs on for about 10k miles now and, other than a bit of expected inner tire wear from the resulting negative camber, I have not had any problems with the setup. Since you seem to be noticing it more from the front than I do, I would check to be sure your top shock bolts (especially the actual shock rod/collar bolt) are properly torqued. Other than that, I would just keep a close eye on things.

THanks i will check the strut bolts this week. Is there anything that needs to be "lubed" that I removed while installing the new springs? I remember it was only a matter of removing a few bolts to install the springs, but who knows...

 

[dls4523]

Steering maxed out to the left?

Not necessarily. I did see that TSB in another thread. Mine seems to do it when turning either way and not maxed out, so I am guessing it is not the same issue.

 

[paris1]

THanks i will check the strut bolts this week. Is there anything that needs to be "lubed" that I removed while installing the new springs? I remember it was only a matter of removing a few bolts to install the springs, but who knows...

Not really; it really is a pretty simple swap as you recall. I remember the only thing that concerned me at all was the fact that I did not have the proper tools to be able to torque the top shock bolt to 50# (as I recall). But I got it pretty damned tight, so I figured I couldn't be too far off and with 25% of the vehicle weight (or thereabouts) on that corner, I didn't figure it was likely to loosen up. I have checked it once since the install. BTW, as I was driving around today I did notice that I do hear a few more suspension noises than I indicated earlier, but nothing that I would consider alarming. And I'm pretty anal about things automotive. So I kinda' think you may be overthinking this a little bit. But do check that top bolt when you can.

 

[MidwestCX5]

Good Day All,

I lowered my 2015 CX-5 GT a couple months back on H&R springs, with stock shocks. All has been well and i like the ride and look of the vehicle, but more lately I am noticing a slight knock/thump noise while turning the steering wheel at low speed. For example, i always hear it when i back out of my driveway, put the car in drive, turn the wheel and start to proceed on the road, or when turning slowly in a parking lot/space for example. I haven't pulled the wheels off yet to check everything, but I know I got the springs seated in the rubber "holders" properly, and pretty sure everything was torqued down properly at install. I also had a full alignment done. Is there anything specific that I need to check? Sometimes it sounds like a single light knock, and sometimes it is more of a light double or triple knock sound from the front end, and have only noticed it at very slow speeds when turning (<5 mph).

THanks in advance!

I experience this noise daily in my CX-5 with no suspension modifications. I notice it at low speeds because it's not drowned out by the wind noise, but it probably continues to make the noise at high speeds.

 

[CX-5um]

I've never seen any proof of that. As long as the shocks aren't bottoming out (and with only a 1.5" drop on a vehicle with this much wheel travel, that's hardly the case), the shock is just operating in a slightly different range of its travel and I don't think that's a problem. I guess I'll find out if I keep the car long enough!

I hope that is the case as I would like to lower my Mazda6. I read this from tirerack:

Myth 1: If I buy lowering springs, I can't use my original shocks.

Fact: Springs that produce mild lowering of about an inch work well with newer factory shocks. In fact, Eibach's Pro-Kit Spring Set and even their more aggressive Sportline Spring Set are designed around a vehicle's original suspension.

Myth 2: I will need an expensive alignment kit if I install lowering springs on my car.

Fact: According to Eibach, a leader in spring engineering and production, most vehicles do not require an alignment kit after installing a set of lowering springs that result in mild lowering of about an inch.

Myth 3: Lowering my vehicle will hurt the ride quality of the car and make it ride like a truck.

Fact: Some spring sets, like the Eibach Pro-Kit, are designed to maintain much of the car's original suspension travel distance and are only about 15% higher in spring rate to preserve quality.

Myth 4: Lowering springs will sag and settle in, making the car too low to be practical.

Fact: High quality springs from H&R and Eibach are pre-compressed down to full coil bind and tested before they are shipped. They do not sag. In fact, Eibach warranties their springs for one million miles.

Myth 5: Upgrading my vehicle's suspension with lowering springs is expensive.

Fact: The price of lowering a vehicle can be as inexpensive as a set of lowering springs, plus the cost of installation. For current pricing of lowering springs for your vehicle, check out our suspension page.


http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/make-...bout-using-lowering-springs-to-lower-your-car

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I went over 70000 mi combined on h&r's stock shocks no issues. low speed clunk or thump might also be from an endlink binding.

 

[CX-5um]

I went over 70000 mi combined on h&r's stock shocks no issues. low speed clunk or thump might also be from an endlink binding.

Thanks for reporting. All I want to do is minimize wheel/fender gap. Minimizing brake body dipping would be extra gravy. I don't have the budget for springs/shocks or legit coilovers. So Lowering springs is the most I'd do.