Weird Rattling in the Rear after Bilstein Installation.

[Setheronie]

So after I installed my Bilstein's I have a sound coming from both sides in the rear trunk area.
I've checked the spare tire, tow wench, jack and sway bar and it's not those.
I'm pretty sure I did my rear springs right, they are pretty tight I have no idea what it is. A friend said it could be my exhaust but it's on both sides. (and my exhaust doesn't make noise when I move it.)
I've got under the rear and pushed down on it to see if I hear it from the springs and nothing. (braindead)

It must be the springs causing the noise but no idea what it is. Maybe the adjusters on the top of the springs touching the body. . But I have washers there so it's not metal on metal and wouldn't think it's causing noise. I don't have a second black adjuster (seen in picture) like the front do so maybe it's that? idk. thoughts and comments appreciated.

 

[lawyer4speed]

not directly related to your Deuce. On my '90 Miata I put on Bilsteins and it made some noise for a while too. A weird clunking sound. Took it all apart, and had a friend who is a mechanic put it in. Same noise. Noise then went away after about 5k mi and no problems so far (including now a dozen-ish autox's and about 20K miles).

Perhaps wait and see a bit?

-L

So after I installed my Bilstein's I have a sound coming from both sides in the rear trunk area.
I've checked the spare tire, tow wench, jack and sway bar and it's not those.
I'm pretty sure I did my rear springs right, they are pretty tight I have no idea what it is. A friend said it could be my exhaust but it's on both sides. (and my exhaust doesn't make noise when I move it.)
I've got under the rear and pushed down on it to see if I hear it from the springs and nothing. (braindead)

It must be the springs causing the noise but no idea what it is. Maybe the adjusters on the top of the springs touching the body. . But I have washers there so it's not metal on metal and wouldn't think it's causing noise. I don't have a second black adjuster (seen in picture) like the front do so maybe it's that? idk. thoughts and comments appreciated.

 

[zps2004]

yea on mine the springs would have to take the right set when I first got them. I could just jack up the chassis in the rear to let the wheels droop and I would just jiggle the springs around then let it back down and it would be fine. I haven't had the same sound since. I think that the top mounts are pretty solid with the chassis so if the springs aren't just sitting right they make some sound.

 

[Setheronie]

Hmm, too Late, already took it apart right now. Lolll
Because I did notice in the instructions the OE rubber peice on the bottom of the springs In the rear looks like the same OE piece on the top of the front springs you don't use anymore. I tried Fitting it but doesn't seem to fit. :\
Maybe there's a rubber piece that needs to be on the bottom of the spring in the rear instead of the plastic piece you can pop out. I bought these used so idk if I have everything and the instructions are in a different language for the most part so not much of a help except for the pictures.

 

[Setheronie]

Oh ok, I did try moving the springs around but didn't seem to help. Thanks for the replies guys! I was going to lower the back a little more anyway. :3

 

[genericmoniker]

Can you take a pic of the bottom of that arm for me? Sometimes the spring pops out of the little notch it's supposed to be in.

 

[jasyatz]

Try wrapping the lowest bottom coil ( half coil) with a split heater hose. Also I had a creak from the upper rubber isolater above the alloy perch to the spring seat in the body of the car. Lubed it up with a bit of Syl Glide and all is well.

Is you noise metallic or more of a frog croaking kind of noise?

 

[Setheronie]

Hmmmm... It's more of a... metallic-ish..
I'll get back to you. I think I might have fixed it by changing the height and moved the springs differently.
Working all weekend so won't have time to reply but will definitely be driving and let you guys know more then.

*in the meantime* I don't have a coilover wrench to adjust my height without taking it all apart. Anybody have good recommendations for purchasing one/right size for Bilstein's?

 

[zps2004]

If you can't turn it by hand just jack up the rear and unbolt the bottom of the shock, the beam should twist allowing you to adjust it by hand.

 

[DanR]

Yup, I installed these 2 weekends ago and had the same problem. Mostly from one side. So I look at the position of the spring on the side that was not making noise and rotated the one that was making noise to the same position. It is dependant on where the end of the coil is relative to the OEM plastic piece in the bottom, The end of the springs are about at the 3 o'clock position. You will know when you have them in the right spot. The noise is will be gone. BTW, were is GA are you? I am in Marietta.

 

[zps2004]

I am close to you. I am near Clemson.

 

[Setheronie]

Yeah, that's what I did zps. Except I unbolted both of them at the same time and both the springs and adjusters just fell out lol.

Thanks Danr! I think that's what I did and I don't hear it. *yay*
I'm in Covington Ga. I work in Atlanta.

 

[DanR]

Setheronie, I meant to ask you how you like the RB muffler. How is the sound? Did you notice any performance gain?
Thanks,
Dan