Notices

Struts dead.. time for coilovers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 25, 2012, 08:01 AM
  #1  
Evolving Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Jcusco407's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Central FL/ 305
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Struts dead.. time for coilovers

My front right strut has been making some noise since about two months after I lowered the car. I got tired of the noise and took it to get it checked out to make sure it was the strut. The mechanic told me I need to replace the strut, tower and bearing on the front right side. I got quoted for 600 for that and labor. Seems a little ridiculous and I'm most likely gonna go with some coilovers. Would the new set fix the noise? I doubt the bearing is making much noise. And how crucial is it to change the bearing?
Thanks
Old Jul 25, 2012, 08:15 AM
  #2  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Veronica's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Chesapeake Beach, MD
Posts: 2,624
Received 33 Likes on 32 Posts
Originally Posted by Jcusco407
My front right strut has been making some noise since about two months after I lowered the car. I got tired of the noise and took it to get it checked out to make sure it was the strut. The mechanic told me I need to replace the strut, tower and bearing on the front right side. I got quoted for 600 for that and labor. Seems a little ridiculous and I'm most likely gonna go with some coilovers. Would the new set fix the noise? I doubt the bearing is making much noise. And how crucial is it to change the bearing?
Thanks
A better question is 'which ONE is bad'?
They didn't all fail. The mechanic sounds like an idiot.

No oil leaking, no 'jouncy ride' = strut is fine. Noise (clunking) can be end links loose or, less likely, is the strut bearing.

First thing to do is check the torque on the top nut on the strut and shake the end link!
Old Jul 25, 2012, 09:43 AM
  #3  
Evolving Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Jcusco407's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Central FL/ 305
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Veronica
A better question is 'which ONE is bad'?
They didn't all fail. The mechanic sounds like an idiot.

No oil leaking, no 'jouncy ride' = strut is fine. Noise (clunking) can be end links loose or, less likely, is the strut bearing.

First thing to do is check the torque on the top nut on the strut and shake the end link!
Supposedly he was the mitsubishi specialist at my dealer and I had it checked out at another place where they really were idiots. Both of the nuts on the top of the struts are at the same threading and i don't have impact tools to tighten them at home anyways.
Thanks for the help by the way, don't know much about suspensions
I just took a video of the noise that I'm gonna try to put up now

EDIT: here is the video
the ticking is the boost controller... everything else is the suspension

Last edited by Jcusco407; Jul 25, 2012 at 10:05 AM.
Old Jul 25, 2012, 10:12 AM
  #4  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (2)
 
nunyas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, TN
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you don't need impact tools to tighten the top nuts on your struts. In fact, impact wrenches will more than likely over tighten them. A torque wrench is what you should use when you tighten those nuts.
Old Jul 25, 2012, 10:12 AM
  #5  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (15)
 
rcheung's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
The strut tower is the welded plate that the strut mount goes through . I think (hope) he meant strut mount or its going to be alot more work.
Old Jul 25, 2012, 02:48 PM
  #6  
Evolving Member
 
stfuad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If a bearing is loose and fails completely the only thing holding the wheel to the car is the axle nut. You need to jack the car up and shake down your front suspension.
Old Jul 26, 2012, 05:54 AM
  #7  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (15)
 
rcheung's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by stfuad
If a bearing is loose and fails completely the only thing holding the wheel to the car is the axle nut. You need to jack the car up and shake down your front suspension.
I think he is referring to the strut mount bearing, not the wheel bearing.
Old Jul 26, 2012, 08:53 AM
  #8  
Evolving Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Jcusco407's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Central FL/ 305
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rcheung
I think he is referring to the strut mount bearing, not the wheel bearing.
I'm pretty sure it would be the strut bearing because theres no noise due to rolling, only when the balance changes or I'm turning
Old Jul 26, 2012, 09:01 AM
  #9  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Veronica's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Chesapeake Beach, MD
Posts: 2,624
Received 33 Likes on 32 Posts
Originally Posted by Jcusco407
I'm pretty sure it would be the strut bearing because theres no noise due to rolling, only when the balance changes or I'm turning
^ah. Okay. Strut bearing makes sense.

Unless you are high mileage on the struts (due anyway (or soon) ) i would not change them yet - should still be good.
Old Jul 26, 2012, 09:47 AM
  #10  
Evolving Member
iTrader: (1)
 
p1llar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
About 6 weeks after lowering my car I got an awful clunking/creeking noise from my front right strut. Ended up being a bad strut mount, was replaced under warranty!
Old Jul 27, 2012, 05:39 AM
  #11  
Evolving Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Jcusco407's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Central FL/ 305
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
They won't replace anything under warranty since I was lowered when I took the car in... my dealership is not very mod friendly..
My question is, will getting a set of coil overs replace these parts that are causing problems? I don't really see a point in buying a new strut for one corner of the car if the others are worn down and could need repair soon. Especially since I am lowered, the stock struts have a more limited life anyway.
Old Jul 27, 2012, 12:45 PM
  #12  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Veronica's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Chesapeake Beach, MD
Posts: 2,624
Received 33 Likes on 32 Posts
Originally Posted by Jcusco407
They won't replace anything under warranty since I was lowered when I took the car in... my dealership is not very mod friendly..
No, they should cover something like this - you really did change the stresses on the strut/suspension by lowering and it was performed by a non- mechanic.



My question is, will getting a set of coil overs replace these parts that are causing problems?
You already have lowering springs - just replace the struts if needed. Do all four at the same time. Then get an alignment. And you still need new strut bearings.



I don't really see a point in buying a new strut for one corner of the car if the others are worn down and could need repair soon. Especially since I am lowered, the stock struts have a more limited life anyway.
See above.
Old Apr 6, 2013, 10:52 PM
  #13  
Newbie
iTrader: (1)
 
Rex87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If I install lowering springs, how long could I expect the stock struts to last before they break and need to be replaced?
Old Apr 7, 2013, 08:08 PM
  #14  
Evolved Member
iTrader: (7)
 
03chi-town0Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Burbs, Chicago, IL
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
I have been lowered on RRM springs for like 3 years now, I think, and I have had to replace 1 strut due to piston seal rupture/leaking. I'm sure the rest are not as efficient as they once were, but they are still holding up.
Old Apr 8, 2013, 06:12 AM
  #15  
Newbie
iTrader: (1)
 
Rex87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Toronto, ON
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3 years sounds like a decent amount of time. How do you tell when your strut needs to be replaced, and is it something that needs to repaired ASAP?

As well, does anyone with Eibach Sportlines have an approximate strut lifespan after install?


Quick Reply: Struts dead.. time for coilovers



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:27 AM.