14 replies to this topic

[beadgc23]

So...this year I've done the following -
Replaced at purchase - axles, control arms, rotors, all engine mounts
This summer - struts, springs, spring seats, end links, inner & outer tie rods (in order), alignments along the way. Everything is torqued to spec and seems good. All parts are Volvo, IPD, Bilstein or Kilen (springs)
What I'm experiencing now is a gentle clunk, apparently from under the center of the car level with my feet, most apparent in stop & go traffic when I apply the brakes extra firmly. It's more felt than heard, and is definitely not localized at either wheel, it's like the whole suspension is making the sound, and again its quite soft & gentle, not a hard "clonk". It doesn't happen when I brake in reverse. No other noises when turning, accelerating or highway braking.

It appeared just after I installed the IPD HD end links. Sway bar is stock (it's about all that's left that is... ) and the bushings are looking kind of old & grungy but there are no obvious cracks.

Anyone had something similar or have a suggestion as to where I should look next?

[ryan850-t5]

If the sway bar mounts that may be the cause, however I would suspect the strut mounts first.

I replaced everything like except for the spring seats because I read that those don't usually go bad, however 15k later I hear a clunking, I pull everything out and the spring seats are shot.

I should have just replaced everything the first time.

[FCP Groton]

ryan850-t5, on 13 November 2009 - 02:13 AM, said:

I replaced everything like except for the spring seats because I read that those don't usually go bad, however 15k later I hear a clunking, I pull everything out and the spring seats are shot.

Who told you that the spring seats don't go bad. They seem to go bad more often then the strut mounts do.

Anyway, I had a clunk like this and it was the swaybar endlink. So I would not rule them out.

[7 VII 7]

FCP Groton, on 13 November 2009 - 03:35 PM, said:

Who told you that the spring seats don't go bad. They seem to go bad more often then the strut mounts do.

Anyway, I had a clunk like this and it was the swaybar endlink. So I would not rule them out.

hmmm...

I have a creak/clunk from my front left wheel well. I am not sure if it is my spring seat or another component either.

[Jaxx]

do you hear it while at speed doing 'aggressive' lane changes? When the weight of the car transfer from one side to the other?

[beadgc23]

Jaxx, on 15 November 2009 - 09:14 PM, said:

do you hear it while at speed doing 'aggressive' lane changes? When the weight of the car transfer from one side to the other?

Nope - it was most apparent in stop & go traffic when braking sharply. A quiet "ker-lunk". Having said that, I went from 125k sachs struts & shocks + OEM springs + original oem sway bar links to bilstein TC struts/shocks + Kilen (FCP) springs + IPD sway bar links + a new set of Volvo inner & outer tie rods (bank balance is still complaining!) so the ride is 100% different and I'm still getting used to it.

Anyway, I pulled the wheels today and checked the torque on all the nuts/bolts I'd touched. The strut mounts were not so tight (not loose exactly, but...) - re-torqued and haven't noticed it since. Will report back. Stiffer struts & lowering springs really hammer anything that isn't new.

Steering is now next to perfect - two fingers on the wheel is sufficient and I find myself taking "difficult" corners at unreasonable speeds Lane changes are not problematic at all, noise free.

[Pops Racer]

A bit OT, but how did you like the Kilen springs?

[7 VII 7]

WINGNUT, on 16 November 2009 - 02:34 PM, said:

A bit OT, but how did you like the Kilen springs?

I second that... that is the route I will go when I finish budgeting my suspension

[beadgc23]

WINGNUT, on 16 November 2009 - 02:34 PM, said:

A bit OT, but how did you like the Kilen springs?

I like them fine - they're very Euro (I learned to drive cars on German autobahns and French highways) which means firm, not hard, and not too much bounce. They're taking a while to settle in but with lower tire pressures - 33 all around - the car handles very well & there's loads of feedback from the steering. Lane changing is virtually telekinetic - the care is just "there". At lower speeds it feels very limo-like, smooth & effortless. At higher speeds it stays very flat around our twisty CT parkways and I'm finding myself actively enjoying the morning commute. I've yet to feel it beginning to break away, even on wet roads. They can get a little "chattery" on lousy NYC roads but not intolerably so. Score another one for the Swedes!

However, the subtle clunk is back - I spoke too soon. I've torqued everything to spec (again) , checked the strut mounts & spring seats, there is NO play in the wheels in either direction - wot? I'm reasonably convinced that it's sourced from the drivers side lower suspension. It happens exclusively when braking to a halt in stop & go traffic. I'd be grateful for any suggestions, it's really beginning to bug me. I've found exactly 3 other similar descriptions on VS, none with a solution. The transmission (yup, paranoia is setting in) is super smooth, flushed this year and has plenty of ATF.

[JordanW]

As you mentioned it happens "exclusively when braking" I would suggest checking the caliper slide pins and bushings, and the pad locating tabs. Just as well, there could be a remote possibility that the sway bar bracket bushings are shot.

Just my thoughts.

[beadgc23]

JordanW, on 19 November 2009 - 04:01 PM, said:

As you mentioned it happens "exclusively when braking" I would suggest checking the caliper slide pins and bushings, and the pad locating tabs. Just as well, there could be a remote possibility that the sway bar bracket bushings are shot.

Just my thoughts.

It's a thought...but sounds a bit too "solid" to be brakes. The sway bar was my first thought as it started clunking after the IPD HD sway links were added. What they hey, I've torqued everything else.

[beadgc23]

And...it's getting louder

[beadgc23]

So I waited it out...control arm bushings. Any bets that the replacement ones (at purchase) were ScanTech?