Lower Control Arm Grinding

**m0nk89** · 06-03-2008 02:38 PM

After installing coilovers around half a year ago, I always hear loud clunks and grinding noises coming from the right front wheel when going over bumps. Also, I hear the grinding noise every time I accelerate hard from a stop. Took it to the dealer and they said that the "front sway bar is hitting the lower control arms because the car is lowered'. They told me to take it to the place where I got lowered and they can adjust it, but I did the install myself. Lookin at the suspension right now, I'm lost where to adjust anything, can't even find where its actually grinding.

Can anyone point me in the right direction??
Thanks!

**Zebman** · 06-03-2008 08:03 PM

...? I have my car apart right now actually, and there's a very small portion of the control arm that the sway could possibly reach, at least in the front. I don't know about the rear. It's possible, I don't know. Try bouncing your car, be careful not to dent or scratch anything!

**m0nk89** · 06-04-2008 01:07 AM

yea i know what part you are talkin bout, but it seems like theres fair enough gap, around an inch? doesnt look like theres any grinding going on either. Im positive it is coming from the fronts tho. any other ideas??

**vwong** · 06-04-2008 09:39 AM

How low is your car? I have the clunking noise only when I steer the front wheels to full lock either direction.

**m0nk89** · 06-04-2008 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by vwong

How low is your car? I have the clunking noise only when I steer the front wheels to full lock either direction.

25 inches all around. i get that noise too, but its just the extra grinding and clunking going over bumps. it happens EVERY time i accelerate hard, which tells me somethings definitely not right.

**onone** · 06-04-2008 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by vwong

How low is your car? I have the clunking noise only when I steer the front wheels to full lock either direction.

is it normal to have a clunking noise when steering in full lock? because mine does too and i dont know if i should take it back to where i installed it to get it looked at?

**Mike@PureMS** · 06-04-2008 03:11 PM

"front sway bar is hitting the lower control arms because the car is lowered'.

That's not possible.

You have a retarded dealership if they said this.
Your clunking and grinding is because your suspension was not installed properly.
More than likely, the clunking is coming from the top shock nut. It's loose and causes clunking.

Clunking is not normal on any properly installed suspension. Visit your shop and have them fix it.

**Zebman** · 06-06-2008 02:59 PM

Yes, the nut on top is very hard to crank all the way down. Fortunately, my dad's company is right across from a shop that works on his fleet of vans. They had a hex socket set that could reach through a normal socket and turn the strut rod.