Help with some suspension noise.

[Joon525]

I posted in another thread but thought I get a dedicated thread for my small problem.

I installed Eibach's Pro-Kit (part number 8249.140) on my wife's 2002 LE V6 and I'm getting a rattling noise from the front. The rattling happens more on bumps when turning but can happen if you just go straight over one fast enough. The rattling sounds like a metal on metal noise.

I read over the service manual before I did the install but like 2 weeks before and forgot that it called for replacement of the bearings whenever overhauling the front suspension. So I'm beginning to think that those might be the culprit.

Last night I took apart one side and did the installation again making sure everything lined up correctly just in case I messed up the first time and the noise is still there (although less of it). One thing I noticed was that if I left the strut in place by the top 3 upper seat bolts and shook the strut I would hear noises from the top hat. Once again pointing me in the direction of the bearing but then also making me wonder about the spring seat itself.

I also found that there's a TSB #00103, anyone have access to what this TSB said to replace? TundraSolutions WAS the place I used to go to get TSB's but they stopped putting them up.

Thanks in advance.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

when i had mine installed, a few weeks after the rear strut bolt worked itself loose, but i got it retightened and the noise has gone.

From what you're saying it sounds like the same problem i had, going over bumps it would sound like a clunking sound, metal on metal. check the strut bolt and make sure it's tight. If that's not the problem i don't know what to say..

[Joon525]

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

when i had mine installed, a few weeks after the rear strut bolt worked itself loose, but i got it retightened and the noise has gone.

From what you're saying it sounds like the same problem i had, going over bumps it would sound like a clunking sound, metal on metal. check the strut bolt and make sure it's tight. If that's not the problem i don't know what to say..

Nah it's not the nut on the shaft as I checked that and it's tighten to spec. The 3 holding the top hat are tightened to spec as well. Her car DID have the same problem you're talking about in the rear before the springs were installed though.
...

Originally Posted by jorallo

ive heard of guys buying tokico for their cars but must be mistaken oh well neways.. yeah ace thats the ones i'm prolly going to end up getting btw did any of yu guys get noises from lowering ur car from the pillow box bearing? i had to replace the left one already prolly going to replace the right one now too the oem ones wew crap the ones the dealership gave me were like stainless silver with red rubber super thick and nice the ones that came stock on my car were like grey pos rubber neways hit me up if any one else has had this problem..

In regards to what I bolded up there. I just got back from the dealer and got 1 new bearing (had to order the other side). Tomorrow night I'm going to compare one already on the car to the new one I just got to see if there's any difference in thickness or whatever. I'll try to post pictures if I notice a difference. The one I got today looks identical to the one in there already though. The parts counter guy did say that the part number was superseded. Who knows if it just got a new part number if there's a real difference though.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

ah, alright. Keep us posted! Good luck!

[Joon525]

OK so the noise is still there. Here's a list of what I've replaced with brand new versions:

1. Upper mounts
2. Strut bearings
3. The rubber spring seat (upper)
4. Endlinks for both sides

I still get some noise although it seems like less than before.
I'm beginning to think it might be something with the steering linkage or a balljoint?
I also think I have a wheel bearing going out on the driver's side but I don't know if one of those going bad makes a rattling noise or not.

Anyone got any ideas?

[TRD VVTi]

Find a way to duplicate the noise with the car stationary.

Use a stethoscope to pin point the noise.

[Joon525]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

Find a way to duplicate the noise with the car stationary.

Use a stethoscope to pin point the noise.

Man I wish it was that easy. Since it only happens on larger bumps, getting that to be reproduced is going to be rough.

Anyway, a local shop by me looked at the car today (they were my last resort) and they said that the struts are bottoming out. Now this could be the case but I'm a little hesitant to believe it. I will admit that my wife had this car before I met her and I don't know if large potholes were hit in my absence thus shortening their life.

The struts have 48,000 miles on them, has anyone else had them go out this early on an LE model??

Also, KYB make replacements for these correct? Anyone know of a good vendor in case I follow through on that assumption/diagnosis?