Creaking when turning, springs skipping.

[mayday295]

So my car makes a pirate ship creak/groaning when turning the wheel. I just installed new struts/ strut mounts, eibach springs, etc.
When I turn the wheel at no speed, or low speeds it creaks. I saw what the problem was, it was the spring skipping to catch up with the rest of the strut, making it creak/ pop as it skipped.

So I found the source of the problem, only question is why? Why is this happening and how do I fix it?

[Boomko]

does the spring sit in its spot?

[mayday295]

It did when assembled, and everything lined up but now it is moving when I turn the wheel, the spring isn't moving smoothly, it jerks and jitters (making the pop/groan noise) as it trys to catch up.


Could this problem at all be that the strut nut on top was tightened too much?

[fst-fwd]

I dont think its because the top nut is too tight. Does it seat while the tire is straight without turning it? Did you cut the bump stop? Or leave full length? What struts did you get KYB?
Are the strut mounts installed correctly, meaning are they seated perfect with the spring? Did they install easy without a spring compression tool or did you need one?

[mayday295]

Ok, so yes they seat straight without turning, Yes I cut the bump stops half an inch, I got KYB GR-2/Excel G struts. also kyb strut mounts. Yes they are installed with --> pointing out, made sure to not orientation of all parts when reassembling, only thing re-used in strut assembly is my spring insulators. I used a spring compressor tool, aligned everything, tightened nut by hand, removed spring compressor to get everything tight and perfect before installing it onto vehicle. Also I greased up the bearing, and pretty much everything in the mount piece.

[4gcarbon]

Same thing ive been telling everyone else with this problem..
Its your strut tower bearings going bad, causing your springs to buckle when you turn the wheel... I replaced mine 3 times b4 I sent my prokits back... Im currently back on my oem springs until I can afford coilovers..

I dont know why this happens to some of us and not others with the prokits, but it does....

[mayday295]

Even if the strut tower bearings were brand new the same day of install? and it has only been like 2 weeks, could it be I just didn't grease them up enough or something?

[fst-fwd]

Hmmm, to me it sounds like the coils arent aligned right when built, meaning they compress really easy or they buckle really easy when pressure is applied. I have tanabes on mine and kept everything factory, been 2 yrs and knock on wood no problems.
One other possibility, maybe they are not the correct ones for our car.
You could maybe try using your factory mounts on one side and see what happens, alot of times its better to use the stock mounts if you have had no problems with them.
Just a shot there. But maybe will do the trick

[mayday295]

Well my mounts were blown completely and the aftermarkets I got said direct replacement and looked exactly the same. So I don't think it is a fitment problem with that.

[4gcarbon]

Originally Posted by mayday295

Even if the strut tower bearings were brand new the same day of install? and it has only been like 2 weeks, could it be I just didn't grease them up enough or something?

I had new ones put on all 3 times and after a few days, I started hearing the noise again..

The shop told me that for some reason, the springs are not supporting the vehicle weight correctly and its putting too much pressure on the bearings and forcing them to lock up..

Long story short, my bearings are fine again with the stock springs on..

[OrangeCrush]

Mine has been doing this lately with my sport lines, but I've had them on for almost 3 years, no problems til now. Were professionally installed so there's no install issue.

[NitroGlisson]

Are you sure that is a spring issue......sounds like it could be a steering linkage issue? I have eibach's on mine with no issues. Another thing to check is make sure they didn't sell you the wrong struts. I bought some off of ebay and they were for a GS and caused all kinds of issues....they wallowed in the strut mount and made weird noises going over uneven ground. I can come up with the correct KYB part number for the struts if needed. PM me on the side if you want me to try and dig that up. I did write it up in here but darn if I can remember where I put it.

[mayday295]

Nitro, I made sure to order the correct ones after reading your post about correct part number for GT, thanks. As far as the springs being the issue, yes I can see the spring physically skipping/shuddering when someone turns the wheel and can pinpoint the noise to there.

[mayday295]

I will probably take it apart later in the week when my proper tools arrive (to get the nut on top off, and torqued correctly.) then I will upload pictures of the assembly and you guys can ensure it is the correct.

[mayday295]

So I finally managed to have time to reinstall them again. I made sure everything was assembled properly this time (which it was last time). When I took apart the strut mount with the bearing in there it was locked up on the strut mount. I tried pulling it off and the bearing assembly "broke" in two. So I greased the crap out of it on the inside, and the outside greasing everything that should be moving when turning the steering wheel. Did this for both sides. put it all back together, and...... no noise! BUT... today I am starting to hear the noise again, not to the same level that i had before, a lot softer, however still there!


Now my question is, has anyone had this issue and switched to a different spring that resolved this issue? (Not including coilovers). OR Is there possibly another strut mount bearing I could get that could handle this load and spin freely? Thanks.

[FeaRlezZ]

honestly i think all springs r gonna give u some kind of noise. thats one of the many reasons y coilovers r highly recommended

[mayday295]

Honestly I see why everyone pushes coilovers so much, for me the money didn't matter to much but I saw all the good things about springs, and "noise" wasn't described as strut mounts locking up, so I figured springs should be more than good. Only problem now is I can't just switch to coils because I bought all new struts/mounts everything. Not just the springs themselves. But I guess I can advise others now!

[skysky]

I will say that with coilovers I get a groaning and that "Thong" sound every once in a while and I greased the Bejeezus out of my springs and set the springs right. I even went back and reset them a week or two later after they had time to settle and guess what? Its still there. I guess your just gonna have to live with noisy springs, even on coilovers, unless mine are just f'd up somehow.

[4gcarbon]

I just watched your video for the 1st time...Its your strut tower bearings.Same problem I had..
Replacing them will fix the noise for a couple days but it comes back..
save yourself some money and replace the bearings & put your old springs back on until you can afford to buy coilovers...
You should be able to get a refund for the springs, I did..

Let me know if you have any other questions..

[NitroGlisson]

I occasionally get that "thong" sound at a particular place on my driveway where there is a slight rise and then a drop off in the middle of a left turn. That is the only place/time I hear that. Hope you can work yours out...I know it must bother you. I too plan on getting coil-overs eventually.

[mayday295]

ya but a refund on the springs doesnt cut it, i would need a refund on all brand new shocks/struts and mounts, which i can no longer return. So i must live with this then, i guesse as it gets worse ill take it apart and then grease again. Unless anyone knows of a diff bearing for the mount that can take it.

[4gcarbon]

Originally Posted by mayday295

ya but a refund on the springs doesnt cut it, i would need a refund on all brand new shocks/struts and mounts, which i can no longer return. So i must live with this then, i guesse as it gets worse ill take it apart and then grease again. Unless anyone knows of a diff bearing for the mount that can take it.

I tried finding a stronger or different bearing, but they do not exist..
I ordered them online and then through the dealership, but they are all the same cheap plastic junk.

It looks & feels like something that should be on a toy, not a car.. I was expecting a ball bearing, not 2 pieces of plastic with a little grease in the middle
Am I right? This to me proves once again, that mitsubishi is so far behind in technology & have a lot of catching up to do...

[mayday295]

Totaly agree with that 4gcarbon, when i was looking into all these ball bearings, and strut bearings and stuff (before I took mine apart to do struts) I was thinking thats what we had but, very cheap o plastic, that definitely does not deserve to be put on a car. Its pretty ridiculous the lack of quality in some of the most simple yet crucial parts.

[Falselink]

Mine used to make a thunk thunk over speed bumps and turning the wheels to max both ways. I resolved this problem by taking an impact gun used on 7 tons and tightening the crap out of those top bolts.

[mayday295]

Ya i had the thunk thunk for about 3 hours on first install, until i brought it to a friends and impact gunned it as well, but don't have that problem now.