03-14-2021, 08:52 PM | #1 |
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H&R Springs - knocking / binding noise - help!
Hey all, had my car lowered by a local tuner shop here in Vancouver. Since having it lowered I've been getting a more prominent knocking sound coming from the driver side. Sounds like a spring binding issue? Its most often during parking lot speeds that you hear it.
Shop is trying to point towards control arms although its unlikely as you hear it most during slow turns of the wheel. I had a BMW tech look at it and he's suggesting its the spring too. Even the tuner shop thinks its the springs not having enough pre-load? Either way, I need to get it sorted. Another forum member with a 330xi (M Sport) H&R Springs also had this issue, installed at the same shop ironically. I'm stuck because I don't know if its an issue with the spring, the install or something different.... Anyone else having this issue? Is it possible this is an H&R Spring fault? My options as I see them... install factory springs back (not ideal), order a different set of springs altogether (Dinan or something) or possibly get another pair of H&R springs to try... Looking for some suggestions. |
03-15-2021, 05:41 AM | #2 | |
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Sucks to hear! Goodluck!
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03-15-2021, 09:26 PM | #3 |
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Sounds like an installer issue. I just installed my springs, diy, and have no issues.
As the previous poster mentioned, it sounds like either the strut mount bearings or a loose suspension component. I would double-check the sway bar endlinks. They are easy to forget to tighten. The other thing I would do is tighten up the top strut main bolt in the middle and double-check all the surrounding bolts. There's really no much to the front suspension of these cars. |
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03-16-2021, 10:07 AM | #4 | |
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03-16-2021, 02:57 PM | #5 | |
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The answer is to install coil spring isolators, so that the touching coils no longer touch. They are cheap and easy to install. You won't have to take anything apart. Just jack the car up and slip them on the spring. You'll likely know exactly where to put them, because you will see the paint rubbed off of the spring in the spot between the coils that are making noise, when you have the car jacked up. And as someone else mentioned, make sure the top strut shift nut is tight. |
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03-16-2021, 05:54 PM | #6 |
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03-16-2021, 10:44 PM | #7 |
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03-17-2021, 06:10 PM | #8 |
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03-18-2021, 12:59 AM | #9 |
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03-18-2021, 07:54 PM | #10 |
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Not positive. I would make sure it's tight, and at min 100ftlbs.
Also, it's odd that the sound is only coming from the driver's side. If it were the springs binding, it would happen on both sides. Furthermore, the reason I suspect it's the install is that the driver side is not any different when compared to the passenger side outside of an extra cable for the break wear sensor. |
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04-16-2021, 12:56 AM | #13 |
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Took it in today and they noticed the rubber covering the tip of the spring (no idea what it's called) had moved down. Sounds like they moved it back up and it seems to be quiet for the moment. Let's hope that's all it was.
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04-22-2021, 03:10 PM | #14 | |
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moved the coil rubbers a little higher and lubed up everything, all is well now |
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04-23-2021, 09:50 PM | #15 |
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The springs are progressive and the coils are tighter at the top. Just slide the isolators higher. You'll probably need to jack the car up and take the wheel off.
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04-28-2021, 11:29 PM | #16 |
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So far that looks like that was the issue.... the shop did just that and the noise has gone away. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
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04-29-2021, 08:07 PM | #17 |
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04-30-2021, 10:43 AM | #18 | |
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My H&R springs do make a sort of crunching sound whenever I go over bumps slowly. I've had the top bolt re-torqued to 100+ ft/lbs. Thanks |
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04-30-2021, 09:46 PM | #19 | |
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In addition, anyone know what the H&R instructions state to do with the bump stops? From experience, lowering springs usually come with shorter bump stops or require you to cut them. Unfortunately, suspension clunks are very annoying as they are difficult to diagnose and can be caused by infinite factors. |
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05-03-2021, 10:50 AM | #20 |
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Thanks for the explanation, much appreciated!
I got the H&R springs because Dinan still hasn't released springs for the M340iX, and I wasn't willing to wait for a 3rd summer (I got mine in 2019) with my car jacked up like an SUV. What I did do is order the Dinan bump stops (I forget the fancy name they use for them), and replaced the stock bump stops with the Dinan's (even though they are technically for the RWD M340i). I have the adaptive suspension and the ride has been excellent even on the firmest setting, and the handling improvements have been very noticeable (less pitch and dive, flatter cornering, and crisper turn-in). I can definitely live with the trade-off of a little noise when going over bumps at parking lot speeds for the much improved handling and looks. |
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