Josh.A.Hussey

So,

I've been installing my new suspension for the past... TWO WEEKS...

Haven't had much time and had a few things in between,

but the past 3 days have been frustrating.

I first had it set the way I wanted it. Was hitting HARD, many rattling noises, not going so good...

So then I set it how the manufacturer told me to (the guy is VERY helpful).

But now I'm still getting creaking (like stepping on a loose floor board) and rattling and banging.

Mind you this is on the rear of the car, and the factory suspension in the back wasn't broken or doing any of this.


Yes all the bolts are tight.
Currently it's as high as it will go (Wheel gap like an SUV!!!) And I've also had it as low as it will go, I've tried adjusting dampening, rebound, height, spring preload, everything... Cannot find the culprit.

Happens on both sides.

I've done plenty of suspension before, but none as painful as the W204. To make ANY adjustments (Besides compression and rebound) the whole arm needs to be dropped. Needless to say I am beyond frustrated (throwing tools around the garage, getting angry, breaking things... Like a child... Oops)


Any input would be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

Josh.A.Hussey

Never mind. Just broke my brand new suspension.


Debating torching my car. Not pleased at all.

Adi-Benz

Oh no!!!

I feel really bad for you, this is the last thing you needed.

I know I can't help and all I can do is wish you luck on whatever you plan on doing.

Hopefully not torching the car 0_o

Josh.A.Hussey

Hahaha nooo I won't be torching the car.

I am trying to locate the cause of the weird noises in my suspension...

When doing so in the rear of the car, you really need either a sounding set (forget the correct name) or someone to cause motion in the back.

I of course took a wild guess that possibly the shock absorber mount bolts needed to be retorqued... and I set the torque wrench wrong... I was in such a rush and I was so frustrated and I snapped the bolt off.

Problem is it's one of the press in bolts.

So now I have to take the shock absorber out, take the mount off, press (Or air hammer) what's left of the bolt out. Wait for a new bolt to arrive from the manufacturer (If they are even willing to send me a new bolt), and then press the bolt back in, then put the shock absorber back in and then CONTINUE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE DAMN NOISES ARE COMING FROM.


Needless to say I am beyond pissed off.


Thanks for the support the Adi! I really debated breaking all my windows...
A little childish but hey, the woman's not around so I've got no stress relief besides violence get my drift? Hahahahahaha.

Rodpwnz

I wish you the best Josh! You can do it bud!

mr.brightside

Is this with the flatout suspension coilovers? How bad is the sound? Could be nothing wrong as long as its installed correctly. I've had coilovers before on my previous cars and there's always that increase in noise/creaking when lowering the car. Hope its nothing...

Josh.A.Hussey

Thanks Rod!

Mr. Bside, the product supplied by Flatout is superb, I've been thoroughly impressed with the quality, and the front rides like a dream. The issue in back is just my set up, but it is DEFINITELY not normal. Not the fault of flatout though, they have a great product and the owner is great to deal with, very helpful.

But no, it's not the fault of Flatout and it's not normal either.

I'm a bit frustrated, but flatout reply to my text, on a SATURDAY NIGHT, and said he will ship out two new press in bolts for me tomorrow! What a guy.

Adi-Benz

I freaked out a minute last night when I thought, HOLY CRAP what if his suspension broke while driving oh sh**. Luckily that wasn't the case.

By the way, why did you need new suspension? Our cars are same age, or are you modding it to be lower or something?

Dizm

Holy crap, what did you have the torque wrench set to to break that bolt? I feel like i wouldve stopped before one of those, what im guessing, are grade 8/10.9 bolts broke.

Josh.A.Hussey

Haha, no, not while driving!

And dealer said my front driver's side coil spring was gone. Good enough excuse for me to get an entire upgrade on my suspension system I think! Hahaha. BTW when I took it off, the bearing was gone too. Chances are if you drive on a cracked front coil spring for any length of time, you're gonna destroy the bearing, so keep that in mind because they may not tell you.

Nope, set it to 35 ft lbs instead of 35 nm. They are only like 1/4" bolts.
I was also ruthlessly pissed off when I was doing it. I can 99/100 times tell if somethings not right, but at that point, I was not doing very well mentally.

CGC

Josh that sucks! I have done thousands of suspensions, but never the W204. Can you post pics of the install? Sometimes it's just the coils of the spring rubbing on each other. Even if they are installed correctly. If that is the case you can get the slip on spring covers that go on the first few wounds of the spring.

Maybe try these?

https://www.rallysportdirect.com/par...ameter-springs

Josh.A.Hussey

I will post some pics of the install yes when I haul out my dampener to press in a new stud!

And yeah, it's a little odd, but I doubt it's springs! I have had the springs set so many different ways, and if it were springs, depending on setting, you would alter the sound or its behaviour! I believe it's in my dampener setup. Have to try some other stuff!

Isaac13

The problem I have noticed regarding coilover is that the w204 has separate shock and springs (rear). Not one unit so the rear has an adjustment above the rear spring that REPLACED the spring pad/ isolator. Therefore there is no padding between the adjustment sleeve and the spring pocket like normal oem or even aftermarket springs still retain the pad. Therefore I want to make a super thin isolator for this area but I am suspecting this is where the noises are coming from as various loads, pressure, or stress is put on the rear suspension.

CGC

Hey Josh, any luck on this?

Adi-Benz

The [suspense] EDIT: suspension is killing me

kavadarci

What kind of noise?
I get noise from the rear but it is from the brackets holding the emergency brake cable.
I have new and will change at the same time when I drop the h&r springs.

Josh.A.Hussey

No luck with this yet.

I have a broken rear shock mount stud and have been waiting 3 weeks for them to get here.
The fellow from FlatoutSuspension has been off sick, so I haven't been able to get ahold of him. I got a text back yesterday, but at that point I believe he was almost off.


The bolts were supposed to be overnighted 2 weeks ago.
I am starting to get super frustrated. My car has been off the road for a month.


I was told that the shocks and springs have to be set perfectly in order to stop the noise, but that confuses me a little because the suspension is advertised as being able to adjust the ride height and spring preload... If the there is only one position that it works well in then that's not quite true.

The guy has been great on the phone though, they have been very good to deal with.

We will see how long more it will take to get these bolts...

If they don't show up soon I am on the verge or just buying a new macpherson strut assembly from the stealership and saying to hell with it because I can't be without my vehicle much longer. I am driving a different car which I HATE to use as a daily driver.




... PS I won't actually do that because I'm too excited about the suspension, but soon I will have to do something about this issue myself.

Isaac13

That's interesting. I am not sure what they mean by the spring must be set a particular way. I have never heard of this before. The pocket is a flat pocket with a center section. The spring pad/isolator is removed with coilovers to fit the adjustment sleave and because the after market coilover springs have flat topped springs that just sit against the adjustment sleeve without any particular position. And like you said, the adjustment moves and pre load changes. So not sure what they mean it has to be set just right. Anyway.

Josh.A.Hussey

I meant the preload has to be just right, that's all, they never said that the spring had to be in a certain way or anything, just that you had to have a certain amount of preload, no less, and it was about 2" from the collar.

Isaac13

Ohhh, I see. Wow maybe so. Well hope u get resolved soon...

Josh.A.Hussey

Me too!
I would very much like to give flatout a good review. The customer service has been great, and the suspension in the front has been remarkable, I would very much like to feel the same about the rear. We will see once I get the new bolts. (The bolts were my fault, not flatout's.)