Unbreakable1

so i have had my h&r coilovers for around 10k miles and have had this problem off and on for pretty much the entire time

since i dont know all the proper terms, i posted a picture of some other cars setup (i think miata but for my purpose the vehicle should be irrelevant) and hopefully it will make sense with my description




If you look at the coilver setup closest to us in the picture, our front setup look similar to this (rears are different as pointed out by Obsidian). You see the spring sits on 2 black perches (i think theyre called perches?). The top perch secures the spring to the ride height you want, and the 2nd secures the whole structure (on our setups, these perches are red) or something like that.

The problem i am continuing to have with my front right setup is the bottom perch becomes ever so slightly unsecured allowing the spring a little bit of play/movement. Once racked/elevated, the spring will actually rotate a little in this case if you try to move it; once the bottom perch is tightened the spring will not rotate.

Since I had been having this problem, I just had my shop tighten it, I drove around on the streets and no problems whatsoever. As I got home from running errands (drove over 40 miles), I heard this fairly loud metal scraping sound, as if I am dragging a piece of metal, but I see nothing. I let off the brakes completely and let the car roll a little and the sound gets louder, now as if 2 pieces of metal grinding against each other, then it stopped. I braked hard and the clunking is back.

slightly long winded but anybody experienced this or know how to alleviate?
if not, anybody know any shops in Rancho/Claremont/Montclair/Upland/Pomona area?

thanks for reading

dodger63

Picture is not a c63 coilover

Unbreakable1

oops, forgot to include a few details ...updated, thanks Obsidian

obsidian05e55

Edited... No problem. I was worried at first, thought somone really screwed you over..

I dont have any clunking from mine. Mine are bottomed out, so they cant move anyway..

Sincity

Is it rubbing against the wheel because of offset issues? On a diifferent car, someone bought my Brabus reps only to sell them because it rubbed against his COs (don't remember if they were Bilsteins, H&Rs, or KWs).

Unbreakable1

nope...they were completely fine once the bottom perch was tightened initially

thanks for the input though!

dodger63

They typically have set screws in them so they don't loosen up?

Unbreakable1

nope...they just tighten up against each other, requires a spanner wrench

dodger63

And it lossens up? Weird

Unbreakable1

that seems to be the case...and i mean barelyyyy...took the wrench and tightened maybe 1/4" and the clunking stopped initially

Mort

Open them up and clean the threads and put some thread locker and tighten them together again?

Muskoka_AMG

I don't know whether this is good or bad news, but the identical thing happens to me with my H&R coilovers. The front right suspension "clunks" on and off. It's not the traditional feeling of a blown coilover, so I've just left it as is.

As well, I'm pretty sure mine are sitting as low as possible (one small finger gap).

obsidian05e55

My right front suspensio also clunks, but it has done this since new before the coilovers. My adjusters cant come loose as i have them at there lowest point.

RM-6302

I too have H & R Coilovers. I have also experienced the clunking you refer to. You need to check a "link" between the swaybar and the shock. It seems like the distance between the mounting holes is just a bit short, or the link itself is too long. Anyway, the bushings on each end are probably blown. This causes the clunking you hear. They are $25-$30 each, and should be changed together the getmercedesparts website shows a good picture. Hope this helps!

SonnyakaPig

How do you find the picture on the website? I've been looking but I can only find the products and there corresponding prices. Thanks in advance.

Muskoka_AMG

Awesome!

Do you have a link to that part or a picture?

RM-6302

Here is the part in question. Item 14, (Link).

Unbreakable1

oh wow, everybodys on the same boat but nobody said anything? haha

thank you RM! will definitely let me shop know and hopefully we can come to a resolution...
i will update this thread when i have some more results, hope others do too!

also, has anybody looked into the 2nd perch coming slightly loose? if the bushings are blown, could this cause too much stress on the perches maybe causing the lower one to loosen?

Mort, the next step my shop will be undertaking is to re-install the front right coilover, and in the process i'll ask them to clean the threads...

thanks again!

Mort

I don't think it is too unusual for the sway bar link end joints to loosen up and clunk going over bumps. I had one go out on my wife's 2005 C240. They are like mini tie-rod ends and they do wear and the ball end gets loose in the socket. MB dealer will repair the links under warranty at least they did on ours. Worth asking. If you grab the link and give it a wiggle you should be able to feel/see the play in the end joint.

BerBer63

mine have been fine for 12k miles

stangxs

Any update? My fronts are also "clunking" over bumps. It's more noticable when the car is cold, for some reason

BTW, thanks for the X! Your car is badass, I can't get over the sound

Unbreakable1

Thank you!
No resolution yet ...gonna be a few weeks still