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Hoping someone can help me pin point the steering noise that started happening after installing KW V3's on my 2008 C63. Not 100% sure if the V3's are to blame, but it's really the only change point before the noise started. Prior to the V3's, I was sitting on H&R springs for a good year with no problem. Only other mods are MBH headers.
Key things to note:
Noise is not as noticeable from a cold start, but gets louder as more miles are driven
I think it also gets louder when nearing max steering lock, left or right
It is not the spring binding on the perch
If anyone has any clue, please let me know, thanks!
Sounded to me some bolts aren't tightened properly after the install. Have you checked all bolts in the front end. When the car is parked, the headers wouldn't be making noise. Perhaps go back to your installer to ask them.
First of all, I'd check to make sure the strut mount and bearing were assembled correctly. After that, I'd double check to make sure the top nut is torqued to spec.
@oggie: I actually had the shop uninstall and re-install the front right damper just to check if anything was out. Noise was still there before and after.
@AMG3.2, @Mort: Everything was checked again during the re-install, don't think it's the issue. I guess I should check the torque myself to be sure. Installed did say he checked the top strut mount and didn't find anything unusual with it.
@ahgli: I haven't checked out the stablizer link, will look into it.
I'll try and see if the sound is coming up more on the top of the damper or the bottom. If coming from the top, there is only the top plate and strut mount/bolt to check. But if coming from the bottom, I think it might be a suspension joint.
Hmm, I just realized that the dealership replaced the front right sway bar end link on my last oil change, which was 1k miles before I put the kw's on. The service noted that the end link was torn. Coincidence?
So I took a look underneath the car today. I was not successful in removing the stabilizer bar. After removing the nut on the damper, the stabilizer bar does not remove easily. I think you have to wiggle it out when the damper is loose and didn't feel like taking on that project today.
Something interesting I found today is the location of the stabilizer bar. There are two available holes you can attach the stabilizer bar to, and I think where I have it is wrong. Compare my photo to the KW's instruction photo. I have the stabilizer bar away from the brake caliper where KW's instruction photo is on the side closest to the caliper. Maybe this is it?
Porsche 911 s | 2012 c63 coupe | 2013 Bmw 328xdrive
Originally Posted by cjoy63
So I took a look underneath the car today. I was not successful in removing the stabilizer bar. After removing the nut on the damper, the stabilizer bar does not remove easily. I think you have to wiggle it out when the damper is loose and didn't feel like taking on that project today.
Something interesting I found today is the location of the stabilizer bar. There are two available holes you can attach the stabilizer bar to, and I think where I have it is wrong. Compare my photo to the KW's instruction photo. I have the stabilizer bar away from the brake caliper where KW's instruction photo is on the side closest to the caliper. Maybe this is it?
That's most likely your problem right there, to relieve stress from the link I usually use a small jack (placed under the brake rotor with a piece of wood) and raise it a little, this will make taking the link out a lot easier, if it's still tight you can slowly bang it out with a rubber hammer.
I did jack up the wheel a little, but maybe not enough. I'm thinking though that I would need to fix the other side too since both stabilizer bars connect to the same sway bar. In other words, if I get the stabilizer bar loose, it won't reach the correct location because it is fixed onto the sway bar, which is fixed by the opposite stabilizer bar.
What I don't get is why it makes the sound on one side only, and only when cold. Weird.
Porsche 911 s | 2012 c63 coupe | 2013 Bmw 328xdrive
Originally Posted by cjoy63
I did jack up the wheel a little, but maybe not enough. I'm thinking though that I would need to fix the other side too since both stabilizer bars connect to the same sway bar. In other words, if I get the stabilizer bar loose, it won't reach the correct location because it is fixed onto the sway bar, which is fixed by the opposite stabilizer bar.
What I don't get is why it makes the sound on one side only, and only when cold. Weird.
Probably because they only changed one end link at the dealer, its good to do those things in pairs. its either the old on has gone bad or the new one is faulty.
According to the pictures, there is more not right. The front struts need to be installed with the reservoir towards the back (they are handed). That seems to be correct. The KW picture (right picture) then shows the stabilizer link is attached to the rear attachment point and goes straight down. The left picture (from your install?) shows the stabilizer link installed in the front attachment point and it is not parallel to the strut. It goes down and is angled to the front.
Is it possible that the stabilizer bar is flipped and points forward instead of back? Maybe the stabilizer bar needs to be turned to point back and the stabilizer links then attached to the rear attachment points.
According to the pictures, there is more not right. The front struts need to be installed with the reservoir towards the back (they are handed). That seems to be correct. The KW picture (right picture) then shows the stabilizer link is attached to the rear attachment point and goes straight down. The left picture (from your install?) shows the stabilizer link installed in the front attachment point and it is not parallel to the strut. It goes down and is angled to the front.
Is it possible that the stabilizer bar is flipped and points forward instead of back? Maybe the stabilizer bar needs to be turned to point back and the stabilizer links then attached to the rear attachment points.
Oh,good catch! I don't think the sway bar is in backwards or anything, I just think the installer installed the end link in the wrong hole. It should definitely be in the hole closest to the passenger as opposed to closer to the engine (where it is now).
You are correct, the sway bar cannot be turned, it only fits one way.
I just looked at the setup on my car and checked both the KW setup and stock. The links need to be in the rear attachment point of the strut and point straight down, parallel to the strut, to reach the sway bar.
The attachment points in the KW struts are lower than stock, and hence the links are shorter.
I haven't gotten a chance to work on the car or bring it to the shop (mainly due to the holidays), however I did contact KW regarding this issue. There response is below:
"Yes I see that we have the link mounted on the opposite side in the install guide compared to yours, honestly I cannot ensure this will remedy the issue. However I would say at this point try it, switch them and see what you got. "
I wasn't looking to confirm if it will fix the sound, but more to know what stabilizer link position is correct per design. This response came from a technical advisor.
I just got KW Clubsport coilovers installed (with camber adjusting topmounts). Love them car is very tight, no body roll worth speaking off, no noise. Car runs straight with no pulling either right or left.
The swaybar links are in the rear position (reservoir side) of the shock absorbers.
I did not want it in OEM spec - I now have a little over 3 degrees of negative camber in front and a little over 2 degrees in the rear.
In front I would have been able to adjust to even way more camber (up to 6 degrees). The rear is not adjustable without special bushings. However, what I have suits me fine for my purpose (spirited driving and tracking). The car is now pretty low
Last edited by Wobble64; Dec 30, 2015 at 10:09 AM.
KW got back to me and confirmed with their development team that the correct position for the stabilizer bar is the rear position on the damper.
Brought car back to original installer. They found the source of the noise. The V3's I got came with 2 left side stabilizer bars. They are side specific. However, the shop thought it was correct to install it in the front position on the damper because it is the only way it would fit. When we removed the stabilizer bar, it was twisted. Being on the wrong side really maxed out the bushings normal range of travel to the point of damaging it.
We got a hold of KW for a replacement part, the correct right side stabilizer bar. At first the eta was 4-5 weeks, given that it was special order and coming all the way from Germany. After escalating to KW, they were able to overnight the part and should arrive Monday.
In summary, although it was not the cause of the noise, the correct position of the stabilizer is on the rear. However, if we had paid closer attention to the install photos, we could've discovered the problem much earlier.
Glad it all fell into place! Yes, I also noticed on my Clubsport set that the stabilizer links were handed. I even think mine were labeled left/right.
Sorry this did cost you time. They owe you free lifetime stabilizer link replacements, :-)
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