Squeaking noise coming from lowering springs

StoneColdBlue22 · Dec 10, 2022

good day all.

ive got about 6k miles and approx 2 month on the new lethal performance springs, for the past 2 weeks ive noticed a squeaking noise coming from the suspension. originally it started with the front passenger side, when id go over bumps, now its on both rears and the front right. the noise is similar to a leaf pack that isnt greased.

any ideas what it could be? anyone else with the lethal springs having the same issue?

Cajun Heat · Dec 10, 2022

I have something similar in the rears but only when I back out the driveway or go over speedbumps. Can't hear it while driving. Went back and re-torqued everything and still have it in the rears. Mentioned it Lethal (because they are working on replacing the rears springs for being too tall) and they quickly said it couldn't be the springs.

I'll be watching this.

StoneColdBlue22 · Dec 10, 2022

Cajun Heat said:

Interesting, I had mentioned the same thing to them about 3 weeks after I installed them, same thing

TMac · Dec 10, 2022

It's not the springs per se, compressing them won't make them squeak. However, when they do compress they will try to rotate. The service manual shows that they must be properly installed into the spring isolators. That would probably be the cause of the noise.

NOTICE: Make sure that the insulator pads are correctly positioned to prevent direct contact with other components.

Scroll down on the link above- to section 9, Installation. For those of you hearing noise from the front, you can go through the service manual on the fronts and find the same info on the coil overs.

Cajun Heat · Dec 10, 2022

TMac said:

Thanks @TMac . I double checked them during installation and even went back under the car and checked to make sure they were sitting in the isolators properly after hearing the noise. I'll have another opportunity to do it again when I get a new set of rear springs from Lethal.

StoneColdBlue22 · Dec 10, 2022

TMac said:

yeah i did make sure they were in the correct orientation when i first installed them. maybe they decided to rotate during the settling process??? perhaps, either way ill be crawling under my ST tommorrow to inspect.

on a side note i just finished downloading my 93 daily tune from zfg, holy crap its a kick in the ass

TMac · Dec 10, 2022

Without seeing the springs, it's hard to say- wind and diameter affects the amount of "twist". I would start a diagnosis by a liberal dose of WD-40 in the upper and lower spring perches and see if that impacts the noise- give it a bit of time to work.

StoneColdBlue22 · Dec 10, 2022

TMac said:

Thankyou as always, let's see what tommorrow brings, I really like the springs, this is the only downside I've been able to find

l1tech · Dec 10, 2022

A common mistake that is made by diyers and professionals is torquing the control arms during reassembly with the suspension at full droop. This causes undue stress and wear on the bushings and can create noise and longevity issues. Any suspension pivot point must be torqued with the suspension in the neutral position. To do this leave the bolts just loose enough that the bushing can turn, lower the vehicle to the ground and roll it back and forth a few feet and then tighten the bolts. This is a pain in the ass to do if you can't get under the vehicle easily but it is an essential step.

l1tech · Dec 10, 2022

StoneColdBlue22 said:

Don't spray WD40 on the rubber insulators on the top and bottom of the spring as it will just start to decay the insulators and you will end up replacing them sooner than you would like to. If you really feel the need to lube these use a silicone based lubricant. While the insulators can cause noise issues in some rare occasions it is often the actual control arm bushings that are making noise.

TMac · Dec 10, 2022

l1tech said:

I would definitely agree with this. As far as my mention of WD-40, that is not a long term solution- that is simply to ascertain whether the noise is coming from movement of the springs.

StoneColdBlue22 · Dec 11, 2022

when i installed them i made sure to preload the suspension with my floor jack before tightening everything. i just crawled under there and did notice a small gap 1/8 inch between the upper spring isolator and the end of the coil. maybe its that???

Cajun Heat · Dec 11, 2022

StoneColdBlue22 said:

I don't think that small gap is it.

I took my rear-end apart today to check everything and found what was causing the noise. It is the second coil from the bottom hitting/rubbing the inside of the aluminum control arm seat, see pictures. I think that there is something off with the manufacturing of the springs as they sit offset in the bottom isolator. My isolators were installed correctly and all bolts torqued in the loaded position.

GearHead_1 · Dec 11, 2022

That would do it. I'm glad you've isolated the problem. I wish your resolution didn't involve replacing them.

Cajun Heat · Dec 11, 2022

GearHead_1 said:

Me too.

Hey @Lethalperformance . Any comments?

Lethalperformance · Dec 12, 2022

Cajun Heat said:

Morning, Cajun.

Not off hand, but something we can certainly look into. Judging by the rest of the comments, was this the instance you were talking to Steve about?

Cajun Heat · Dec 12, 2022

Good morning @Lethalperformance ! Thank you for taking a look at this.

It is not the same thing that Steve is working on. He is looking in to the height of the springs being high in the rears.

Lethalperformance · Dec 12, 2022

Sorry, should have worded that a little better. I just meant the same customer/order with the original height issue.

I know out of our first batch of Springs there has only been this one instance where your Rear wasn't as low as we would have liked. I know there will be some variance between Vehicles, and even between spring sets, but still a little higher than we would have liked. I'll have a conversation with our Supplier Today but ultimately replacing the Rear set is what we were after. When I have a little more information from them, I'll reach out and we can go from there.

viking · Dec 12, 2022

Hmmm.......I'll be tuning into this thread as I have a set of Lethal Springs in the box I purchased during the Black Friday "Month" sale.
Hoping it's not a widespread issue?

Cajun Heat · Dec 12, 2022

I checked out the rear end yesterday and was able to push, with a prybar, the bottom of the springs away from the lower control arm seat where it was hitting. The spring and bottom isolator were aligned properly but just seamed to be off-center or the second coil is just too wide.. I went had the ST realigned again today and as of now they are not hitting and making noise. I don't know if they will move but just want to give an update.

Thanks to @Lethalperformance for great customer service.

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Squeaking noise coming from lowering springs

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