I just had Tein H-Tech and Tokico illumina struts installed and I am getting a sort of popping sound out of the front driver side strut whenever I turn. Shop said to give it some time to seat and it should go away. Well, it's been 8 days now and I've driven probably 300 miles and it's still there. I'm gonna take it back and let them look at it but does anyone have any ideas what it is and why it's doing this? Thanks

 

8 days seems like a tad to long for the struts to seat. Banging like that is probably a faulty install. I had the exact thing happen when I installed my illuminas. What I was told by fellow members was that on the strut cap there is the word OUT marked on it. Make sure when your shop reinstalled the strut, that this part faces outward (logical). Basically you should have your shop definitely redo the install. My noise is totally gone after I fixed it and the Max rides like a new car. Since you paid for the install, you can insist on getting the job done to your satisfaction. Good luck.

 

I think I can answer you this one, might have the same prob.
I had a brake job done at a local shop and a sound (popping) was coming from the front passenger side. I figured maybe the brakes were not installed correctly or something. A few days later, the sounds is still present and I take it back to them and they said the brakes were working fine and that the noise is coming from somthing else. It came from a loose control arm, the lower control arm. They tightened them for me and alas, its gone. Maybe thats your problem. have them inspect that.

 

This also happened to me when I installed my GR-2's. You just have to turn the strut so that the upper strut mount has the word "out" facing out.

 

BTW, the rear Illumina struts... is the piston rod supposed to be slightly off-center?
I was examining one of mine sitting in the basement this morning, and noticed the rear strut I picked up had its piston rod *almost* centered relative to the centerline of the strut housing, but it was slightly off...
i.e. if you looked at the strut from a sideways view, and rotated the whole housing around, you'd notice the piston rod protrudes at a slight angle...
I haven't compared the fronts or my other rear strut to see if this is a defect or if it's normal.

 

thanks for the help, it's going in tomorrow at 9am, I'll tell them what I found out...

 

Yes Sir -Both the rear rods are slightly off center. I went through the same thing when i recieved my illuminas. I noticed the shipping box was dinged so after inspecting the rear struts (shocks) i noticed the first one was off center so I was thinking oh **** they got damaged. then I looked at the other and noticed it was the same. Well long story short-install was great and they work perfectly.

 

Do you think having it on backwards and driving around for a while will have ruined the strut? Because my left side clicked(popped) when I would turn the wheel- but i did it for like a week or 2 then went away.

 

Same thing here. Spring takes time to settle. I would give at least few weeks.

 

This is kind of embarrassing but,

I installed lowering springs on my SAAB a while back and did not get the strut top bolt tight enough. I had some wicked knocking sounds until I pulled them off again and got the bolts tight.

 

if thats the case how come it's only coming from 1 side?

 

http://www.nwmaxima.com/viewtopic.php?t=1817

 

Bad CV Joint

 

the out was pointed in, they changed it, problem fixed...thanks again for all the help.