I bought KYB AGXs, Dust Boots, and front mounts from Cattman about a month ago, and when I finally got my suspension installed I have a strange noise in the front. I wrapped the front springs and installed everything like normal, but I still get a crunching type sound in the front. If I let the car sit for a few days and then drive it for an hour or so I have NO noises. However, if I continue to drive the car for more than half a day I get crunching noises in both the front springs. I had a friend turn the wheel and it feels like the spring builds up some tension and then "pops" and moves a little. It's been almost 3 weeks with my new suspension so I'm hoping that maybe since the mounts are harder it's taking a while for the springs to find a good seat.
-hype

 

When you installed the springs, did you use that urethane sleeve thing? Or maybe your springs aren't lined up correctly. I'm going to replacing my struts and I'll let you know if I have similar problems.

 

I guess I may as well state that I have B+G springs. I reused the old urethane sleeves and got some vinyl wrap from Home Depot to put between the coils. When I feel the spring it still feels like it pops, but the strangest thing is if it sits for a while the noise goes away. I've never heard of this problem before, but I also don't know of anyone else who has bought the KYB mounts either
-hype

 

I bought the KYB mounts and I have the same noise you have described except mine make more noise first thing in the morning when I'm turning out of the driveway then they do after I have driven for a little while. The mounts came with new strut bearings an I really dont think they are very good. They didnt feel very smooth right off the bat so I took them apart and greased them with some graphite/moly grease and they still didnt feel very smooth. I installed them thinking they would break in but after about six week the noise is still there. I also seem to have more strut noise when I hit medium to large bumps too. Oh well, live and learn. I bought them from Tire Rack for like $70.00 so I'll call them to see if there is something they can do. I am probably going to replace them with new OE mounts and bearings.

I have H&R springs, AGX's, and all new urethane sleeves (all six of them) so I'm almost 100% sure the noise is from the mounts and bearings.

I would recommend getting the new sleeves because they do get harder over time and they really are pretty cheap (for the fronts, anyway) and they do help elminate some of the noise.

Hope this helps...

 

Well hopefully we can add this to the suspension FAQ or something. I talked with another B+G/AGX owner who talked me through the vinyl wrap and I still had the crunching I reused my old urethane wrap since I have a '99. Now I wish I had saved the 60 bucks from the mounts and put it towards the urethan wrap. Maybe once I start Autocrossing I'll notice a difference, but for now the only difference I've noticed is the extra noise. I don't get the noise going over bumps though Mine only makes noise when I turn the wheel right to left.
-hype

 

what r kyb mounts???

 

The front strut mount is on the left. I have KYB front mounts, AGXs, and dust boots.
-hype

 

do i need these??? i have agx struts wiht weapon r coilovers....i didnt install them yet....

 

You may not need new ones depending on how many miles you have on your car. Inspect yours by looking in the cup-like recess that the strut shaft and nut sit in inside the engine compartment. If the rubber looks bad it may not be a bad idea to replace them, especially with coil-overs because of the higher spring rate. Mine were shot after 100,000 miles...

 

Matt,

I'd say give it some time, maybe they'll settle down and adjust themselves, try to change your setting on AGX's, maybe that will help somehow. And what is your setting now anyways? I think mine is 2 front, 6 back.

 

I'm hoping they will settle in, but only time will tell. It's not horrible, but it is annoying. Now I can be like a lot of guys on here and say just turn up the radio
I ran 4/8 for about a week and then toned it down to 2/4. Before my last trip from Dallas-Austin I set it to 1/2 and that's where it's at for now. I'll probably end up leaving it between 1/2 and 2/4, but this Friday at the track it'll go back to full hard again The one thing I was told by a friend who rode in my front and back seat is the back bounces a lot more than the front. If you have passengers you may want to keep that in mind because we don't notice that since we're only in the drivers seat. If you have time come out to Ennis this Friday night around 8-9ish.
-hype

 

Thats exactly what happened. I has 2 and 4 on...but I always have bunch of friens go out and ride with me on weekends so the rear would bounch a lot and would rub my rear tires, thats why I went with 6, so far so good!

 

Stan I forgot about your rubbing :P I have had my 16"s on since I installed my suspension so that I wasn't wearing my 18"s any more than necessary. My 16"s are also my track tires, so I won't have 18"s on until summer or so. I don't think I'll have any rubbing since I have 235/40/18s on an 18x8, but we'll have to see. I still think you should come out to Ennis with us
-hype

 

i have AGX's with the kyb strut mounts and H&R springs. so far no noise from the springs/struts, but i do have this extremely irritating grinding/pulsing noise under light braking

 

 

ok well i have ym weapon r's and i have my AGX struts.... besides and alignment and a camber kit and the right toosl what manditory parts do i need for the install???? thanx guys, Tom

 

I hate to say it, but go search. I read for months before I installed my shocks/springs and I tried to avoid having noise. Now that I do have noise and I tried everything to remedy it I was seeing if others had the same symptoms as I do. It seems that exhip has something like I do, so now we see if the mounts break in for me.
-hype

 

hey matt, we had a similar problem with mine, ended it up taking it to the dealer, id take a look at it for ya if you are in town, also check your lugs and make sure they are tight, my problem was partly a stud that moving around, let me know if you want me to take a look

 

Charlie I'll let you hear it at the meet next week if you're there. I know it's not my lugs because I always torque them and retorque them after a few hundred miles. All the nuts are torqued to spec and I installed everything correctly. I started this post because the strut mounts were the last place for me to investigate. I replaced everything rubber and had new strut bearings
-hype

 

So, you replaced the strut bearings (both sides) with OEM Nissan units?

The other thing you might double check is that you positioned the strut hat (metal top part holding the top rubber spring seat, inside the wheelwell) correctly - the side that is stamped "OUT" should be positioned closest to the fender.

Also, (this isn't meant to offend, I swear: make sure the springs are installed right-side-up).

Other than that, I'm at a loss. If you've torqued everything correctly, used new OEM strut bearings, sufficient spring insulation & didn't leave out any spacers or other parts when you reassembled. . .

 

I'll double check the strut hat, but we marked it when we took the strut apart. All 4 springs are right side up with new front strut bearings, isolated springs, and torqued nuts.
-hype

 

I'm pretty sure this only can go in one way. The bolts on the top of the hat are not a perfect triangle, so they will only fit through the holes one way.

By chance are the strut bearings in upside down or something? I've done stranger things.

 

This is only one of the problems that I had with the KYB strut mounts. I had replaced them with Nissan bearings and no more noise. Also make sure that the upper mount that indicates out is out.

 

Actually, the strut hat rotates independently of the strut mount, (separated by the strut bearing) so it is in fact possible to install it incorrectly. I'm really sure.


Btw, it sounds like fingers are starting to be pointed at the KYB strut mounts. Fwiw, I did my suspension at 85k mi & re-used my original OEM strut mounts, which were not torn or cracked & I have had no noise problems since. If you don't spend the $ on new OEM strut mounts, maybe at least consider re-installing your originals if they're not too beat up.

Good luck.

 

Oops, You're right, I confused the two. Sorry about that.