I just had a quick questions about the stock strut tops. Is there suppose to be ANY sort of play while holding the strut upright (taken off car) holding the top with two hands and rocking the top back and forth? Mine has a very slight wiggle.

Mine are installed on PSS9's. I got the car up today and just started looking over everything that I could think of, (whiteline RCK b joints, & whiteline sway bar links installed up front) the problem doesn't seem like a universal or wheel bearing, and the strut itself is definitely not blown. I can go over bumps and it will be dead silent, you can feel the suspension working, then I will get a weird clunk on perfectly even road, or whenever I turn left.

My front driver's side seems to be the source of my clunking, it feels like its coming right beneath my left foot. Also, whenever I lift the car up, then take it for a drive afterwards, the clunking is gone, but then returns within 5-15 minutes of driving. Almost like whatever is clunking get the pressure taken off it, then it takes some time to work it's way back in, could that be the stut top bearings?

I've been trying to diagnose the source of my front end clunking, (also posting in this: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...d-noise-5.html) I know I've been saying a lot of the same things in that post, but this is just damn annoying, any suggestions will be considered.

 

There is a little bit of play in the top hat even with a brand new one. Not alot, jsut a little.

One major source of clunking is if the strut alignment holes aren't lined up properly, making the spring sit funny. Check those holes and make sure they are lined up.

 

Thanks for the reply. It sounds so simple, but i'm a little confused. Could you elaborate? Are you reffering to the top 3 holes on the tower? how could they not be lined up? I usually thread the all evenly in sequence, then torque them down.

 

No those are the top hat mounts to the chassis. There is a hole in the upper strut perch and one in the lower strut perch and those holes have to be aligned vertically. If they are even a little off the assembly is "twisted" and the spring doesn't sit like it should. The symptom is usually a clunking sound.

 

Great, I shall take the strut off and take another look. Thanks again!

 

Is this true for the PSS9's also? or just for the stock suspension? please let us know since I recently installed some PSS9's and would like to get them setup properly.
OP, I tried 4 different top hats and all of them had some sort of play, very minimal, but present.

 

bump, did you find a cure for the clunk OP? I have the clunk and it's really anoying hopefully someone will chime in...

 

bump.. same problem

 

I don't know if COs will have the same setup, but here's a couple of pics of an assembled stock strut and how to line it up: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/7493145-post4.html

l8r)

 

yeah, i removed the entire coilover, disassembled it, cleaned, reassembled, and tightened the **** outa the top nut when re-installing. I haven't heard any clunking in months!

 

^ Didn't they have a torque spec for the top nut?

l8r)