View Poll Results: Which swaybar do you use if it makes clunking/popping/knocking noises
Hotchkis
51
37.23%
Cusco
6
4.38%
Stillen
13
9.49%
Eibach
1
0.73%
350evo
0
0%
No noise
66
48.18%
Voters: 137. You may not vote on this poll
Does your aftermarket swaybar make clunking/popping/knocking noises?
09-22-2007, 09:47 AM
#61
kuah, who is "us?" SPL? sorry, nothing in your sig.
In reading the SPL endlink install instructions I also found this:
I know the stockers aren't adjustable, but is this the general procedure to prevent preload on the stockers too?
Also, for you fellow Hotchkis guys, contacted them about this and here was their response:
So four possible solutions:
1. Grease fittings with non-lithium based grease
2. Retorque bushing retainer nuts to spec and use threadlocker
3. Install without preloading endlinks
4. Get collars if you don't have'em already
Also, did everyone with the stock endlinks bend the alignment tab? My installer just inserted them into the next open hole and I'm wondering now if this is where my noise is coming from.
In reading the SPL endlink install instructions I also found this:
To eliminate sway bar preload (recommended), leave one endlink disconnected (other endlink should be connected). Place car (all 4 wheels) on flat ground. Then adjust the length of the disconnected endlink until the bolt inserts easily into the lower arm. That will be the length setting to use. Assemble and tighten that endlink accordingly.
Also, for you fellow Hotchkis guys, contacted them about this and here was their response:
Hello, the only problems we ever had with the bar was from shifting side to side, and the welded rings took care of that. It could be a grease issue, you can use any non lithium base grease, but the energy grease supplied works best. Hopefully that takes care of it, let me know what you find. Thanks.
1. Grease fittings with non-lithium based grease
2. Retorque bushing retainer nuts to spec and use threadlocker
3. Install without preloading endlinks
4. Get collars if you don't have'em already
Also, did everyone with the stock endlinks bend the alignment tab? My installer just inserted them into the next open hole and I'm wondering now if this is where my noise is coming from.
09-22-2007, 10:10 AM
#62
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Got it. Thanks Kuah. I did not mean to imply your endlinks are the problem, only that the noise is coming from them. I wish there was a shop nearby that I could have this done. With the wheels on the ground, I do not access to the bolts and nuts. Also, the bolts are not protruding past the locknuts. Should they be? Anybody know where I can get the wheel plates that bolt on in place of wheels? This should make this and other suspension jobs easier. Thanks again Kuah.
09-22-2007, 02:37 PM
#63
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i could not find the alignment tab.
Where is it located?
Where is it located?
Originally Posted by 350Zenophile
kuah, who is "us?" SPL? sorry, nothing in your sig.
Also, did everyone with the stock endlinks bend the alignment tab? My installer just inserted them into the next open hole and I'm wondering now if this is where my noise is coming from.
Also, did everyone with the stock endlinks bend the alignment tab? My installer just inserted them into the next open hole and I'm wondering now if this is where my noise is coming from.
09-22-2007, 03:47 PM
#65
Originally Posted by SunsetSunrise
i could not find the alignment tab.
Where is it located?
Where is it located?
http://www.hotchkis.net/installation_guides/22413.pdf
09-22-2007, 06:37 PM
#66
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Got mine installed and it doesn't creak. Also we didn't have to bend tabs in the front, it fits in other holes if you rotate it. Grease up the inside, outside and the sidewalls real good. Even grease up the bar and you shouldn't creak, at least not from the bushings.
09-23-2007, 08:39 AM
#67
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Originally Posted by myG35zx
Got it. Thanks Kuah. I did not mean to imply your endlinks are the problem, only that the noise is coming from them. I wish there was a shop nearby that I could have this done. With the wheels on the ground, I do not access to the bolts and nuts. Also, the bolts are not protruding past the locknuts. Should they be? Anybody know where I can get the wheel plates that bolt on in place of wheels? This should make this and other suspension jobs easier. Thanks again Kuah.
If the bolts are not protruding past the nylock, then you should use blue loctite on the bolts. Is that what is coming loose? If you do not have loctite, give us a call/email and we'll ship you a bottle. We also have some new non nylock locking nuts that we can send to you as well.
09-23-2007, 08:47 AM
#68
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Originally Posted by 350Zenophile
kuah, who is "us?" SPL? sorry, nothing in your sig.
In reading the SPL endlink install instructions I also found this:
I know the stockers aren't adjustable, but is this the general procedure to prevent preload on the stockers too?
In reading the SPL endlink install instructions I also found this:
I know the stockers aren't adjustable, but is this the general procedure to prevent preload on the stockers too?
There is no way to adjust/prevent preload on the stock endlinks because you cannot adjust the length of the stock endlinks. So it does not matter whether you tighten up the stock endlinks in the air or with the wheels loaded. Its just a matter of luck if your suspension heights are just right to have no preload (rare) or end up with some amount of preload on the sway bar.
As for our endlinks, you want to adjust the length with the wheels loaded. Using ramps is probably easiest, and will gain you enough access to the endlinks under the car to get it tightened.
09-24-2007, 10:15 AM
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for some reason I dont see it
:-(
:-(
Originally Posted by 350Zenophile
See step 8. Image in bottom left corner. report back if it works for u:
http://www.hotchkis.net/installation_guides/22413.pdf
http://www.hotchkis.net/installation_guides/22413.pdf
09-27-2007, 01:37 PM
#71
had some time to check the car out today. Took it to Tim at speed force racing and him and his guys check them out. They said they were installed correctly, but he could hear them clunking also.
I asked them to remove them and install the stockers again.
I didnt have my camera to take pictures, but I am done with these.
I asked them to remove them and install the stockers again.
I didnt have my camera to take pictures, but I am done with these.
09-27-2007, 01:54 PM
#72
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Originally Posted by USN HM 350Z
I didnt have my camera to take pictures, but I am done with these.
09-30-2007, 06:30 PM
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ok so my buddy help me with alignment tabs.
But i still had clunking.
Turns out clunking was coming not from sways.....
I think i have a problem with one of the control arms.
Time to go to dealership
:-(
But i still had clunking.
Turns out clunking was coming not from sways.....
I think i have a problem with one of the control arms.
Time to go to dealership
:-(
10-06-2007, 01:39 PM
#75
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I got a chance to get the car up and took a close look at the sway bar, end links, collars and brackets. Everything was good, until I pushed the swaybar from side to side. It moved about 1/4 to 1/5" laterally.
I loosened the collars, positioned the bar leaving the same distance from the endlink bolt to the shock on both sides. I then tightened the drivers collar followed by the passenger collar, making sure I kept pressure on the bar towards the drivers side.
The clunk is gone. I only touched the collars. I'll see after a couple weeks how this holds up.
I loosened the collars, positioned the bar leaving the same distance from the endlink bolt to the shock on both sides. I then tightened the drivers collar followed by the passenger collar, making sure I kept pressure on the bar towards the drivers side.
The clunk is gone. I only touched the collars. I'll see after a couple weeks how this holds up.
10-08-2007, 07:28 AM
#76
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Originally Posted by myG35zx
I got a chance to get the car up and took a close look at the sway bar, end links, collars and brackets. Everything was good, until I pushed the swaybar from side to side. It moved about 1/4 to 1/5" laterally.
I loosened the collars, positioned the bar leaving the same distance from the endlink bolt to the shock on both sides. I then tightened the drivers collar followed by the passenger collar, making sure I kept pressure on the bar towards the drivers side.
The clunk is gone. I only touched the collars. I'll see after a couple weeks how this holds up.
I loosened the collars, positioned the bar leaving the same distance from the endlink bolt to the shock on both sides. I then tightened the drivers collar followed by the passenger collar, making sure I kept pressure on the bar towards the drivers side.
The clunk is gone. I only touched the collars. I'll see after a couple weeks how this holds up.
10-10-2007, 06:40 AM
#78
I have an 2004.5
I had this before my swaybar install but it became more obvious after the Hotchkis.
I just installed new OEM end links and re-greased the bushings with mobile 1 grease, now that I see it here, I should have used some loctite while I was at it.
The old end links were still clean and greased inside the boot but had a tiny amount of play.
The new end links are OEM but compared with the ones I pulled off, they have increased the size of the ball ends and made the center bar thicker. Clearly Nissan knows these old ones are a problem if they are redesigning them.
I am now NOISE FREE!
Chris
I had this before my swaybar install but it became more obvious after the Hotchkis.
I just installed new OEM end links and re-greased the bushings with mobile 1 grease, now that I see it here, I should have used some loctite while I was at it.
The old end links were still clean and greased inside the boot but had a tiny amount of play.
The new end links are OEM but compared with the ones I pulled off, they have increased the size of the ball ends and made the center bar thicker. Clearly Nissan knows these old ones are a problem if they are redesigning them.
I am now NOISE FREE!
Chris
10-10-2007, 10:23 AM
#79
Originally Posted by HyperSprite
The new end links are OEM but compared with the ones I pulled off, they have increased the size of the ball ends and made the center bar thicker. Clearly Nissan knows these old ones are a problem if they are redesigning them.
10-12-2007, 10:16 AM
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I have some popping when going over the curb into my drive way with my Tanabe's but have never had any problems and they are good and tight so it doesn't bother me.