Some time after I installed the SPL Compression Rod Bushings on my car, every time I drive on rough road surfaces or Bots Dots when changing lanes, my front suspension sounds like it is ready to come apart. Many times I have gone over all the nuts and bolts on my front suspension to make sure I didn't miss tightening something. Then last week while working on my car( and doing my usual inspection any time I have my car up) I grabbed a comression rod to check for any free play and to my surprise because of the new bushings the rod is free to move up and down a lot. I had never considered this before. The original rubber bushing kept the arm centered and the arm was not free to flop up and down. The ball joint at the other end has enough resistance so that if you push the arm up it stays in place but going over bumps the - and + g-forces make loud clunking sounds as it bangs up and down. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

Sounds normal for those bushings. They are solid. Mostly used for track use. Do a search you will read about feeling all road bumps and other stuff with ease. Just like putting solid rear bushings your rear whines thru the frame.

 

You don't understand. It is not that road noises are being transfered thru the bushing that is the issue. It is the fact that there is nothing to keep the arm from flopping up and down about 2 inches of travel. If you have these bushings try this. With the car just sitting on the ground reach behind the front wheel and grab the compression arm in the middle and move it up and down to see what I mean.It is because the compression rod is formed in an arch and not a straight link that allows this movement.

 

The arm floats , it is no big deal other than noise. The the arm pivots on its two fixed points it does not cause any deflection in the suspension there for, no need to dampen it.

My rear arms free float also.

 

I talked to Pat at SPL and found out they now include four rubber o-rings to be install on the cone shaped pieces of the bushing kit. They act as bumpers to remedy the problem of the arms rattling over bumps.

 

Yep my set that still need to be installed have the O-ring bumpers. Should be interesting to see how long they hold up on peoples cars that are slammed with big rims.

My setup likely will never see the spherical bearing move that much but good to see SPL continuously improving their products.

 

Rick, thanks for the heads up. I'll give SPL a call on Monday about the o-ring bumpers. I'd really like to put these back in for the next season worth of track days and hopefully avoid the god-awful knocking.

 

man...I was gonna put in these things this week but hearing about this sound and possible remedy might make me wait to put in this O ring bumper..Thanks guys,, another thing to upgrade ^_^

 

The size of the o-rings is 1/8" thick X 1 and 1/8" inner dia. X 1 and 3/8" outer dia. They only cost pennys apiece and it only takes four.