Whiteline Bars, KB endlinks just started knocking

PSD Operator · 03-09-2011, 10:41 PM

Vehicle: 2010 WRX 5 DR, limited edition
White Line SWB's, KB endlinks
Running Stage 2 w/larger up/downpipe

I have had the sway bars and end links on for 22K miles and lately they just started knocking like crazy in my turns, going over any type of low bump, etc...

Is this just some settling? Is there something I can do? It's annoying. Thy are hitting the coil spring.

I'm surprised it started after so many miles, but here it is, louder than hell. I don't want to have to go to a heavier spring, but what choices do I have? I have the heavy bars and standard KB links.

Thanks,

John

pzr2874 · 03-10-2011, 05:24 AM

Lookie here, another nightmare setup.

Have you been under there to tightening/torque everything up?

Is it in the rear or front ? Or both ?

man show · 03-10-2011, 10:11 AM

+1 Try tightening everything and see if that solves your problem. I had to tighten my hardware beyond the suggested torque specs by about 10-15 or so ft-lbs, but now everything's nice and quiet (using a dab of Threadlocker wouldn't be a bad idea either). Most of my clunking was coming from the front endlink hardware being loose, but I experienced more when a nut/bolt that was connecting my rear endlink to my rear sway bar fell out completely - don't let that happen to you

PSD Operator · 03-10-2011, 10:17 AM

I checked everything and it's tight. I'll re-tighten and put on some locktite. It's wearing into the springs on each side, right now about 1/16th of an inch, through the paint and into the bare metal.

This just started a month or so ago and the sway bars have been on since the car was new.

RcrsWetDream · 03-10-2011, 10:39 AM

So your sway bars are eating into the springs? They shouldn't be anywhere close to the springs.

pzr2874 · 03-10-2011, 11:29 AM

I know I did something sililar a few years ago on the rear bar and it wasn't under load and the bar twisted when I put it down on the ground.... Maybe something to look at ?

But it's both ?

c2bcoolwrx · 03-10-2011, 11:55 PM

Did you remember to use the spacers when installing?

Otherwise more torque on the bolts.

PSD Operator · 03-11-2011, 03:04 PM

This is what the dealer said "Aftermarket sway bars contacting lower side of struts"

I still can't see anything myself when I lift the car and look under it. I will try to get it higher on the stands this weekend and take a better look.

It happens on both sides of the car and is a solid knocking, worse in turns.

PSD Operator · 03-12-2011, 12:39 PM

I can see what is happening clearly when I get under the car only when it is on the lift. The plate on the bottom of the shock/strut assembly is resting directly on top of the end link. When the car is off the lift, there is about 1/4" from the top of the end link to the plate. When the car makes a turn, it pushes down on that side, causing the top of the end link to knock as it hits the plate on the bottom of the shock/strut assembly.

It doesn't look like they are on backwards. I can't see any way that I would open up more room on the installation. Is there anywhere I can get pictures of the right installation? Maybe I did something wrong. The dealership said they won't look at it or touch it since they are aftermarket and not their responsibility in any way; so there is no advice there.

Thanks,

John

RcrsWetDream · 03-12-2011, 12:55 PM

Wonder if the bar is shifting when you turn, causing it to contact the strut.

Do the stoppers on the bar seem to be shifting(yellow straps around the bar in picture):

http://www.rallysportdirect.com/cata...sr49z_1_lg.jpg

That would let the bar shift some to possibly hit the strut.

Bars like the cusco (or the perrin's I have) have those stops molded/welded into the bar so they don't move:

http://www.rallysportdirect.com/cata...1_b20_1_lg.jpg

PSD Operator · 03-13-2011, 12:26 AM

Here is what I did today....

Reread all my installation manuals. Got on youtube.command saw some installation video's for the project. Noticed, that my instructions did not have a small section that said "small rod on top of endline goes on bottom." It is no the new instructions, but it's not on the instructions we printed out last March when we did the install.

So, I turned the end link over on their head, what was up is now down and what was down, is now up. I will be honest, there is maybe 2-3 mm of difference in the setup. But it works!!

I put the end-links on upside down. I still have the original instructions and it doesn't say anything about putting the dot upside down
like it does now. I know that we were one of the early sales, the car is an 10 and I got everything in March 10 to start putting on it, sit might make a little sense that there were growing problems. Nothing that wasn't fixed though!

I sure hope this was it! It seem quiet for now, so maybe a week of creeping around will determine if this was the mystery knocking.

God I hope this is fixed!! I have been pulling hair I really can't affor to lose!

Thanks mates to all of you for your help as well. I couldn't have known where to look or what for it it wasn't for all the helpful contributors.

Merry on!

John

turmic · 03-13-2011, 08:47 PM

Thanks for all your feedback. I'm really interested in getting some whiteline sways or cusco sways. I'm sure your answers might help someone else.