So I installed some hotchkis springs about 2 weeks ago. I've yet to get an alignment. But I've noticed that now when I go over rough spots on the road, it sounds like I have a flat tire. Or something is loose down there. It looks of and the spring looks secure, and the ride is good, except the noise from the road when going over rough patches. Maybe its normal, yet I was curious if you all had any opinions. Perhaps all I need is the alignment.

Is the noise coming from one or more of the wheels?

I installed a new set of shocks/springs two days ago and was having a similar problem.
I ended up figuring out that the front-passenger shock was not fully fastened to the piece that attaches to the car.
I had to tighten it again after everything was set and done and the car was back on the ground.
Once I did that, the noise was gonne.

i got hotchkis too.. same problem.. we did check every bolt and all of them is tightened up.... if everything goes well we will reinstall the whole spring this month i hope the noise will go away

a common problem with spring or strut installs is that the bolts on the upper strut mount get loose after you drive it for awhile. does it sound like a metallic popping noise?

ideally once the install is done, you should drive i for awhile and then tighten them again.

Its just coming from the front right tire. I thought it could have been the hood prop loose or something like that. It sounds like something rolling around in my engine bay, but nothing in there should be making that noise. I'll take a wrench and check the bolts on the strut tower to make sure all of them are as tight as can be.

front, right.. same thing here..

Ok.. I dunno whats going on. I really think its just the shroud between the windshield and the hood that is loose or something. I dont think its anything with the spring cause I lifted the car and no issues there. I really am at a loss right now. Anyone with some advice?

Try this. Remove the little cap that goes over the bolt on the shock piston to expose the piston bolt.
See picture bellow:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2289/boltxe9.jpg

Then place your thumb on the bolt on top of the piston.
See picture bellow:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6540/thumbdn2.jpg

With your thumb on the bolt and using your other hand, or a second person to help you, push down on that part of the car to compress the shock. You want to keep pushing down over and over making a bouncing motion.
The piston should move along with the car and there should be no play at all. If you notice any play in the piston, tighten that bolt.
Even if you tighten as much as you can while the sock assembly is not on the car, you still have not tightened it all the way.
With the wheel now on the ground, there will be more pressure on the sock, allowing you to tighten the bolt without spinning the piston.

This is how I was able to solve this on my car. I hope it helps.

i might try this..

Ok, tightened the bolt and it worked like a charm. No more noise and back to the smooth ride. Thanks a bunch to everyone.

^ you compressed the springs then tightened the bolts?

No.. the springs were compressed when installed. I just took off the flange and tightened the bolt. Its back to smooth.

yeh the most common problem with spring installs that people are not aware of as already mentioned is the nut on top of the strut either becoming loose or not being tightened properly before the install. there should but about 4-7mm of threading sticking out from the nut and as shown in that picture, it looks a little loose. take a 19mm with a impact socket and hit it a few times to be sure its tight! now if you have the same problem in the read, i feel sorry for ya ;D

i just had the same exact problem...this worked like a charm.

i still couldn't believe how loose the bolt was.

so.. just be sure.. i dont take out the whole thing.. i just raise the car.. take off the wheel..compress the springs and tighten up everything up there.. right?
then decompress.. put wheel back and lower car and be happy dont worry.. this is what i have to do?

i didn't even raise the car.

just take off the rubber thing covering the strut bolt (like in the pic above), and tighten the bolt with a 19mm.

yupp you dont have to do anything other than remove the cap and if you have one tighten the strut nut with a 19mm impact wrench

oookay.. so... today we took out the whole shocks/strut , springs.. took apart the whole think.. reinstalled and now the noise is GONE!!!

i know it cant be a blown shock because last time we twisted the springs and the noise went away for a week or two...

every bolt was tightened up so the only thing what we could do is to take it apart.. chech every part and reinstall it.. well..
we found some weird sh!t...........................

look at the pics:

http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0175.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0176.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0177.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0178.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0179.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0180.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0181.jpg

http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0182.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0183.jpg


http://www2.djn-ice.com/CSOCSO-SUPRA/scion/howto/hotchkis/IMG_0184.jpg



why is it paint coming off between the coils? why is it rusting? why is the hotchkis letter are upside down?.. as u can see the donut sponge (or what) was i pieces.. this is the part which keeps the ball bearings clean.. so we found something else to put in there..