About a day ago, a really weird noise started to become prevalent on the front right side of my car. After listening for it, I noticed it was only occuring whenever I would go over a bump or dip in the road. The sound is similar to grabbing a large rectangular piece of plastic or sheet metal and grabbing either end of it and twisting the piece. That odd crackling sound that the sheet metal or plastic would make is what the noise sounds like. So since it was only occuring when I was going over bumps or dips in the road I figured it has to do with my suspension. My cousin which is pretty handy with cars told me over the phone that the TRD spring may have come loose from the pocket it sits in. Has anyone else heard of this problem or had something like this happen to them? Any suggestions on what else it could be? By the way this is the only suspension mod I have, so im wondering if not installing the TRD shocks could have contributed to whatever the problem may be? All help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Likely the shocks/struts wouldn't matter.

Who installed the springs? It is important that they are seated down in the struts correctly, but I think it would be kind of difficult for them to come out of them.

 

I took them to a shop to install, had a good reputation, so I dont know. Either way Im taking it in sometime this weekend to get fixed. Im just hoping its nothing too serious. Thanks for the help though

 

could be the dustboots...

 

Did you ever find out what was causing with that spring issue? I'm having the same problem with mine, happens whenever I hit a bump on the passenger side but no noise from the driver side. It Sounds like cracking poping noise comming from the lower windshild/dash area.

I measured the drop and it sits about a half inch higher on the same side and the spring seems to be seated fine.

I think the alignment might have the assemblemy hitting the body somehow. Only problem is it's sits too cold outside to start tearing into things.

 

I looked at another thread as well as I am having the same type of issue with a hotchkis set oddly enough all the threads I am reading seem to involve the front passenger side on my xA

I think mine became unseated when I hit a pothole to hard, roads in Ohio Suck! I took it to the delaer but being an after market part they politely said "good luck"! The other posting salso mentioned about a guy getting his tires changed out and with the car being on the lift the front springs somewhat "dangle", if they by chance are moved then the car is sat back down it can cause this dislodge as well.

Anyway, thought I would add as I am now on my way to my local hopefully to take the strut off and reinstall the spring.

 

did you guys even read this. this rubber thing makes that same noise described above when its get squeezed or twisted. imo i think it would be extremely difficult for the spring to get loose from the seat. the only way that would happen is if the locking nut on top of the shock comes loose. remember the spring is compressed and the locking nut is holding it down.

 

Or if it was never installed right in the first place. I took mine apart and put it back together and the noise went away. What i think happened was the notches on the strut weren't lined up with the notches on the upper spring seat. If that's the case there will be hella noise when you hit a bump.

 

I should know later today, I am having the strut assembly taken off and reinstalled. Hopefully that solves the issue. My mechanic seems to thingk thats all it is. Since he did the original work he's not charging me.

 

I had the same problem something about how it was seated unlodged itself and I had them installed with the car so it was covered under warranty.

I need to address this with the service dept - Mine happened on the right side as well.