Hoping somebody can enlighten me on my situation...

Around the end of June/early July I got my Eibach Pro-Kit springs installed. After a few days I heard a creaking noise. After some testing, i noticed that the creaking noise seems to be coming from the front end of the car at low speeds when I turn the steering wheel left or right, when I am NOT in motion (parked), and also when I am backing out of a parking space. All of this only happens when I turn the steering wheel left and right. It is a low, soft creaking noise that can only be heard/noticed when music volume is low.

I went back to the shop that installed my springs and they looked at the setup and assured me that everything was installed and done correctly.

I have no idea what it could be. I have tried google'n it but I seem to not be doing something right. Anyone have any ideas, or did/does anyone have this problem and maybe a solution? lol

 

Is this one of those spring clocking errors? I don't know much about it at all, but I know a few members including MightyP have experienced that...

 

Mine did that real bad when i got them installed also, it scared and ____ed em off all at the same time. it just needs to be broken in. i barely hear mine now.

 

Bottom line: Don't worry too much about it.

All I've heard it called is a clocking problem, but it's really more that the springs aren't fully seated. Somewhere between the spring, the upper seat and the sub-assembly, they aren't lined up exactly right. If they're close, over time, it should seat itself properly with normal driving. Your other option is to jack the car up, releasing the tension on the springs, and, without removing anything, twist the springs back and forth. It takes some muscle, but you can get everything to slide in place and you'll hear a clunk.

Hope this helps

 

^
Wasn't something damaged as a result of you mis-clocking yours? Or did that grab-and-turn technique solve everything for you?

I'm becoming very curious/nervous about this because I'll be installing Sportlines over my buddy's place in 2 weeks. I've never done a spring install before. I had never even done a CAI or exhaust before until now! Greenhorn here.

 

There is a long story on how i figured this all out, but the short answer is, no, i didnt have any damage.

Dealer initially told me the sound was my strut bearings going out and that I'd have to replace them. After some research, one of our good Scion reps PM'd me told me the real answer and what the corporate master techs were doing to fix the noise.

 

On tC the front strut assembly is diff many shop would make a mistake on this is the top plate have to face out, I just replaced my shocks just a month back the last mechanic installed the top plate 180degree opposite which flexs the strut when it's in action, which will damage the strut seals. take a look at the pix I took with the on the left is the old mechanic assemble with the top plate 180degree facing in instead of facing out!



Also I had really bad squeaking noise when going slow over bump, seems to heard from the front, but came out to be the Driver Rear shocks bottom bolt came loose and gone, so after I put new screw it it's gone! good luck... make sure you double check your front strut is assemble correctly, I just had my front set of shocks assemble at Pepboys just 3wk back for our SUV they assemble the top plate incorrectly, both shocks the top plate is in different position not matching at all, which will flexs the struts also. so beaware!!!

 

Very cool! Is there a way to avoid that situation altogether? Or do you simply have to make the mistake and then fix it?

 

Well the shop I went too, a high recommended one in my area, took a look at my shocks and assured me they were clocked correctly and everything in the install was done %100 correct.

Im hoping it is what MightyP mentioned. I have had the springs installed for almost two months now, so maybe it will fix itself? lol

 

Here is the exact wording from the message I got.

"The issue is actually more with the hat than the bearing itself. There would be no issue with the replacing the factory springs, as they are tall enough to keep the hat in the proper place.

The TRD springs are shorter, and so with the suspension unloaded they might not put enough pressure to keep the hat in the proper place. What happens there is that when re-installing the shock/spring combo, the hat could possibly drop down a bit, and not be seated properly when re-installed. If this occurs, you will get clunking and creaking noises at low speeds while turning.

He said it is possible to fix with the suspension still on the car, by pulling/pushing on the strut and spring, until you hear a clunk which would be the hat seating itself properly.

So overall, it has nothing to do with the strut mount bearing being clocked properly, so in the installation instructions where it says "alignment" it must be referring to the hat being properly aligned with the bearing, not the bearing being properly aligned in relation to the vehicle."

It appears with time, if the hat is close enough, it can pop back into place. Otherwise, just get cranking!

NOTE: This is not an official fix from Scion. Scion doesn't endorse nor approve of this fix, which is why I'm saying this without giving anyone credit. Just think of it as a suggestion, through a friend, from someone who happens to work on Scions a fair amount.