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Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:41 pm
by bigBADbenny
Fergitron wrote:Any easy way to tell if its the bearing? thanks


Allen key + ring spanner = tighten nut on top of strut under dust cover.
That might fix the issue - if the nut is loose.
If the bearing is stuffed, no.

The click can just be the strut binding where the wheels turn so I'd jack the front turn the steering wheel, spray lube.
But I'm no expert... :roll:

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:49 pm
by Dropz
CVs can click on one direction only (ie turning right but not left)

Spray lube around bushes/spring seats etc.

Inner CVs don't make a noise due to their different design to the outer joints.

Bearings can be checked by: driving along and swerve the weight of the vehicle left and right, the noise should get louder when the weight is on that bearing.
Raise the car on a hoist and drive at approx 80km/h and listen for noise.
jack up the car and feel for movement when trying to wobble the wheel up/down and left/right.

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:14 am
by wannawagon
I finally got sick of the strut knocking and put grease nipples near the top of the strut outer, above the spring perch with the car on a hoist so the shockie is fully extended (so if i bottom out when drilling/tapping on the shockie outer its not going to cause a rough spot that will rip the seal). Had to grind the end off a tap so it didnt bottom out but small price to pay if it works . There is previous discussion re this fix earlier in thread.

Filled cavity with as much grease as i could (used castrol agri but son't think its critical) and the noise was gone YAYYYYYYYYY finally.

I had previously found I could get say 1/3 turn on the crossmember bolts etc but it didnt change. in my case I always had the impression it was shocks, initially driving over a puddle or wet road spray would shut them up a bit but as time went on they got worse...until now.

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:36 am
by bigBADbenny
Pics of the grease nipple install?

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:05 pm
by wannawagon
will see how i go but i am not that computer savvy, also will have to get it up on a hoist etc so it would be a while at best, earlier in this thread there is a link to doing similar thing but on a different car by memory .

I just came down about 70mm from the top of the outer strut (yellow bit - normally hidden by plastic concertina gator) and inserted it there,

the only reason I put it there is that it was as low as i could get without fouling the drill and tap (to thread hole) on the spring perch, also its covered by the concertina gator in normal use to minimise dust etc if the nipple came out. I didnt want to put it below the spring perch as i thought i would have to put so much grease in it to get it near the top, and then hard to replenish the grease where its needed (at top).

I have no idea where the slide bearing is in the strut etc , so as such hopefully i am clear of them (or between them at least as I think there are 2). The only science I used is as above - and with the knowledge that if i totally stuffed it up I could bet a new set from the bloke on ebay. LOL

make sure the nipple has short thread as the outer of the shock only seems to be 5mm max below strut case, otherwise it will rub.

I have every intention of having a close look at everythng in a 1000 km or so and will add to this thread if anything bad happening.

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:36 pm
by bigBADbenny
Nice one - I'll dig up the how-to I saw on Toronto Subaru Club or similar.
This is something I'd do when setting up my spare Billies :wink:

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:19 pm
by wannawagon
Just had to loosen one of the grease nipples as it was bottoming out on the shockie outer (RHS one) and was making a similar noise as before, just wound it out a bit (its a nice tight thread) and all good, was also able to get a heap more grease in so I assume it was previously rubbing against shocki when i first put it in, alld good and nice to drive a "quiet" spec B again.

also I have no idea why I said 70 down from top of strut, its more like 30mm.

ps this is only relevant to inverted type bilsteins. Also did not remove strut etc, all in situ.

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:05 pm
by PUDZ RSC3.0RB
My First Post

A big gday to all you liberty guys on this great,informative and very interesting forum.Ive been reading many hundreds of u guys posts over the last 6 mths and i have gained so much knowledge which i thank you all for. I recently snared a obsid black my05 3.0RB 6MT Wagon with only 72 clicks on it and what a super car it is in stock form
with obviously much room for improvements,which i have already begun.

Better get back on topic hey.

My front bilstein suspension was knocking from the day i bought it, but as of today the problem is solved.Turned out to be the strut top bearing which i replaced today along with installing tein s-techs from phat.Knock is no longer and also i reckon is 70% of the road noise which is bloody unreal. So nice to have a quiet Spec B back.
Just thought id let u guys know of my good outcome and once again thank the guys who have talked about this problem. All ur suggestions have been very helpful and ill keep the grease nipple modification in mind for the future.
Also installed phats j-speed lca's a few weeks back along with cusco rear swaybar and avo mounts.Have the front sway to do but as of 2nite the lib wagon steers,brakes and handles like its on rails with still a good alignment to be done next week.Wouldnt have a glue where its set at the moment,but im thinking it cant be too far off.
Would any of u guys have suggestions on fr n rear camber settings and also all round toe.Lib is 90% daily driver but does get hammered thru some twistys and the old hwy occasionally.
Regards Grant

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:53 am
by wannawagon
wannawagon wrote:will see how i go but i am not that computer savvy, also will have to get it up on a hoist etc so it would be a while at best, earlier in this thread there is a link to doing similar thing but on a different car by memory .

I just came down about 70mm from the top of the outer strut (yellow bit - normally hidden by plastic concertina gator) and inserted it there,

the only reason I put it there is that it was as low as i could get without fouling the drill and tap (to thread hole) on the spring perch, also its covered by the concertina gator in normal use to minimise dust etc if the nipple came out. I didnt want to put it below the spring perch as i thought i would have to put so much grease in it to get it near the top, and then hard to replenish the grease where its needed (at top).

I have no idea where the slide bearing is in the strut etc , so as such hopefully i am clear of them (or between them at least as I think there are 2). The only science I used is as above - and with the knowledge that if i totally stuffed it up I could bet a new set from the bloke on ebay. LOL

make sure the nipple has short thread as the outer of the shock only seems to be 5mm max below strut case, otherwise it will rub.

I have every intention of having a close look at everythng in a 1000 km or so and will add to this thread if anything bad happening.



Just a follow up , done 1000 km or so and still all quiet, in my case the noise was from the slide bearing in the top part of strut outer , all good still.

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:28 pm
by Blitzen06
I have a similar issue, but not when taking corners. The knocking sound comes and goes when traversing over speed humps at slow speeds as well as when there are slight dips in the road. I was thinking this was the bushes but not sure. I only have 87,000km on the clock. any thoughts?

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:26 pm
by ephesiangts
I've have been dealing with this issue since day dot.
1. Heard the knock shortly after purchase, got checked and was told struts. Bilstein's replaced all round. (new)
2. Knock came back 2 weeks later. Just accepted it was "Bilstein" knock till recently.
3. Got jack of it and took the car to be inspected at a new place. (Subaru Experienced Shop). They straight away said it was struts. I said it's not as they are new.
They tightened everything and in the process snapped a stud on the passenger front strut top. :( They replaced it! :)
4. The shop had a Bilstein Australia Rep there one day and they asked him about it and he advised the "slide bearing" issue. They got the bearings sent down and fitted them. No difference. Knock still present. :roll:
5. Upon returning from a weekend away, I hit some road kill on the side of the road and seized the passenger side front Bilstein. :(
6. Contacted Bilstein and got a replacement front set sent and they were fitted up and was good for about 3 days and then the knock came back :x
7. As the car was there, a Rep from a tuning shop mentioned that it has an aftermarket front swaybar (Whiteline) it may have a knock from the nolathane bushes.... Yet to see what they are going to do about this as the knock disappears in the wet weather and I haven't had a chance to go back yet. I've read about this, just not sure what the fix is?

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:36 pm
by bigBADbenny
Does the front swaybar have:
Locks?
Lube?
Condition of links/mounts is?

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:58 pm
by ephesiangts
bigBADbenny wrote:Does the front swaybar have:
Locks?
Lube?
Condition of links/mounts is?


I forget to mention the links were replaced and no change and were removed again.
No locks.... and they haven't mentioned condition of mounts.
Lube: considering the noise disappears when wet, I assume it may need some lube.

I'm hoping as this is the only thing they haven't really looked at, the issue is there...

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:14 pm
by bigBADbenny
Encasing the entire bar and mount area in grease filled MTB tube zip tied at each end keeps the lube in ;)

I'd look into locks too, to limit lateral play of the bar...

Re: Bilstein: knocking noise from the front suspension

PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 2:18 pm
by ephesiangts
bigBADbenny wrote:Encasing the entire bar and mount area in grease filled MTB tube zip tied at each end keeps the lube in ;)

I'd look into locks too, to limit lateral play of the bar...


Cheers! Good pointers.