SPL Front End link Problem
 

Hey guys,

So after having my SPL end links on with my Eibach sway bar they've started to make a lot of clunking noise on uneven ground and when turning. I researched a lot of threads, but didn't find anything really to help. I've completed 9 autocross runs on these end links. When I first installed them/adjusted them they were silent no noise. As of last night they began making noise, loud at times.

So today I re-torqued the lower shock bolt to 120 ft/lbs like the manual calls for, and 62 ft/lbs on the connection from end link to sway bar on both sides. I then torqued the top hat 22 ft/lbs and the nut on the top of the shock 44 ft/lbs. All are at spec still noise is heard.

When I first got the end links I noticed that the ball joint was really stiff and kind of hard to move. I think it may have more play now and that's why it's making more noise. Any others have any issues like this?

Thanks for the help.

I know I haven't got any responds so hopefully these pics will help. Are these under pre-load?

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...psb1b7cd86.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...psbdceb0ec.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...ps47e0fc97.jpg

Any reason from these pic why the end links are clunking?

Thank you for any help.

Take a pry bar and move the end of the sway bar. Watch the links to see if there is any movement in them.

I am having the exact same issue. I actually made a post about this awhile back. Its driving me crazy but I dont think the stock endlinks are strong enough to handle the upgraded sway so I haven't put the stock ones back on.

http://www.the370z.com/brakes-suspen...tay-tight.html

Lube your bushings. See if it helps. Also make sure everything was tightened with the car fully on the ground.

I can try, I'll need to put the car on ramps.

See and it only happened just recently. During the autocross events and even the drive back there were no issues. I initially torqued everything with the car on the ground FYI. One of my buddies was thinking because there are no rubber bushings that it might be making that noise. So your saying it's the actual nut that connects the bar to the link? I'll have to tighten that one more. I noticed that SPL doesn't want you to torque it as high as the service manual calls for.

Thanks will give it a shot.

The stiffness in the you experienced in the new bearing is normal, or else they wouldn't be new.
Make sure the mounting studs are centered in the bearing so you don't bind because of lack of movement, From the photos they look a little off. Also if the aftermarket sway bar has urethane bushing they will make noise from either the lubricant drying out and or heat expansion from heavy use.

Thanks for the response I can see where the endlinks aren't centered in the picture. Tomorrow I'm going to readjust and probably get a lock nut for the swaybar nut.

I also noticed tonight that the clunking is inconsistent. It made noise tonight then at other times it made no noise. Really weird.

Alright guys quick update the problem is fixed. I sent these pictures to Pat at SPL. He stated that the articulation looked fine no issues. So he asked to lube the bushings and tighten the nut holding the swaybar to the link. So I lube the bushings with some Teflon lubrication, and torqued the bottom nut to make sure it was 62lbs per service manual. I also re-torqued the swaybar brackets for good measure. Everything works now no noise. I have some more autocross events so we'll see if the nuts loosen.

Good deal. :tup: When I got my Hotckis sway bars. I got their silcone chassis lube too. I use this stuff on my bushings. ;)

It could very much be the actual clamps on the sway making this sound. I dont have that silicone cassis lube but ill lube it up and see if my noise goes away.

Let me know how you make out.

Sub'd

Would the heavy duty SPL sway bar brackets make any difference?

Got caugh in the rain the other day. After things dried out. Had a noise coming from the links. Sprayed some oil on the links, and the noise is gone. Thinking now with the way they are designed. Going to have to keep them lubed.

7/25/14: Alright so just another quick update to this response: (Alright guys quick update the problem is fixed. I sent these pictures to Pat at SPL. He stated that the articulation looked fine no issues. So he asked to lube the bushings and tighten the nut holding the swaybar to the link. So I lube the bushings with some Teflon lubrication, and torqued the bottom nut to make sure it was 62lbs per service manual. I also re-torqued the swaybar brackets for good measure. Everything works now no noise. I have some more autocross events so we'll see if the nuts loosen.)

So two days after this post the noise came back. This time I decided to go buy some locking nuts from Lowes. I changed them out and no noise for over a month now. When I removed the nuts that came with the endlinks I could see threads that looked like they were messed up.

The locking nuts I bought from Lowes are $0.90 cents and are working beautifully. I have an AutoX event this Sunday so we'll see what happens.