Hey all, I'm new to this group so please bare with. I just lowering my 2004 Pontiac Sunfire using Eibach's Pro-Kit. It looks great. My only problem is that now I have noise coming from the front driver side. I think it may be the spring settling. I we installed and got the problem. So we re-installed it and still got the problem. Any suggestions, or do any of you know if it will go away over time? Thanks.

Eibachs are guaranteed not to settle. I doubt thats your problem. Check your mounts and check your struts. If you lowered on stock struts and that was not a smart move.

it could be your stut is blown or the mount is bad. Could be replaced under warranty but i doubt it since you lowered it.

My 2 bits,

If it is a squeaking/creaking noise then it is probably your strut mount. If one is bad, the other one is probably bad as well. The mounts you have (2000+ style) usually don't survive a suspension change due to the poor bearing design.

- Ken

'99 Z24, Manual

All great information. I think you guys maybe right on the strut mount thing, how would I be able to tell for sure that it's bad though? I doubt it's the strut itself, because the ride is actually pretty good for stock struts. My only annoyance is the noise it makes. Kinda sounds like a horse walking, except far away. Just enough to be an annoyance. I was also thinking it could be the Center bolt on the strut that perhaps wasn't tightened enough, I was thinking of taking it to my job in New Haven to use there compressor to tighten it.

-Anthony

One quick addition, why would only one side wear out an not the other???

Anthony Henriquez wrote:One quick addition, why would only one side wear out an not the other???

It's just the nature of it... same with wheel bearings, rotors, etc. Anything that needs replacement on one side of the car will probably need replacement on the other side of the car very soon... so you should just replace them both so you don't have to do the job over again when the opposite side goes. I tried just doing one strut mount once and the other one went bad only a week later.

Doesn't sound like a strut mount though (I take it a "horse walking" means a clunking sound?). Bad strut mounts will clunk sometimes when turning the wheel, but not when driving straight. They would most likely make a squeaky kind of sound when hitting bumps. A clunking noise can be a number of things that could have been damaged in the installation, including:

1) CV-Joint - If the noise is in sync with the rotation of the wheels, it could be a CV-joint. It could also be the inner CV-joint boot clamp rubbing up against a broken piece of metal from the transmission mount (this should sound worse when going in reverse).

2) Ball joints - If it happens when you hit a bump, turn the wheel, or brake, it could be the lower ball joint or tie rod end.


I would check the torque on that top nut first. DO NOT just air wrench the thing. Use a torque wrench and tighten it to specifications. Also, you need to understand that those stock struts aren't going to last long at all with lowering springs (you'll be lucky if they last a year).

'99 Z24, Manual

I Planned on doing them all, I find it odd that only one side would go and not the other.

Is there a specific way to check the mount?

I know what a CV Joint sounds like, thats not it.

It basically sounds like a very soft clunkin, in the midst of a squeak..(if that wasn't creative, I don't know what is...) The most likely thing it's going to be in the mount.

As time goes by I plan on doing the struts as well, like Koni, or KYB. If there is a way to check the mount itself, I will just buy the struts and the mounts and do it all together. Please advise. Thanks!

-Anthony

One more thing....If I do have to change them, I heard about pre 2000 Strut Mounts. Are a 1999 Pontiac Strut mounts interchangable? Are they better? Or are there any aftermarket brands that would be better recommended, for a lowered car?

Thanks!

nothing is made aftermarket for these carsm just oem replacement. people are cheap in this market.

95-05 is interchangeable

ok what would be the best between 95-05?

my 2000+ mounts are fine, lowered. make sure you put that rubber perch liner back that could be your noise. since I don't know what that noise is it could be anything really.

Anthony Henriquez wrote:ok what would be the best between 95-05?

theres not a best.

95-99 are more efficient, can replace parts when need be...

2000+ are enclosed so if something goes wrong you buy a new mount.

I had the same type of noise when I lowered with my stock mounts and my pro-kit. It WILL get worse. It will go from where you are now, to a loud clunk every time you hit a bump, go over a speed-bump, etc. Get the '95-'99 mounts. I did it about 2 weeks ago now, and the noise is gone and has yet to return.



I may not know much about cars, but I know two things....
1) Breaking things is expensive, and
2) Horsepower isn't cheap.

I think the 95-99 mounts are best. The bearing design is much better then on the newer mounts, and the top strut nut is easier to get to. You will need to get a set of spring seats from GM if you plan on going to the older style since they are separate parts (search the forums for the part number).

'99 Z24, Manual

Will the stock Struts from a 2004 work with those older strut mounts? Part numbers? Suggestions on where to get them? Prices?

Thanks much!

Anthony

yup they are interchangeable

I find it odd that only one side would go and not the other not to be a smartass, but you drive on the left and you body weight will always sagg the left front first. however, i would check the angle of the control arm, and sway bar bushings may have twisted and will also make noise.