hotchkis coils problem

woody80z28 · 06-16-2007, 01:20:47 PM

I rebuilt the front end this winter with poly from Energy Susp and coils from Hotchkis. Both coils are scraping the subframe on bumps. Any ideas on what would cause this?

Carlisle is in 6 days... haha

LTjames · 06-16-2007, 01:22:14 PM

Did you cut the coils at all?
just an off topic question: Hows the energy suspension bushings workin out for you? Im putting in the same stuff.

Knuckle Dragger · 06-16-2007, 01:39:19 PM

I'd say you are off at the top. If the spring is centered correctly I don't see how it's possible in this application for it to hit. It's extremely easy to miss the top and have the spring cocked on the :crown" it's supposed to sit around.

SHANE 73Z · 06-16-2007, 02:15:08 PM

Or are you hearing bushing noise? Can you physically see where they are making contact?

All springs are wound on the same ID. So as the springs get stiffer the OD increases. May just be a fact of life.

Shane

woody80z28 · 06-16-2007, 08:00:38 PM

Positive it's the spring, I can see where it hits scraping off the beautiful powder coat. haha

The coils are not cut at all, yet... Maybe later.

Hard to tell on the poly bushings... I only have about 5-6 miles on the car since the teardown.

67lemanster · 06-16-2007, 08:35:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woody80z28

Positive it's the spring, I can see where it hits scraping off the beautiful powder coat. haha

The coils are not cut at all, yet... Maybe later.

Hard to tell on the poly bushings... I only have about 5-6 miles on the car since the teardown.

woody double check the part number on the coil with hotchkis. sounds like you got the wrong spring to me. are you talking about the k member or are talking about where the coil goes up into the sub frame at the top of the spring. if that is it i dont think you have the upper part of the spring in right. just like dave said. its easy to do and you wouldnt be the first.

woody80z28 · 06-16-2007, 10:02:18 PM

Hotchkis 19830014 is what I just pulled out.

They are hitting on the subframe right by the k-member. Basically if you take a line from the oil filter to the spring on the driver side and starter on the pass side, that's where it's hitting.

It looks like it was right???

Here's a link to the project from months ago...
http://www.motortopia.com/album/view...pensionchassis

67lemanster · 06-17-2007, 09:44:47 AM

woody see in this pic where i have the shadow done in black by the top of the spindle. that represents the bottome of the subframe where the spring goes into the pocket. is it rubbing on the bottom of the subframe there? around the sides or on one side? if the answer is yes the springs are not centered in the little crown at the top of the subframe. if not. post up a pic of where it is rubbing.

woody80z28 · 06-17-2007, 10:18:42 AM

Yes Tommy, thats where it was rubbing. The springs were 100% most definitely in the upper part correctly. I saw the location in the lower control arm wasnt correct to line up the end of the coil and turned about 180. I put it back in that way, at least really close to that way and dont see any problems now, there is definitely more clearance at the subframe. I dont have a spring compressor and there was a lot more fighting with the end of the coil to clear the hole for the shock in the lca, but it appears I've got it solved. I bounced the car with the weight on the suspension and couldnt hear it on this side, only the other side. Now it's time to do the other one and hope it works...

Thanks

67lemanster · 06-17-2007, 11:45:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woody80z28

Yes Tommy, thats where it was rubbing. The springs were 100% most definitely in the upper part correctly. I saw the location in the lower control arm wasnt correct to line up the end of the coil and turned about 180. I put it back in that way, at least really close to that way and dont see any problems now, there is definitely more clearance at the subframe. I dont have a spring compressor and there was a lot more fighting with the end of the coil to clear the hole for the shock in the lca, but it appears I've got it solved. I bounced the car with the weight on the suspension and couldnt hear it on this side, only the other side. Now it's time to do the other one and hope it works...

Thanks

just to double check look up there with a flashlight. only times i had the issues you are having is when it was cocked to one side up in the top cup. but glad your getting it straightend out.

woody80z28 · 06-17-2007, 12:13:01 PM

That part was good before, but now that I have the coil sitting in the LCA right everything seems fine after a test drive. They werent hitting by much, but enough to hear it and see it.

Cardinal · 06-17-2007, 01:48:14 PM

I stared at the picture of the coil spring next to each other. IMHO, the new springs look like they have a slightly larger outside diameter. Anyone else see what I see?

woody80z28 · 06-17-2007, 05:17:53 PM

Yeah, they were hitting. They are not now. I just got another 60 miles or so on it and the suspension feels good. The end of the coil spring was not seated properly in the LCA, now it is and it seems fine, I have clearance all around with no rubbing.

In order to install them right this time I had to put an upside down socket on the jack to jack the end of the coil without hitting the LCA to get it into the cup right. 2nd side took no time after that little trick. The BFH was all I used last time and the coil end on both sides were about 180* from where they needed to be.