Suspension noise?

[novAKs47]

I just lowered my car using Tokico HP struts, and Sprint springs(2" drop). Everything is torqued down, the alignment has been done, and the springs are seated perfectly. However, when making left turns, typicaly slow and easy left turns, the left front seems to make a knocking sound. I inspected everything, and all seems to be fine. Nothing seems to have rattled loose. Any ideas? When the car is parked, and I bounce it up and down, no noise. I'm baffled on this one. (dunno)

[JBreed]

Possibly your end links...

[Boston5761]

can i get the awr endlinks without an aftermarket sway bar?

[novAKs47]

I doubt it's the endlinks. They're torqued down quite a bit, and they had zero slop when I put them back on.

[mazdaholic]

I doubt it's the endlinks. They're torqued down quite a bit, and they had zero slop when I put them back on.

check the endlinks again. They are not loose, but its possible that they are worn out. They are a steel ball inserted into a plastic socket, and the plastic socket wears out. i friend of mine went through the same thing, but with the rear endlinks. Try rocking the car back and forth, ( from side to side ). have somebody else under the car checking the endlinks. if they are bad, you will hear it, and you will be able to feel the ball moving insde of the socket.

[Hughes412]

It'e either the endlinks or you have that top washer upside down. That's the only things that would make noise that I know of with out really messing it up.

[JBreed]

check the endlinks again. They are not loose, but its possible that they are worn out. They are a steel ball inserted into a plastic socket, and the plastic socket wears out. i friend of mine went through the same thing, but with the rear endlinks. Try rocking the car back and forth, ( from side to side ). have somebody else under the car checking the endlinks. if they are bad, you will hear it, and you will be able to feel the ball moving insde of the socket.


good info...thanks

[novAKs47]

Yeah, I'll definitly perform that test. Great info, thanks! I think it might be my strut mounts though. I just don't see how the endlinks could go bad immediatly after I install some shocks, and drive all of 2 miles. lol But it's worth a shot anyways. http://www.moccforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3853

^There's some more info on this whole thing there too.

[FunkyBuddha]

It's not the endlinks. He's had no noise till after he changed the struts.

[macklum]

Once you lower on tokico's you will have to get the endlinks from the Mazdaspeed ,as the ones from a reg Pro are not the correct lengh for the car lowered , I had to this with mine even though I was still on stock struts

[mazdaholic]

if its not the endlinks, or anythine else noticable, it might be spring slap.

[GeoPro]

Bad CV joint (or hopefully just a boot) that's making it's presence known with coincidental timing?

A buddy of mine had this symptom and to his embarassment found that he hadn't tightened his lug nuts well enough after a tire rotation. A simple fix, but I assume you've covered that base.

[99 Pro]

Once you lower on tokico's you will have to get the endlinks from the Mazdaspeed ,as the ones from a reg Pro are not the correct lengh for the car lowered , I had to this with mine even though I was still on stock struts

Sorry to bring up an old topic, but this comment got me thinking. I thought that you need to get the 01+ Protege end links for new Tokico struts if you have a 99-00 Protege. Something to do with they changed the mounting locations or something?

I am definately a little bit hesitant to install my Tokico HP's and Tein S-Techs on my 1999 Protege. Everyone seems to have problems when they drop their cars. The washer and the endlinks should be the only problems though.....correct?

[jbiird317]

Sorry to bring up an old topic, but this comment got me thinking. I thought that you need to get the 01+ Protege end links for new Tokico struts if you have a 99-00 Protege. Something to do with they changed the mounting locations or something?

I am definately a little bit hesitant to install my Tokico HP's and Tein S-Techs on my 1999 Protege. Everyone seems to have problems when they drop their cars. The washer and the endlinks should be the only problems though.....correct?

just go to your mazda dealer (or online parts store) and get the endlinks from a 01+ protege for the front (if you dont they will make contact with the tie bar ends)...other than that you should have no problems as long as you make sure the springs are seated correctly on the strut and the strut mount (especially rubber seat on strut mount)...i love my teins and tokicos, have no fear, you'll love them too

*edit= you need the new links because they are longer due to the changed location of the tab on the strut

[99 Pro]

Thanks Jbiird!

[jbiird317]

Thanks Jbiird!

ha no problem man...now get that car lowered and kill the wheel gap once and for all!

[99 Pro]

You don't need the newer endlinks for the rear? Only the front?

[Shane5425]

only the front, i had to get them too, they had to be imported from JaPaN!?!? dunno why.. anyways, they are like double the length of the stock endlinks

[jbiird317]

yeah definately order them online, its like $50 total online, and $95 at the dealer

[Shane5425]

only costed me 20 a piece.. but i get dealer cost :P

[99 Pro]

only costed me 20 a piece.. but i get dealer cost :P

Can you get me the dealer cost as well?

[Shane5425]

wish i could, but the dealer is/was underwater that got them for me ... the local dealer in my town cant get MSP/Mp3 parts..

[99 Pro]

wish i could, but the dealer is/was underwater that got them for me ... the local dealer in my town cant get MSP/Mp3 parts..

Thats no problem, just put on your scuba gear and get them for me. Hahahahaha......Oh I am hilarious.

Anywho, I am gonna contact my dealer and see what they will rape.....I mean charge me for some endlinks.

[jbiird317]

Thats no problem, just put on your scuba gear and get them for me. Hahahahaha......Oh I am hilarious.

Anywho, I am gonna contact my dealer and see what they will rape.....I mean charge me for some endlinks.

ha yeah good luck with that, like i said, it was $95 for the set, my ass is still sore a month later