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I am getting close to finishing my body off restoration of my '73 vert. I took it out for a quick drive and notice a noise coming from passenger front spring when I went over a speed bump. It sound like someone hit the spring with a hammer. I can get the car to make the same noise when I jack it up or bounce the car by pushing and pulling aggressively on the sway bar. It almost sounds like the spring is catching on something and then when it lets go it makes the noise like someone is hitting it with a hammer. My AIM talks about aligning the close coils to the frame rail, but I replaced the springs with a set of heavy duty springs from Ecklers and I don't believe there was any variation in coil distance like the original springs. Are there supposed to be rubber spring pads on the front springs? Any thoughts as to what might be causing the noise? Do new springs need to settle into place?
Did you check to make sure your shock wasn't loose on that side?
Did you seat the spring in the groove at the top of the spring tower and bottom of the a-arm?
That is all I can think of.
This is on my 73 before I removed the spring on the a-arm. You can
see the groove that the end of the spring has to be in.
I'm gonna go with the loose shock absorber. I had it happen on a pickup a few years ago. Only happened when I hit a good bump or drove on a dirt road too fast. I checked everything and couldn't find it. Took it to the corner garage and the first thing they did was tighten down the shock. That solved the problem. Hope it's that simple for you.
Duane
Hi JIM,
I think it could be the spring or shock but I'm leaning toward the spring.
Are you sure the top and bottom coil of the spring is installed in the frame pocket and a-arm pocket properly.
When it is the spring actually has a slight curve to it.
You might be hearing the spring hitting against the side of either the upper or lower pocket.
If it's the shock… is the rubber bushings at its top installed above and below the frame properly to prevent the shaft on the shock from hitting the frame?
???
Regards,
Alan
This is looking into the frame's spring pocket.
There's a difference in the 2 rubber bushings for the top of the shock… is the larger one on top?
Guys thanks for all the great tips. I checked the spring position and although I really couldn't see the top location, the bottom of the spring is sitting right up again the notch. I pulled the shock and really bounced the car while feeling the spring. I'm almost positive it is coming from the spring because it was still making the noise with the shock removed. When I was bouncing the car, it felt like the spring was actually hitting itself when it was making the noise and it felt a little like the spring had some play in it almost like it was not tight against the lower control arm and upper pocket.
I should also mention my springs don't curve. I purchased the F41 heavy duty springs from Ecklers. I think they were much shorter than the originals. Not sure if that's an issue.
I took a closer look at my passenger front spring. The shock was installed properly with the small bushing on the bottom and the larger one on top. The shock was also tight. I did take a close look at the spring placement. The top and bottom coil appears to be in the spring pockets. However I noticed the bottom coil extends right to the hole in the lower spring pocket and the upper coil is probably about 1.5 inches away from the end of the spring pocket indentation. I don't know if this matters or if the spring coils simply need to rest within the upper and lower pockets. I tried to take a photo of the upper and lower coil locations. The upper is a little easier to see. My finger is right above the point where the spring pocket indentation ends and the coil is about 1.5" away. The bottom coil is a little more difficult to see, but the bottom coil extends about half way past the lower hole in the spring pocket.
I certainly welcome any thoughts as to whether I should rotate the spring so the upper coil is up against the end of the spring pocket indentation which will move the lower coil away from the hole.
Something else to check I just did my front end couple months back. I had a noise coming from spring area right side turned out to be Idler arm was loose and shifting something to check. The noise was more like the spring area was suspect
You can also get some noise from the stabilizer bar if you used poly bushings especially if you use the small springs that come with high performance replacement kits. You will really notice it if you go over speed bumps. Also, look on Youtube on how to index a front coil spring. Good luck. Jerry
Jim, as I remember my replacement springs would only line up with the frame pocket or the control arm, I chose the control arm and have no unusual noises. Hate to plant a bad thought, but have you looked for cracks on that side? Probably nothing but it can't hurt to look.
Thanks for all the advice. I'll definitely check the steering components and look for any cracks. I really think it is coming from the spring. In fact when I jacked the car to remove the passenger wheel it made the same noise like someone hit the spring. When I removed the shock and really bounces the car while feeling the spring, I could feel it vibrate when it made the noise almost as if it was lose in the pocket or it was catching on something and then snapping. I'll need to keep my search going.
Front Passenger spring noise
