Rear suspension clunk after installing Steeda suspension. Thoughts?

[n_123]

I recently installed steeda dual rate springs, adjustable shocks, competition sway bar kit, and a few other odds and ends. The car already had the stop the hop kit. I can't seem to track down a clunk I've been having. It's intermittent, only happening on roads with a bunch of small bumps in a row at low speed as opposed to like a bridge expansion joint on the highway. It's concentrated on the passenger side but sometimes it just sounds like general rear end noise. I have taken the following steps:

1. Verified torque on subframe bolts, sway bar bolts, end links, and upper/lower shock mounts. I also verified torque on the bolt that connects the shock to the mount itself.
2. Verified no play in wheel bearings.
3. Visual inspection underneath car of exhaust to make sure no rubbing is taking place.
4. Removed rear aero cover under the rear sway bar to ensure that no contact is taking place (did this since the competition rear sway bar kit moves the swaybar back one inch)
5. Preloaded bushings/fresh alignment

I'm sort of out of ideas. The car drives great (plan on posting a full review of my setup once I trouble shoot this). I just can't seem to figure out where this noise is coming from. Once observation I did make is when i jacked up the rear end to check torque on everything it didn't make the sound for a day and then it came back. Very odd. Any thoughts are appreciated. I've attached a video of the noise (by far the worst it's been, at about 25 mph). Could something have been left loose during alignment? I feel like the car would drive different if so. TIA.

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[krisk]

I recently installed steeda dual rate springs, adjustable shocks, competition sway bar kit, and a few other odds and ends. The car already had the stop the hop kit. I can't seem to track down a clunk I've been having. It's intermittent, only happening on roads with a bunch of small bumps in a row at low speed as opposed to like a bridge expansion joint on the highway. It's concentrated on the passenger side but sometimes it just sounds like general rear end noise. I have taken the following steps:

1. Verified torque on subframe bolts, sway bar bolts, end links, and upper/lower shock mounts. I also verified torque on the bolt that connects the shock to the mount itself.
2. Verified no play in wheel bearings.
3. Visual inspection underneath car of exhaust to make sure no rubbing is taking place.
4. Removed rear aero cover under the rear sway bar to ensure that no contact is taking place (did this since the competition rear sway bar kit moves the swaybar back one inch)
5. Preloaded bushings/fresh alignment

I'm sort of out of ideas. The car drives great (plan on posting a full review of my setup once I trouble shoot this). I just can't seem to figure out where this noise is coming from. Once observation I did make is when i jacked up the rear end to check torque on everything it didn't make the sound for a day and then it came back. Very odd. Any thoughts are appreciated. I've attached a video of the noise (by far the worst it's been, at about 25 mph). Could something have been left loose during alignment? I feel like the car would drive different if so. TIA.

I had a similar sound when I swapped out suspension components on my S550. It ended up being a bad rear Bilstein shock. I got a replacement installed and the problem was resolved. Since it’s a relatively quick job, it could be worth putting the oem shocks on the rear just to rule that out as the issue.

 

[n_123]

I had a similar sound when I swapped out suspension components on my S550. It ended up being a bad rear Bilstein shock. I got a replacement installed and the problem was resolved. Since it’s a relatively quick job, it could be worth putting the oem shocks on the rear just to rule that out as the issue.

That’s a good point. I didn’t use an impact to tighten that top nut either so not my fault. I will try and see.

 

[tj@steeda]

I see you emailed us, I will follow up with our lead tech & get you taken care of.

TJ

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