Squeaky Coilover?
 

Installed some JIC FLTA2 coilovers and there is a squeaking noise coming from one of the rear struts I believe. I installed both struts in the same manner, but only one is having a squeaking problem. I know it is coming from the strut or upper hat area since I have had someone push down on the car while I was under it (car on ramps). It squeaks no matter how smooth the road is. They were used coilovers, but the rears were sent to me immediately after having been rebuilt by JIC. I redid the install on that coilover (tightened everything again) and it fixed the problem for a little while but it returned. On a side note, I think temperature may be affecting it. Colder days = less squeaking but I may be crazy. Any ideas what could be causing my problem? Coilover not rebuilt properly, something not put together correctly, or what? I'm not too high on myself to think I may have done something wrong lol

No one has any idea?

Well I sent it to JIC and they say there is nothing wrong with it. I've had my stock springs/shocks in the rear for a few days with no noise though. It's not a barely noticeable noise by any means. It can be heard over the radio at volume 11. Car doesn't ride/react funny.

Upper mount? I know the megans squeak too. It's due to their cheaply used upper mounts

The stock upper mount is reused for the rear. Good try though.

It happened to mine as well.

I also sent it back to JIC for review and was returned the same answer. I currently run the JIC FLT-TAR (Track) coilovers w/ Swift Springs.

I'm thinking it has to do with the internal valving and slide mechanism. I'm kind of fed up with the "it's normal" comment from them. I'm also annoyed by the sound.

I'll be switching over to KW V3 Coilovers very shortly. I'm a master dealer for KW Suspension so I decided to go with a brand that actually responds to emails for technical inquiries.

I heard this problem is not confined to us two. I talked to a guy who was able to describe my problem exactly after I said, "My JIC coilover keeps squeaking." It's a damn shame. I loved the ride I had. They still haven't sent mine back, so I will keep hounding them until I get a straight answer. Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one on the forum with this problem.

When I installed my ohlins coilovers, I encountered the same sound and I thought I had faulty coilovers but the problem actually was my sway bars. I apparently hadn't greased them properly when I first installed them but it didn't really affect it when I had stock springs and shocks but when I put in my coilovers, it lowered the car enough to where they would constantly squeak.

I'm not sure if that would be the issue but I thought the sound was coming from the coilovers so i guess its worth a look. I hope this is relevant for you and helps.

Them: Upon inspection there is no problem with the damper you sent in. Dampers
don’t make the noise described as there is nothing internal to squeak. I
have take it apart and re-assembled a couple times and everything looks
perfect. We have zero problems on our rx8 time attack car. I don’t know what
else can be done on our end.

Me: Shouldn't there be some validity to it if multiple people have had the
problem?

Them: Problem is I cannot recreate the noise with the assembly I have. There are
no problems with the damper it checks out perfectly. The unit is assembled
correctly. Which leads me to believe that the problem is on the vehicle. I
have had my engineer take a look at it also and he said that there is no
problems and no place it can make a squeaking noise. He suggested that it
could possibly be the stock bushings from the lowered ride height.

Me: I understand. It just sucks for me. I've been under the car with it making
the noise and can tell you I'm 99% sure that it is not coming from below the
midpoint of the strut. Are the bushings you are referring to anywhere in
any of these pictures?
http://69.108.208.137/ryang/modify/r...hock_rear.html

Them: Could be any of the rubber bushings that move when the suspension goes
through travel. The lower arm, or any of the upper arms.

So it was the mounts that needed greasing? Was that stock bars?

No, I have racing beat bars and it was the bushings where it mounts to the underside

I just took off the bushings and regreased them, put them back and I've never heard the sound since

Thanks! I will definitely do that.

Good luck, I hope that is the issue and it solves your problem

Well I've had the coilovers re-installed for a few weeks and the squeak is gone (hope I didn't jinx it). Only thing I did differently is I only snugged up everything before I lowered it onto my ramps. Car is way too low to fit a jack underneath. Then I pushed it down a few times and let it settle before torqueing to spec. I haven't seen this mentioned in any install guides except for the one that comes with Mazdaspeed coilovers.

Sounds like you have figured out your 'squeak' issue. I was going to comment that we offer a full coilover inspection and rebuild service if it's needed. Many owners aren't aware that their expensive dampers require service as well. This was my first thought when you mentioned they were used and made noises...

http://turblown.net/store/index.php?productID=72