Tanabe Springs - defect?
 

Just curious if anyone else has this issue, or if any other springs sit like this.

I'm running the GF210s, with Koni Yellows in the rear. After I installed the koni struts I noticed more of a knocking noise over bumps. I had it set at 50% stiff so I figured that it was just the nature of the beast.
I got sick of it and pulled em out to adjust them to 1 full turn harder from full soft.
I again double checked I had everything installed properly...as far as the strut assembly goes.
The clunking is still there...but it's odd. I can hit large bumps and it sounds like it normally would going over a large bump. Over small bumps or where the rear travels over an uneven surface it sounds similar to worn out sway bar bushings. The noise is an oscillating type noise and kind of a lighter thud.

Everything is tight. Trust me I've looked at everything. I've even put adhesive backed foam on the bottom strut perch. No change. I have the coil insulators installed on the very top coil that you cannot see in the picture.
Four coils are touching each other on a level surface - on both sides.

So I'm thinking - the noise I'm getting is from the coils bumping into each other during rebound and compression oscillations.

My co-worker point out in the pictures that the strut in correlation to the spring looks crooked. I think it appears that way due to the car sitting on the ground when the picture was taken and, the way the picture was taken.(Peeking through the rim)
I emailed Tanabe, so maybe they'll provide some helpful insight.


My springs look like this guys' IMO. But I don't get why I get the clunk.
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=125




If you don't have something informative to post. Don't post in my thread. You've been warned.



Attachment 245321

Attachment 245322

My Tanabe GF looks exactly like yours but mine doesn't make any noise, and I'm still on OEM shock. What I have noticed though, you have removed Tanabe's factory rubber sleeve or may be they perished? those black rubber sleeves are for reducing noise and placed strategically where the upper coil (softer) and lower coil (firmer) meet each time you go over bumps.

Yeah it's weird, I'm pretty sure I placed it where it said in the instructions that were in the box. I'm tempted to order a couple coil insulators and just jam them in every coil. hahah.
If you look closely there is black residue on the bottom coil that 3/4 makes contact with the spring above. I think that might have been where they were originally positioned. Perhaps I'll try moving them back to where the black residue on that 5th coil is.

I took some more pictures. Yes, I rub. But even better reason to not take passengers.


Right side:
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...6/d88344bf.jpg
Attachment 245314
Attachment 245315
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...6/dc703d4b.jpg

Left Side:
Attachment 245316
Attachment 245317
Attachment 245318

Yes, my rubber sleeve is exactly where the black residue is, this is where the upper coil meets lower coil, try put it back there and see how you go.

The upper coils always bind together anyway, they expand only when you fly over a big bump where you wheel will have full droop and upper coil will extend to keep the tyres in contact with the road.

BTW, would you please take a side view pic of your front and rear wheel so I can see how much drop is yours? as I'm thinking about getting Koni Yellow or Tokico shock later.

Could be the shocks or springs that caused it but they are binding for sure. I had this issue and it ended up being the shocks. Many told me shock have nothing to do with ride height but that is not the case on the RX8.

My springs were sent back to Tein and certified to be in working order. So I installed new KYB shocks and it fixed everything. Also the Tokico shocks I removed did not appear to be blown, they were not leaking or anything.

I had these springs on my previous 8, but with OEM shocks. I never experienced the problem you are describing, there are two things I would suggest you check.

1. That you have the springs installed correctly, Front on the Front and Rear on the Rear, don't get offended here but I have seen multiple people install springs incorrectly, some were experienced mechanics. The reason I would check this is the rear of your car looks low to me for your setup and you have five coils touching when your cars on the ground, it seems to me the spring is compressed far too much. On the Tanabe GF210's there are part numbers on the coils, Front is SE3PF and Rear is SE3PR.

2. Check that your endlinks are tight, the clunking noise you are describing sounds similar to this issue.

if you search "Tanabe spring problem issue" you will see that a number of people had problems with these springs in the rear, or so I recall from memory

I've searched, Most threads, specifically that one is about loosening the upper control arm to achieve the lowered look that is desired. The one thread post I linked was the only one close to what I'm talking about but his springs are definitely hitting coil bind in his before shots. His after shots look like my current springs. I think it's just normal that 4-5 coils are touching each other. Maybe members with an aggressive drop can chime in if theirs look similar to mine.

Attachment 245266
Attachment 245267

Per request, dont mind the dirty car, or the hit and run damage on my rear fender. Note: The fronts are still OEM struts.:squint::icon_no2:
Attachment 245268
Pictures of the front wheel gap that i wish would be gone! And, my freshly powdercoated summer rims.:ylsuper::Drooling_
Attachment 245269

Thanks for posting the images! for comparison, this is mine:
https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...7&postcount=19
and one more (I have installed the skirt on this one):
https://www.rx8club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=25297

I have noticed a lot of people with the Koni, or anything other than the OEM shock the ride height is lower, your front is probably similar to mine but rear is much lower. Now looking at your sway bar end link, looks as if it's at the limit? Can you get a heavy friend to bump up and down on your car while you observe the suspension components? Might need an adjustable end link?

an adjustable endlink won't make up for the shock bottoming out which is likely occurring at that ride height

No problem. I've become a pic whore since my I've been parting out my Talon and taking tons of pics.
It looks like the endlinks could potentially break - they're both angled drastically. Which would make sense the knocking I'm hearing is more consistent over uneven surfaces. (Being that the sway bar keeps tension from one side of the suspension to the other.)
Now to decide who/what brand to go with. I don't need a full race endlink, that being said I've had experience with solid endlinks are they are loud.

I remember during my search reading something about the endlinks being angled too much when the car is lowered.:suspect:

If it was bottoming out, it'd do it over every bump of medium to large size.

The noise that's bugging me occurs over bumps similar to decent size cracks in the road.

it probably is, but the long bumpstops will actually mask it to some degree, but I wasn't suggesting that this is the cause of your noise. More than likely it's those closely wound coils smacking each other. There is a used set of Progress Tech springs listed in the FS area. These Tanabe springs are not a good choice IMO. Plenty of complaints about bottoming, coil bind etc. in the rear.

shortening the endlinks is not necessary given the shape of our rear bar. They are designed to work through the full suspension motion. If you shorten them you will have problems when the suspension is extended in the opposite direction. Just more displaced forum folklore. I have shortened $eriou$ dedicated racing shocks and run lower than that without issue.

Link isn't working for me.

I'll try removing my rear sway bar and links to rule that out. If not I'll either go back to OEM struts, or different springs.
I'm leaning towards sprint springs...I want the slammed look. :SHOCKED:

check this out buddy: http://www.evo-r.net/product/RX-8/LINK/index.htm

and this: http://www.miracerros.com/mustang/sway_links.htm

pretty much says about the same thing

Before going back to OEM strut and other springs, try place the black rubber sleeve back to where it was too, I'm sure it's either one of them.

Very good links. I understood the adjustable endlinks when it was mentioned the first time though. That's why I was thinking of removing the rear bar and links. Lol