Post lowering suspension clunk needs diagnosis! There's a big write up, but this needs some problem solving... Lowered on Transporterhaus spindles, lower tyres and adjustable shocks. 120miles journey home, all good, does feel like stock with stiffer shocks. Then hear an almighty clunk on the NS front after going over an innocuous bump... nothing unlike the bumps in the previous few miles. Sounded like metal on metal. No discernible tyre rubbing noise at the same time. Happened a second time after a 25mile commute, also at the end of the run. All bolts rechecked and ok. No front bump stops (have now ordered) but would have expected the tyre to rub before the arms collided. Track rods flipped and no signs of hitting the chassis rails either. So no other obvious signs of error. Any suggestions on anything else I should be looking for? My brother wondered if the torsion bars may have worked loose in the bottom bar. He thinks the van is too bouncy and the small leaves were free to move sideways when we swapped the arms. Was feeling very positive about the lowering, now these two bumps have me worried!!
I got this on mine ... just fitted new shocks I'll keep you posted Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Shocks could be bottoming out , without a bump stops you have no physical stop ...lowering is a compromise
What sort of shocks have you got? If there is absolutely no sign of contact between metal anywhere, then something must be stopping it and the only thing has got to be your shocks. You do say adjustable but you don't say if they are coil overs. Have you read this thread on the prototype bay.com ? The thing is, you have reduced your amount of suspension travel, your tyres will bottom on the arches very occasionally even with a bump stop. The only way of this not happening is if there is some physical interference. If you can't see anything at all then it has to be in your shocks. Could you take the shocks off and go for a short drive over some bumps just for a few yards just to prove it perhaps? Ozziedog,,,,,,,,, before you spends any hard earned.
could have had metal-to-metal contact without leaving a mark maybe? understand and agree the logic above that points to dampers, but i wouldn't have thought that it would sound like metal on metal as you describe? Maybe put some bluetac or similar at strategic points underneath to see if any of these get squished as you drive around? do you have some other (old?) shocks you could try out?
It does sound like metal to metal when shocks bottom out. From experience. I used to drive carefully round dips in the road before fitting Beetle rear shocks then coilovers. The ARB broken also bangs a lot. So mine went in the skip. Coilovers compensate for no ARB. Now I can cross traffic calming bumps at 20mph when before driving on many normal roads was too fast at 20mph.
Thanks for the feedback @Ozziedog the adjustable shocks (gas adjustables) are by Protech.... look lovely and performed well before lowering! The only change is that I stiffened them up from 8/13 to 9/13 on the dials. Not bottoming out pre-lowering. @rob.e I'll have another look for contact points and try bluetac. The new bumpstops have arrived this morning so will fit at the weekend. My old shocks were consigned to the bin when removed. @mikedjames Had a quick look at the ARB this morning and no signs of damage. Will have a proper look when I jack her up at the weekend.
