Just installed KW v3 coilover on Z4MC, making clunking sound

socalfabricator · 10-02-2013, 09:41 PM

Freshly installed new KW v3, aligned, was good the first day. Now making clunking sound (low speed straight, over smooth concrete. Also same sound while wheel is turned a little bit)

here's the detail:
Installed KW v3 coilover on my Z4mc this past weekend, and got it aligned on monday. I'm only lowering about 0.5" and the bump/rebound is set at the recommended setting. All in all, very conservative setting (very slight drop and non-aggressive setting).

After I got it aligned on Monday, I took it up to my favorite twisty mountain road. All's good.

Tuesday, didn't have time to drive it.

Today, want to play with the rebound/bump setting, but before i could get to making any adjustment, just pulling the car out of the garage (flat concrete, no bump/crack) the front is making a clunking sound.

lift car, remove front wheel, check all bolts (only three bolts holding the bottom of the strut, and three on top under the hood). double check the tie rod between the sway and strut, nice and tight.

I suspect the spring is hitting the adjustable perch... somehow. No matter how tight i torque the grub screw on the perch, if i spin the spring by hand, the perch will move (is this normal?) I didn't want to over tight the grub screw, because the manual says not to over tighten it... probably will mess the threads up.

Also suspected the wheel is hitting the spring. There seems to be one finger width of space between wheel and the coilover. And the tire isn't hitting any of the plastics in the wheel well.

After I double checked everything, went for a quick test drive. It's making less clunking. The clunk stops if i speed up... so i took it up to the twisty again. No clunking during high speed twisty and high speed freeway. But clunks again when i hit stop and go traffic on freeway (again, going straight)

is this normal? help

i2ichal2dZ4M · 10-02-2013, 09:45 PM

should check to see your wheels are clearing the shock cylinder, i heard of issues and many needing to run spacers

pokeybritches · 10-02-2013, 10:58 PM

Clunks haven't been the norm with this setup. I was just about to ask what your wheel setup was...

socalfabricator · 10-02-2013, 11:00 PM

stock wheels, OEM sized tire (continental)

jrainlay · 10-02-2013, 11:10 PM

I had a similar experience after installing a set of H&R coil overs... Chunking sound coming from left front, most noticeable at low speed. To make a long story short, it ended up being a loose ball joint. Three quarters turn of the wrench fixed the problem. You didn't notice the problem initially because the car had to settle first after being on the rack.

socalfabricator · 10-02-2013, 11:17 PM

thanks for the tip jrainlay, I'll check the ball joints.

pal · 10-05-2013, 09:19 AM

V3's should be silent. I ran mine for about 2 years and they never made a peep. You simply installed the pre-assembled front struts right?

I would unload the end links and check that the nuts on either end are snug.

Mirko · 10-05-2013, 05:29 PM

You probably didn't tighten the sway bar end links. There is an allen key hole in the back of it. You need the allen key in there as you tighten with the socket otherwise it won't get tight. I have V3's and had that issue. They are silent during the warmer months but during colder months they make that clunking sound usually at the start. Either my end links are worn or its the solid bushing being cold.

socalfabricator · 10-06-2013, 03:43 PM

clunking gone after i removed the wheel and checked all the bolts.

All bolts were tight to spec, even the sway bar end links, I knew about using two wrenches (or allen + wrench) to tighten them.

After determining the installation was correct, I can only guess that I somehow made an error putting the wheel on (duh!)

3002 tii · 10-06-2013, 04:53 PM

Glad you figured it out, my next guess would've been rear shock mounts...

socalfabricator · 10-07-2013, 02:09 PM

there was no noise from the rear. I didn't upgrade the rear shock mounts, perhaps i should have, the plastic panels were a pain in the ass.

10-02-2013, 09:41 PM	#1
socalfabricator New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: so cal iTrader: (0)	Just installed KW v3 coilover on Z4MC, making clunking sound Freshly installed new KW v3, aligned, was good the first day. Now making clunking sound (low speed straight, over smooth concrete. Also same sound while wheel is turned a little bit) here's the detail: Installed KW v3 coilover on my Z4mc this past weekend, and got it aligned on monday. I'm only lowering about 0.5" and the bump/rebound is set at the recommended setting. All in all, very conservative setting (very slight drop and non-aggressive setting). After I got it aligned on Monday, I took it up to my favorite twisty mountain road. All's good. Tuesday, didn't have time to drive it. Today, want to play with the rebound/bump setting, but before i could get to making any adjustment, just pulling the car out of the garage (flat concrete, no bump/crack) the front is making a clunking sound. lift car, remove front wheel, check all bolts (only three bolts holding the bottom of the strut, and three on top under the hood). double check the tie rod between the sway and strut, nice and tight. I suspect the spring is hitting the adjustable perch... somehow. No matter how tight i torque the grub screw on the perch, if i spin the spring by hand, the perch will move (is this normal?) I didn't want to over tight the grub screw, because the manual says not to over tighten it... probably will mess the threads up. Also suspected the wheel is hitting the spring. There seems to be one finger width of space between wheel and the coilover. And the tire isn't hitting any of the plastics in the wheel well. After I double checked everything, went for a quick test drive. It's making less clunking. The clunk stops if i speed up... so i took it up to the twisty again. No clunking during high speed twisty and high speed freeway. But clunks again when i hit stop and go traffic on freeway (again, going straight) is this normal? help
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10-02-2013, 09:45 PM	#2
i2ichal2dZ4M Lieutenant 63 Rep 516 Posts Drives: 2007 BSM Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Los Angeles, California iTrader: (1)	should check to see your wheels are clearing the shock cylinder, i heard of issues and many needing to run spacers __________________ 2007 BSM Z4M Coupe - 18" VOLK TE37 - 18" Apex ARC-8 - GC Track/Street
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10-02-2013, 10:58 PM	#3
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	Clunks haven't been the norm with this setup. I was just about to ask what your wheel setup was... __________________ VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
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10-02-2013, 11:00 PM	#4
socalfabricator New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: so cal iTrader: (0)	stock wheels, OEM sized tire (continental)
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10-02-2013, 11:10 PM	#5
jrainlay Private First Class 5 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [7.50]	I had a similar experience after installing a set of H&R coil overs... Chunking sound coming from left front, most noticeable at low speed. To make a long story short, it ended up being a loose ball joint. Three quarters turn of the wrench fixed the problem. You didn't notice the problem initially because the car had to settle first after being on the rack. __________________ Mods: MStache2, stubby, CF plate frame, CF spoiler, CF grills, aero skirts, reflector/lite deletes, CSLs, H&R coilovers & 12mm spacers, Rogue RSMs, RPI exhaust
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10-02-2013, 11:17 PM	#6
socalfabricator New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: so cal iTrader: (0)	thanks for the tip jrainlay, I'll check the ball joints.
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10-05-2013, 09:19 AM	#7
pal Captain 433 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (2)	V3's should be silent. I ran mine for about 2 years and they never made a peep. You simply installed the pre-assembled front struts right? I would unload the end links and check that the nuts on either end are snug.
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10-05-2013, 05:29 PM	#8
Mirko Major 182 Rep 1,031 Posts Drives: E86 Z4M, E90 328i, E84 X1 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	You probably didn't tighten the sway bar end links. There is an allen key hole in the back of it. You need the allen key in there as you tighten with the socket otherwise it won't get tight. I have V3's and had that issue. They are silent during the warmer months but during colder months they make that clunking sound usually at the start. Either my end links are worn or its the solid bushing being cold.
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10-06-2013, 03:43 PM	#9
socalfabricator New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: so cal iTrader: (0)	clunking gone after i removed the wheel and checked all the bolts. All bolts were tight to spec, even the sway bar end links, I knew about using two wrenches (or allen + wrench) to tighten them. After determining the installation was correct, I can only guess that I somehow made an error putting the wheel on (duh!)
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10-06-2013, 04:53 PM	#10
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2282 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.22]	Glad you figured it out, my next guess would've been rear shock mounts... __________________ Follow for latest mods
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10-07-2013, 02:09 PM	#11
socalfabricator New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: so cal iTrader: (0)	there was no noise from the rear. I didn't upgrade the rear shock mounts, perhaps i should have, the plastic panels were a pain in the ass.
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