Strut/springs Issue/Question.

[NWINNIE34]

noticed that i get a heavy squeeking noise whenever i go over speed bumps....front end sounds solid...back end makes noise
sounds like a squeeky bed

so i checked my sway bar....checked my bushings.... looked at springs and struts.... everything looked good
until yesterday when i got my tires installed..... i got a chance to look at things from alot better angle and realized that my spring isnt sitting flush with my struts

you know how the springs go over your shocks....and you spin them clockwise so that the bottom of your spring sits flush on top of the strut?
one side is flush and looks perfect....while my drivers side isnt quiet rotated enough to catch that groove in the strut.

how can i fix this?
should i just take my tire off and try to manually grab the spring and rotate it clockwise until it sits flush with the strut? or will i need to look into taking my shocks off in order to fix this?

hopefully my description wasnt confusing....wish i had a camera with me at the time....
do you think this is the cause of my squeeky back end?

[NWINNIE34]

http://www.shiftice.com/images/strut_install/123_2352.jpg
Here is a picture of how it should look.... my spring is sitting on top of the groove and not in the groove (leaving a gap)

[slipkord]

My driver side rear is the same way Nick. It's not flush up against the groove, its maybe an inch away from it and whenever I go over a hard bump I'll hear it squeak. I tried to turn the spring while still connected to the strut and couldnt move it, might have to take the top hat off and turn it. Luckily I'm going to swap suspensions over tomorrow.

[NWINNIE34]

FUCK !.....

not sure what i should do.... i dont wanna jam a bar in there and try to turn it if im risking bending a spring or something....
then again i dont have the tools/lift to take this shit apart right now...

how much force is on the spring while the ass end is off the ground?
makes sense to me that you might be able to turn it then.....but obviously not if you tried already

what to do what to do.....

[slipkord]

Im not sure how much force is wound up with the ass end up in the air. I think it's still a good bit. I will say this, I didn't get all gungho and it and try my damndest to move it, so it might be possible.

[Mike]

I don't think you will be able to move the spring while it is under load. If you get your hands on a spring compresser you might be able to take a litte pressure off and turn it while still on the car.

[CrackerTeg]

I don't think you will be able to move the spring while it is under load. If you get your hands on a spring compresser you might be able to take a litte pressure off and turn it while still on the car.

This would be the perfect spot to throw an "I'm with stupid" smiley. Seriously though, that sounds like the best course of action for you Nick.

[NWINNIE34]

interesting..... so i guess go to pep boys and get a spring compressor for like $15 (from what i remember) and compress them.....and try to spin them clockwise/counterclockwise while the back end is off the ground ?
should be able to sping them freely until they are flush and sitting on the struts correctly?

think i can just toss someone a $20 and have them do it at pep boys right now ?

[Mike]

Maybe ask them. by squeezing the spring you are releasing the pressure from both the top and bottom it should be able to move.

[NWINNIE34]

FUCK pepboys.... they said $100 charge to spin my spring 6" clockwise..... pissed me off....
so much for tipping the asshole who did my tires and oil change yesterday....kid looked at me and laughed.... said to take it to the place that installed it 5 months ago and complain to them

might end up trying to rent the spring compressor and just do it myself

[wtcii]

I would not have thought that a spring compressor would fit...

[b_beau_09]

usually you can rent a spring compressor for free.. at some places.. it's actually a lot less difficult than you're thinking it's going to be..  but like bill said, it may not fit.. so you may not be able to do it with the spring/strut still on the car.

[NWINNIE34]

yeah this looks like my first option...gonna shop around to where i can rent one
there arent any auto zones around here....and pep boys said they dont rent them.... so with a little searcing i should be able to take car of it

i dont think im in immediate danger.... hell its been 4+ months now and i just realized it