Front coil spring misaligned

[bongtom]

There’s an annoying creaking noise on the front right of my Honda (enough for people to look around) and it’s coming from the coil spring.


As you can see the spring curves. (Car on the tyres not jacked up)

I can’t see obvious breaks and up the top inside the engine bay you can see it’s pushing the top of the damper over to the left. (It’s always looked like that and doesn’t seat properly, like a gap between the bolt/water and rubber.

I had work done (gearbox) but I’m assuming they didn’t even remove it, just pulled the drive shafts out, and certainty didn’t mess around with that unit.

It’s know you’re supposed to tighten all the bolts once the car has settled but that’s more to do with not stressing the bushes rather than it making the spring misaligned.

What would cause this - Not seated properly? Weak spring? Cracked?



Thanks!

Edited by bongtom on Tuesday 20th September 11:07

[GreenV8S]

Check the state of the bearing at the top of the strut. It's a likely cause of the creakin noises (ie that the spring isn't turning freely with the steering) and the misalignment you mention also suggests that there may be a problem there.

[bongtom]

GreenV8S said:

Check the state of the bearing at the top of the strut. It's a likely cause of the creakin noises (ie that the spring isn't turning freely with the steering) and the misalignment you mention also suggests that there may be a problem there.

That's a good point.
I had a good feel and the sound is coming down the strut but it is hard to pin point exactly.

The big issue is trying to find new parts here (SE Asia).

ETA. Just looked at the parts list and I don't think it has a bearing, just bushes.

Edited by bongtom on Wednesday 21st September 06:34

[GreenV8S]

bongtom said:

ETA. Just looked at the parts list and I don't think it has a bearing, just bushes.

That would be unusual. The spring turns with the steering so the top of the spring needs to turn relative to the body. It has the whole weight of the suspension on it so a simple friction bearing won't do. The convensional design uses a large diameter axial ball bearing immediately above the spring seat, with the damper rod passing through the middle of the bearing and connected to the body with a separate flexible bushing.

[bongtom]

GreenV8S said:

bongtom said:

ETA. Just looked at the parts list and I don't think it has a bearing, just bushes.

That would be unusual. The spring turns with the steering so the top of the spring needs to turn relative to the body. It has the whole weight of the suspension on it so a simple friction bearing won't do. The convensional design uses a large diameter axial ball bearing immediately above the spring seat, with the damper rod passing through the middle of the bearing and connected to the body with a separate flexible bushing.

That would make sense, however, I’ve looked at explodes diagrams and OEM strut bushes and non list a bearing.

I think it’s something to do with that top mounts as it looked like the spring has twisted which is why it’s warped.

Get it’ll have to be removed to actually see what’s going on.

[E-bmw]

bongtom said:

GreenV8S said:

bongtom said:

ETA. Just looked at the parts list and I don't think it has a bearing, just bushes.

That would be unusual. The spring turns with the steering so the top of the spring needs to turn relative to the body. It has the whole weight of the suspension on it so a simple friction bearing won't do. The convensional design uses a large diameter axial ball bearing immediately above the spring seat, with the damper rod passing through the middle of the bearing and connected to the body with a separate flexible bushing.

That would make sense, however, I’ve looked at explodes diagrams and OEM strut bushes and non list a bearing.

There won't be a bearing on the list as it isn't a separate item, it is part of the top mount.

[JoeMk1]

It's a double wishbone, the spring does not rotate with the steering like on a McPherson strut, so there is no need for a bearing in the top mount.

From your description, I think you're saying that the top of the damper is not sitting centrally in the top mount? Could be that the rubber bushes that connect the top of the damper rod to the top mount housing have failed?

You also appear to be missing the bump stop and dust gaiter.

Edited by JoeMk1 on Wednesday 21st September 21:14

[bongtom]

Yes. The whole spring unit does not move so there won’t be a bearing.

I think the shock has seized and the spring has moved to try and compensate for the frozen shock.