Facelift Eibach springs - knocking sound issue

[cjm999]

I have a bit of an issue with some Eibach springs that I've had fitted, when turning the wheel slowly (mainly parking and slow moving) you can hear a popping/knocking noise coming from the struts. The garage that fitted them don't seem to know what is the issue, and they have fitted both the Sportline, and Pro kit (I decided to go a little higher after having the Sportline's fitted first), and it is doing the exact same noise with both different types of spring. They thought that it must be an issue with the top mounts but after replacing with new ones the sound still remains. Eibach don't seem to have an answer, just hoping someone here might know how to fix it?

 

[T-800]

Did they leave the plastic tubing in place when they fitted them ?

 

[Deep penetrator]

I have a bit of an issue with some Eibach springs that I've had fitted, when turning the wheel slowly (mainly parking and slow moving) you can hear a popping/knocking noise coming from the struts. The garage that fitted them don't seem to know what is the issue, and they have fitted both the Sportline, and Pro kit (I decided to go a little higher after having the Sportline's fitted first), and it is doing the exact same noise with both different types of spring. They thought that it must be an issue with the top mounts but after replacing with new ones the sound still remains. Eibach don't seem to have an answer, just hoping someone here might know how to fix it?

Hi mate,

Yeah mine do this and I’ve got the Eibach Pro kit fitted. As you say it’s only there when slowly turning the wheel etc.
After speaking to CLP in Sheffield they said they alleviated this issue by fitting new top mount bearings on somebody else’s car , think it was £36 a side for them. I’m aiming to get these fitted to mine ASAP.

 

[DJAlix]

Did they leave the plastic tubing in place when they fitted them ?

this or have the springs not been butted up against the cups end points and are moving...

 

[T-800]

this or have the springs not been butted up against the cups end points and are moving...

Lol yes there is that also.

When I fitted mine there is very specific instruction to make sure the end of the spring coil is fully home against the cup end stop, a tab that sticks up to locate the spring.

It says if even a tiny gap is left then ‘noises’ can occur...

Mine are silent in operation.

 

[DJAlix]

Lol yes there is that also.

When I fitted mine there is very specific instruction to make sure the end of the spring coil is fully home against the cup end stop, a tab that sticks up to locate the spring.

It says if even a tiny gap is left then ‘noises’ can occur...

Mine are silent in operation.

Lol your laughing because I needed to check my springs for this the other day

I have just fitted MSS springs to my car and had a “clunk” when setting off and turning. Had the car up and checked the end stops with no issues. I had also just installed a dogbone Mount so the issue could have been a number of things. What sorted it for me? I went out and thrashed the car around for 45mins = noises gone.

 

[Deep penetrator]

I’ve had the dogbone mount fitted too and I can say I’ve noticed the difference with it installed in the way the car or the drivetrain responds etc

 

[DJAlix]

I’ve had the dogbone mount fitted too and I can say I’ve noticed the difference with it installed in the way the car or the drivetrain responds etc

There are a few different brands and designs of dog bone mounts, from some the fill the voids to some that replace the bushings completely. I tested one that was for track use, by accident, and hated it. Have a “daily” one in now and love it but after first having it installed it was hard to tell what my noise issue was, said mount or the springs. Still don’t know to be honest, but some spirited driving seems to have put everything in its place. Just need 67 more miles before I re-calibrate the MagRide.

 

[Deep penetrator]

There are a few different brands and designs of dog bone mounts, from some the fill the voids to some that replace the bushings completely. I tested one that was for track use, by accident, and hated it. Have a “daily” one in now and love it but after first having it installed it was hard to tell what my noise issue was, said mount or the springs. Still don’t know to be honest, but some spirited driving seems to have put everything in its place. Just need 67 more miles before I re-calibrate the MagRide.

Yeah I was actually wanting the APR insert fitted but the place I went to said the Powerflex one was more substantial and a complete insert so I opted for that one.
The slight creaking I have from the suspension I’ll get sorted very soon, it doesn’t really bother me TBF

 

[DJAlix]

Yeah I was actually wanting the APR insert fitted but the place I went to said the Powerflex one was more substantial and a complete insert so I opted for that one.
The slight creaking I have from the suspension I’ll get sorted very soon, it doesn’t really bother me TBF

What colour mount did you get, and normal or hybrid version?

 

[Deep penetrator]

What colour mount did you get, and normal or hybrid version?

I’ll be totally honest mate I haven’t a clue as of writing this lol, I wasn’t at the shop when it was fitted. I’ll pop under the car tomorrow and have a look.
All I know is it’s made a huge difference to the drivetrain behaviour, there’s more vibrations when reversing and when slowing to a stop at traffic lights etc but nothing to write home about, but banging through the gears is even better now.

 

[DJAlix]

I’ll be totally honest mate I haven’t a clue as of writing this lol, I wasn’t at the shop when it was fitted. I’ll pop under the car tomorrow and have a look.
All I know is it’s made a huge difference to the drivetrain behaviour, there’s more vibrations when reversing and when slowing to a stop at traffic lights etc but nothing to write home about, but banging through the gears is even better now.

Sounds like you have a normal purple one then, which is what I had. Did exactly what it was meant to do but I could not live with the vibrations.

 

[cjm999]

Hi mate,

Yeah mine do this and I’ve got the Eibach Pro kit fitted. As you say it’s only there when slowly turning the wheel etc.
After speaking to CLP in Sheffield they said they alleviated this issue by fitting new top mount bearings on somebody else’s car , think it was £36 a side for them. I’m aiming to get these fitted to mine ASAP.

It was CLP that have fitted the springs 3 times to my car (first time Sportline, then Pro Kit, then back to Sportline) and they fitted new top mounts last week but it didn't fix the issue, think they were thinking ahead of themselves as they were sure that the top mounts would fix it but it didn't.

 

[cjm999]

Lol yes there is that also.

When I fitted mine there is very specific instruction to make sure the end of the spring coil is fully home against the cup end stop, a tab that sticks up to locate the spring.

It says if even a tiny gap is left then ‘noises’ can occur...

Mine are silent in operation.

They've fitted countless Eibach springs to other cars (even pre-facelift RS3's) with no issues before so I trust that they know how to fit them correctly

 

[Deep penetrator]

It was CLP that have fitted the springs 3 times to my car (first time Sportline, then Pro Kit, then back to Sportline) and they fitted new top mounts last week but it didn't fix the issue, think they were thinking ahead of themselves as they were sure that the top mounts would fix it but it didn't.

Oh right, well there’s a few guys that have this issue with the same springs on the same cars so there’s something going on!!
What you going to do about the noise??

 

[larbel]

I'm having the exact same problem, I have S3 with 2018 RS3 suspensions, it didn't make any noise with RS3 springs but started to click/creak at low speed turning as soon as the E10-15-021-13-22 Pro kit were fitted. I then replaced the strut mount and bearings even though they're basically brand new on the RS3 suspensions, 5Q0412331E and 8S0412249, checked the lower rubber end spring fitment, made sure to tighten the top nut to spec (60nm), same thing! So don't waste your money on strut mount or bearings...

Really at lost of what would be the problem...

 

[Seanix]

Hey all,
I had a similar issue with MSS front track springs. After covering over 3000km, the noise was still there.

MSS were great to deal with and sent out replacement springs. Got them installed last week and its now quite. The actual springs in my case must have been faulty.




Current - 2018 RS3 Sedan
Past - 2016 RS3 SB

 

[T-800]

They've fitted countless Eibach springs to other cars (even pre-facelift RS3's) with no issues before so I trust that they know how to fit them correctly

Well there’s definitely something amiss because they should be quiet in operation.

If they are noisy then you need to get them to strip down and investigate.

Top mount bearings should not be an issue on 67 plate cars.

The top mount rubber on our cars sits on a plastic 2 piece angled part that can come apart and if it does needs realigning using the reference tab.

 

[T-800]

Audi warning on the importance of my above post.

 

[larbel]

Audi warning on the importance of my above post.

S3 uses deep groove ball thrust bearing, but RS3 uses plain bearing from TTS/RS. Both of them have indent for fixed location to the strut mount, can’t really misalign them unless being extremely sloppy...

It is not the case here, mine was fitted at an VAG specialist, and we made sure everything was done to a tee.. From his experience, like 50% of them could have noise with real cause unknown, his theory is some springs on the lower end of torlence level (end spring curvature) could have issue... But since the issue is so common, a lot of people accepted it as it should and it’s like impossible to get the spring manufacturer to admit? I dunno.. still hoping for a fix here...

 

[cjm999]

Oh right, well there’s a few guys that have this issue with the same springs on the same cars so there’s something going on!!
What you going to do about the noise??

Thinking about trying the Racingline springs instead!

 

[larbel]

Hmmm.. The Eibach distributor said another thing I should try is trimming the front bump stop, I can’t imagine it could be the bump stop but he insisted that’s how he fixed on some with noises...

Did anyone trimmed theirs? Really hate to take the whole thing apart again without knowing how true is this fix...

 

[Slowracer]

Trimming the bumpstop will allow more travel for your shock, so it will be less prone to it bottoming out. It will help with noise related to bottoming out but that doesn’t sound like the problem some are having.

Personally I can’t tolerate suspension noise, no one should have to, it shouldn’t happen from a properly sorted product.