[FC] suspension

[Dale Dewald]

Hello Ben,

At 22:17 4/23/2010 -0400, Ben Stiles wrote:
>Greetings all:
>
>I am befuddled with the Greenbrier's front suspension. I have the infamous 
>Hand suspension modifications up front (one coil longer as my van is a 
>camper...and heavier)
>  and I am noting that every time I come to a stop I get a low grindy 
> sound like the coil springs compressing under the pressure of the stop 
> and often when I turn left or right, I get a pronounced clunking sound 
> and can feel this in my steering wheel and on the floor under my feet. 
> Also the brakes squeal a lot once warm. The tire balancing weights are 
> not rubbed as they would be were the clunking sound coming from the tie 
> rod ends. I run stock FC rims.
>
>I am thinking something about the suspension geometry is not right...what 
>would cause these sounds and clunking? Could the pig tail be too short on 
>the cut coil spring where it seats in the spring tower thus giving it room 
>to move as the coil compresses under the weight of the truck when stopping?

It may not be the springs making noise.

Make sure to check the tightness of the top mounting bolts for the front 
shock absorbers (the British actually use the correct term - dampers).  Do 
this with the weight of the vehicle on the suspension.  It is hard to get 
the front shocks to seat in the spring towers at full droop.  I found that 
the shocks would rub at the top of the spring if they are not seated 
correctly.  I also use a polyurethane bushing against the top of the shock 
where it fits against the spring tower and a standard rubber bushing in the 
upper position under the washer and nut.  These are the same bushings as 
used for sway bar end links and are available in the off-road/performance 
section of most FLAPS.

It is kind of hard to reach around the front tire to get to the top shock 
nut even with the wheels turned, so you may have to place a jack under the 
A-arm and remove the wheel.

Dale Dewald
Hancock, MI