Afternoon everyone,
I have a 2005 CSR200 which has developed a creak on the front drivers side suspension. I've narrowed it down to the drivers side and somewhere around the rocker assembly. I can't narrow it down any further from there as the sound is "travelling" if that makes sense.
Are there any known failure points that I should look at first? And is it good practice to replace in pairs as per a tin top?
Thanks,
Peter
Check the rocker to damper junction. Mine had worn into the rocker arm where the top of the damper had rotated (presumably when someone had not been careful doing a ride height change).
Thanks Sam. I'll check that tomorrow when its light and report back. Think I need to take the nose off to get better access for a thorough look.
So after a nice couple of hours out in it this morning. The noise remained (after some silicone spray on some joints yesterday). Took the nose off and studied the drivers coilover a little more, held the spring and the noise stopped, but it was still trying to make it so vibrating under my hand. On comparison the spring wasn't seated the same way as the passenger side so jacked the car up and managed to undo the collars by hand (which is worrying) and slacken the spring off so I could rotate it. I also noticed that the spring was ever so slightly bowed as when I span it you could see it moving further away from the central damper. Not sure how thats happened but put it all back together and compressed the suspension and the noise has gone.....for now.
Now, does anyone know where i can get a set of spanners to lock the collar/rings together? Or who makes the damper units (it has Eibach springs, but no name on the dampers)?
Good news you've tracked something down. Re spanner's, they are just standard c spanners.
What colour are the dampers? Grey or blue and gold?
If standard, Bilstein if grey, Multimatic if blue and gold.
SamC, the damper bodies are grey/bare aluminium. Thanks for the heads up about the spanners. I'll track down a couple. A quick google reveals different sizes though so ill take some measurements when I'm home.
I'm trying to track down a set of springs but Caterham only sell the whole units at £600+ each. Looks like I'll have to give Eibach a call and see if they stock them.
Springs can be obtained form many sources, Faulkners make fine springs circa £30 a corner for linear if you know the poundage free length and ID you need.
https://dfaulknersprings.com/
Be a little careful, the spring to steering arm clearance is very tight when the car is jacked up and the wheels are full droop.
#7, #8, Thanks for the heads up on both counts.
Pete, I'd consider getting it flat floored at a specialist while you're at it. Otherwise you've no idea if you've got any cross weight in the car (unless you have some corner weight scales of course).
I have a hunch that its been done before as the drivers side measurement I took was 10mm more than the passenger side. If the noise returns and I end up changing springs I'll definitely look into getting it done as I'm sure the original owner wasnt my weight an the new springs would change something about its handling. Any recommendations of somewhere Essex based?