Metallic rattle from rear passenger's wheel well.

[nyuk98GT]

SugarMouth,

Thanks for the follow-up note. Very interesting! DId H&R explain why this happens? If it is rare, isn't a manufacturing issue?

Sorry, but I don't recall seeing isolators on the rear springs because i was just focused on getting the springs installed (and getting my hide off the cold garage floor). I'm curious now and will take a look (that is, put back end up on ramps as opposed to peering through the wheel openings) this week.

I'm happy for you that you found the problem and sorted it out so quickly. And your documenting the search steps and methods will surely help others tracking down NVH issues.

 

[SugarMouth]

I have a theory why only the passenger's side rattles.

The factory coils are linear and identical side to side. Because they are linear they have evenly spaced coils that do not contact one another, allowing for variation in spring behavior when installed on both sides. No interference, no noise.

The H&R coils share the same features as they are the same part side to side and terminate the coils at the same place, matching the shaved lower and unshaven upper ends. This normally would not be a consideration for discussion but H&R uses a progressive coil which has at least three coils in contact once the weight of the vehicle is loaded.

This difference may have an influence on the spring behavior because of the fore and aft movement on the lower control arm and the clocking of the spring from one side to the other, especially with the top coil sitting on a flush surface. You can see that the spring does not clock the same way on each side of the vehicle. This would partially validate why the sound would be more prevalent with a load on the vehicle (accelerating) as the control arm bushings flex changing position of the lower control arm influencing the spring. It's possible the driver's spring makes no noise because the clock is in favor under load.




Kicking around ideas.