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View Full Version : DIY: Stop your Racelands from clunking.



Alex857
08-18-2010, 06:30 PM
Hey all! Thought id make a write up since the raceland craze has taken over :tehe: But first a little history, i kept getting a horrible horrible clunk after the 3rd or 4th autox on these, and i have been wondering what it was. I thought maybe blown strut. Either way, i was tearing into it the other night to find out. What i found was the left front shock cartridge was loose, the nut that threads down in to keep it centered and tight, came loose, causing my knocking sound.

Tools needed:

Long-handled 3/8s and half inch ratchets.
10mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, and 21mm wrenches and sockets i believe.
3, 6, and 12 inch extensions
Collar wrenches (the ones they provide to tighten and loosen the collars).
Some sort wrench that has the 2 prong things (cant remember the correct name lol)
1/2 inch impact
Centerpunch
Hammer


First and foremost take your wheel off :mredface: :msmile: , i didnt provide a pic because im sure you can do that on your own.

Next..using an extension, 14mm socket, and ratchet, take off the 3 tophat bolts that hold the top of the assembly in, once these 3 bolts are off, the assembly will drop down, with the control arm and everything still holding it. :

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8071/98420144.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/98420144.jpg/)


After that, comes the easy part, 10mm and 13mm bolts hold the brake line and wheel speed sensor wire on the strut, these need to come off.

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/7518/94081286.jpg (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/94081286.jpg/)

If you have camberbolts, this is important. If you dont, skip to next step. Take the centerpunch (mine is automatic) and punch in a straight line, the bolt, washer, and on the strut, that way, when you put it all back together and line up your marks, your camber setting will not be changed.

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/2402/35720313.jpg (http://img580.imageshack.us/i/35720313.jpg/)

Look at the 10 oclock position on the bolt and you can see my marks

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9663/47453889.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/i/47453889.jpg/)

Now that those are marked, take them out, but be prepared! Dont let it flop over, causing your axle to pop, its a bitch to get back in. Tie it up somehow (mechanics wire in my case)

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6958/67728371.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/67728371.jpg/)

Now that its tied up, and you have the assembly out, clamp it in a vise, careful to choose your spot carefully so you dont bend the mounts.

http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/6958/11631407.jpg (http://img594.imageshack.us/i/11631407.jpg/)

Unwind your collars (or whatever you want to call them) and take the top nut off. I believe its a 17 or 18mm. (no pic, sorry guys)

Ok great, youve made it this far, now here is what was giving me problems, and potentially dangerous.

As you see, this nut type thing (idk the correct name lol) is loose, see the gap in between, causing the strut cartridge to move all around, not secure.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8940/50366133.jpg (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/50366133.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6536/17327549.jpg (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/17327549.jpg/)

See the gap? Now unscrew that, mine wasnt even finger tight, and the cartridge will pull right out.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/6605/57107776.jpg (http://img442.imageshack.us/i/57107776.jpg/)

Dont be alarmed if there is fluid in there, its designed as a cushion, and to prevent rust from building up and making it freeze in there.

http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/1839/15811035.jpg (http://img814.imageshack.us/i/15811035.jpg/)

Now, all i did from here was locktite the nut, and put it in, tighten it down and re asseble the way i took it apart. Make sure you line up your camber kit and you are good to go. Hope this helps! feedback is appreciated, its my first diy, and sorry about the pics they were taken with my bb lol.

Cheep3
08-18-2010, 07:37 PM
Nice DIY! I've been curious about how Racelands do in autocrossing. If I ever blow a stock strut they will be my next option. I'm guessing these nuts would be a good idea to locktite on original installation. How well do they work on the track??

Anrasmor
08-18-2010, 07:47 PM
Was there any kind of locktite on the threat to begin with? If not, it might be a good idea for any new coilover owners to go ahead and do it before installing. I for one am going to check before installing.

Alex857
08-18-2010, 11:21 PM
Nice DIY! I've been curious about how Racelands do in autocrossing. If I ever blow a stock strut they will be my next option. I'm guessing these nuts would be a good idea to locktite on original installation. How well do they work on the track??

They actually worked out really nicely for me! thanks :) i love em honestly, for the money you cant beat em.


Was there any kind of locktite on the threat to begin with? If not, it might be a good idea for any new coilover owners to go ahead and do it before installing. I for one am going to check before installing.


Nope..there was no loctite on there to begin with, i would def suggest doing this before you put them on, saves you from tearing them apart later down the road. also put some kind of antiseize on the threads that the adjustments are on,i put some on mine, and they are smooooooth as new still.

Anrasmor
08-19-2010, 03:55 AM
Nope..there was no loctite on there to begin with, i would def suggest doing this before you put them on, saves you from tearing them apart later down the road. also put some kind of antiseize on the threads that the adjustments are on,i put some on mine, and they are smooooooth as new still.

They do suggest the antisieze on their website when installing. So that makes sense, but the loctite on the reservoir of the shock should be done by the factory. I can't think of any coilover I have ever seen that was actually easy to open the reservoir. These open themselves.

Alex857
08-19-2010, 12:56 PM
yeah for sure, i would do it before installation. So much easier

Anrasmor
08-19-2010, 01:09 PM
Also for anybody out there that wants to mark the position of suspension pieces or anything else for that matter, finger nail polish works pretty good. I used to use touch up paint to mark suspension positions all the time.

Twisted-X
08-19-2010, 01:42 PM
Ditto. White-out works well also.

03Si757
09-07-2010, 04:28 PM
this should be sticky! Ima try this this weekend.

ZoomBoy
09-13-2010, 11:21 AM
I'm pretty sure this is exactly what my problem is. Only low speed turning, driving I hear the clunking. Driving anything over like 10-15 km/h I hear nothing. The only issue is, if this is done how many hours is this going to take a shop? Am I getting an alignment after again because my car was a bitch to get aligned when I had my racelands initially put on.

Alex857
09-27-2010, 04:04 PM
You will need an alignment afterwards, even with markin them, my steering wheel was a little bit off. Make sure guys, that its not coilbind that you are hearing, and that it is actually this problem.

ottotech
09-27-2010, 09:16 PM
great write up

Alex857
09-27-2010, 09:44 PM
thanks man :dance:

ZoomBoy
09-28-2010, 06:35 AM
How would we know if we had coilbind over this?

Alex857
09-28-2010, 02:57 PM
Coil bind sounds like exactly what it is, a spring popping noise when you turn the wheel. i mainly had the noise over bumps, but i do still have a small amt of coilbind.

ZoomBoy
09-29-2010, 06:29 AM
Essentially, when I am at a full stop and shift my steering wheel back and forth left to right I hear a popping/clunking (I can feel it on my feet). These are great coilovers but this one little thing bugs the heck out of me. It's loud enough that I'm sure people outside can hear it on my car as I make slow corner turns, etc.

ZoomBoy
10-24-2010, 09:45 AM
Can't stand the clunking lately! I feel like buying a new set of coilovers in the spring and ditching these.. ugh.

djrockafella
10-24-2010, 05:59 PM
Coil bind sounds like exactly what it is, a spring popping noise when you turn the wheel. i mainly had the noise over bumps, but i do still have a small amt of coilbind.


Do this fix it'll work! I had clunking,did this mod and all good. Thanks to the original poster.

MBaG
10-24-2010, 09:17 PM
mine has been clunking pretty bad. -__-
so i'm gna try this out. how do i unscrew the gap thingy?

03Si757
10-24-2010, 10:06 PM
I tried this and for all the strength in me, I could not get those things loose, Im thinking the noise im hearing has something to d with the top hats some how, Im thinkin about either buying those solid bushing camber plates off ebay, or just holding off and getting new coilovers all together.

ZoomBoy
10-25-2010, 08:05 AM
I tried this and for all the strength in me, I could not get those things loose, Im thinking the noise im hearing has something to d with the top hats some how, Im thinkin about either buying those solid bushing camber plates off ebay, or just holding off and getting new coilovers all together.

Exactly, these coils were great when I first got them but they've progressively been getting more annoying lately. I'm always explaining to people in my car what the clunking is. I think in the spring I'll buy a pair of Progress coils and sell these for cheap. They're great coilovers, but man the clunking is ANNOYING.

MBaG
11-07-2010, 02:03 PM
"As you see, this nut type thing (idk the correct name lol) is loose, see the gap in between, causing the strut cartridge to move all around, not secure."

i still dont get how you unscrew this?

gamma6
11-18-2010, 09:26 AM
"As you see, this nut type thing (idk the correct name lol) is loose, see the gap in between, causing the strut cartridge to move all around, not secure."

i still dont get how you unscrew this?

Bump, i would like to know as well

MBaG
11-18-2010, 01:20 PM
mine hasn't clunked for a good week or so. & i haven't done this diy.

PartyPooper
01-17-2011, 12:15 PM
Bump, i would like to know as well

what i did was put a sstrp wrench around it and gave a few hard wiggles and mine came off... did this diy and it fixed some of the clunking but not all of it still some minor ones... thanks for the diy.

Behemoth
01-20-2011, 03:01 PM
so we just need to keep doing this everytime it starts to clunk again? no permanent solution? -___-

jubaque
01-21-2011, 09:23 PM
Thank you for the great write up> It helps:)

ep3jd
01-21-2011, 09:36 PM
Solution: Sell racelands and purchase real coilovers.

Onasty
01-21-2011, 10:59 PM
Solution: Sell racelands and purchase real coilovers.

^^^^^^^^^Hater

ep3jd
01-22-2011, 05:54 AM
^^^^^^^^^Hater

I have racelands! You don't even have them!! Lol

By mine.

SmoothEPs
02-04-2011, 03:14 PM
I recently purchased racelands and my "cartridge" will not screw out. Does anybody know if raceland has fixed this issue?

Ep3 ked
02-04-2011, 03:36 PM
Ya I would like to know too im buying a set in a few weeks..

SmoothEPs
03-04-2011, 09:26 PM
I did this MOD before I had it installed. I get coil bind up the ass, any ideas?

Same as others... when I simply turn the wheel left and right (moving or not moving) it will make/make springy noise.

I have checked all nuts/bolts/adjusting plates.. all good and tight..

whatsvtec
03-25-2011, 07:15 PM
Was there any kind of locktite on the threat to begin with? If not, it might be a good idea for any new coilover owners to go ahead and do it before installing. I for one am going to check before installing.

:thumbu: Once I saw this it was the first thing I planned on doing once they got to my door :D

Alex857
03-26-2011, 04:49 PM
Sorry guys i just saw you have been blowing this up lol..pm me if you have a question, its the easiest way to get ahold of me. I have coil bind out the ass too btw lol. I plan on getting other coils this spring.

kale's blue ep3
05-22-2011, 04:55 PM
They do suggest the antisieze on their website when installing. So that makes sense, but the loctite on the reservoir of the shock should be done by the factory. I can't think of any coilover I have ever seen that was actually easy to open the reservoir. These open themselves.

antiseize on what parts of the coilovers?

ace of spades
05-23-2011, 01:44 PM
how common is the coil bind? I'm looking at getting a set of these used soon...


I have racelands! You don't even have them!! Lol

By mine.

still have them?

cjohnst
07-11-2011, 02:29 PM
I had a terrible clunking noise on my car, and bought racelands because I thought it was the struts, now I have a terrible clunking noise that was originally there, and my racelands make noise haha. I'm not sure what the problem is. . . they seem to be hit and miss with most folks.

ep3jd
07-11-2011, 02:51 PM
how common is the coil bind? I'm looking at getting a set of these used soon...



still have them?

On my car lol

civic sir f1
08-21-2011, 10:47 AM
any fix on the coil bind?

MBaG
08-22-2011, 02:14 PM
any fix on the coil bind?

Grease up the perches. I have no clunking/coil binding.

eternal780
08-22-2011, 02:52 PM
yea this clunking is bugging the crap out of me . i have koni yellow with H and R , im starting to hate the EP. :(

doubledouble
06-23-2012, 01:49 AM
Bumping this before I start a new thread.

I installed a set of Rokkors and my rears don't clunk they squeal/squeak. It sounds like the spring is too compressed or something. I'm NOT slammed at all. In fact, I had to really try hard to raise it up since I didn't have any spring compressors. Any help please? I plan on tearing into them on Monday so any tips would be awesome.

TIA.

doubledouble
06-24-2012, 10:57 AM
Anyone?

frm_808
07-11-2012, 01:59 AM
Bumping this before I start a new thread.

I installed a set of Rokkors and my rears don't clunk they squeal/squeak. It sounds like the spring is too compressed or something. I'm NOT slammed at all. In fact, I had to really try hard to raise it up since I didn't have any spring compressors. Any help please? I plan on tearing into them on Monday so any tips would be awesome.

TIA.

Unless your car is up in the air, it will hard adjusting coilovers up or down. Make sure the springs are seated right, may need to put some rubber hosing or grease around the coil spring itself to where it makes contacts the spring perch/top hats

02CivicSI-VTEC
08-21-2012, 02:34 PM
Please give visual on how to loosen the center pieces.I have tried and was not able to break it looen

black05ep
08-21-2012, 07:48 PM
Please give visual on how to loosen the center pieces.I have tried and was not able to break it looen

If u got the ssr coilovers i saw your post. Ive already tryed to. Used channel locks and vice grips and wouldnt budge. So i said fuck it it must be tight enough.

02CivicSI-VTEC
08-23-2012, 01:07 PM
Lol yea I gave up on that. I look really close and saw red coloring in between the threads so I guess its red locktight. I am going to paint my strut black to prevent rusting later on. Yay 666 posting /;)

black05ep
08-23-2012, 02:07 PM
Yea i couldn't. Budge it so i gave up. Did u get the rears done? Mine still arent. Got my tires put on though.i gota raise the pass side about a 1/4 inch maybe not even that. Im still rubbing on bumps on that side. No finger gap on the fronts though. 2254517 looks beefy. From the rebar to the ground im exactly 13" def not really low but with the tire thats kinda hard. Back i can only drop it anothr 1/4" til i have the fenders rolled.

02CivicSI-VTEC
08-23-2012, 03:31 PM
I haven't install them yet but I am current on a used set of raceland with all blown struts. Gonna install them tomorrow.

black05ep
08-23-2012, 04:13 PM
Haha ye im gna try and get my rears on tomorrow. Hopefully the rears r stiff enough i wont rub

02CivicSI-VTEC
08-24-2012, 10:34 PM
we finished installing the new coilover, my friend Willy and I are very impressed with the ride quality over all. for a low buget price coilover they are a lot better then struts and springs set up as a DD IMO. My friend is convinced to buy a set of his own soon =). over all i am happy with the product for what i've pay for. if you have any question or problem Black05ep feel free to ask =)

black05ep
08-25-2012, 04:26 PM
we finished installing the new coilover, my friend Willy and I are very impressed with the ride quality over all. for a low buget price coilover they are a lot better then struts and springs set up as a DD IMO. My friend is convinced to buy a set of his own soon =). over all i am happy with the product for what i've pay for. if you have any question or problem Black05ep feel free to ask =)
Thanks 02si but we got it all takin care of today.as well as the moog tierods and alignment.my review is on the ssr thread.

jaysNep3
10-13-2012, 08:25 AM
guess i have to do this for mine....getting them next week =)

ep32424
10-14-2012, 10:41 PM
i had this coilsover before it was making noise all the time so i got feed up and got CTR suspension. but not bad for the price.