*Warning* When installing CTS Eibach springs on CTS-V

Tuan_CTSV · #1 (**permalink**) 06-19-09, 12:43 PM

Well as you all know, I installed some Eibach springs made for a 08-09 CTS on my 09 CTS-V. Well after the installation I started to hear squeaking noises from the car. Come to find out, it was the front springs binding up due to the extra weight from the CTS-V. The noise only was there when I slowed down, or when I was going over some bumps at low speeds. Being this is a brand new car, the noise was really annoying me.
So I decided to try and find a way to prevent the noise. First I tried putting some grease on the springs and seeing if that would work. I drove around the block and it sounded like it went away, but after driving a little bit more the noise was back.
After some thinking, I decided to put some rubber hoses around the coil of the spring. Looking at the spring, I think the noise were coming from the top of the springs because the space with the top coils were very close and I think that was where the extra weight was putting more stress on the springs.
I went to AutoZone and got about 5 feet of 3/4" rubber coolant hose and split it in half for each front springs and started to put them on. I had to grease up the spring to help slide the hose over each spring. Without the grease there was no way of putting the hose over the coil. Each spring took about 2 feet of hose for the top part, and I put 6" of hose on the bottom of the springs. After I did that, I greased up pretty much every part the spring came in contact with on the strut, including the rubber hose I had just put on.

The result: After a couple of days of driving! No more squeaky noises! I'm so glad I found out where the noises was coming from. It was annoying me pretty bad. I was about to go and cut my stock springs and put them back on. Also I think the extra hoses raised the front of the car up about a 1/2 inch. Overall the car still sits evenly with the back.

So just a warning for people who have bought these springs for their V. I would strongly suggest doing this, or wait for another company to come up with some springs made for the V.

Here are some pictures of what I did.

anonfrank · #2 (**permalink**) 06-19-09, 03:29 PM

Thanks for the warning, and kudos on the creative solution.

CTSV_510 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-19-09, 11:05 PM

lol when you go in to the dealership for something they're going to be like....

FYI, I think maybe these "cylindrical Roller Thrust Bearings" may be the fix that is needed:

http://www.breezeautomotive.com/deta...727&cat_id=34#

Mind you, these specific ones are not necessarily the correct size.

Titaniumseeker · #4 (**permalink**) 06-20-09, 12:52 PM

Thanks for the warning, For those still on the fence about the springs. D3 is about to release coilovers for our cars that will interface with our suspension. *ccording to the D3 rep the release is about a week away.

thebigjimsho · #5 (**permalink**) 06-20-09, 01:18 PM

I'm sorry, but unless someone comes out with a proven way to lower the V2 and either bring magnetorheological shocks of their own or the existing ones, I'm not touching it...

chopmeat · #6 (**permalink**) 06-20-09, 04:18 PM

D3 is also coming out with springs.
I might get those.
I have the eibachs and they are driving me crazy too.

Razorecko · #7 (**permalink**) 06-20-09, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopmeat

D3 is also coming out with springs.
I might get those.
I have the eibachs and they are driving me crazy too.

So you're getting squeeking too ? glad i didnt put on the eibach's that i bought...

chopmeat · #8 (**permalink**) 06-21-09, 12:02 PM

Yes, I'm getting squeeking.
These springs are for the 2008 CTS, not the V.
They are the wrong springs.
I am going to talk to D3 and if they don't have their springs ready yet I'm taking these out.
A member told me about these and I'm pissed off because they are WRONG!

Razorecko · #9 (**permalink**) 06-21-09, 12:18 PM

^ yea nobody said anything bad about them until this thread. I'm glad Tuan did say something otherwise i'd have these suckers on already.

thebigjimsho · #10 (**permalink**) 06-21-09, 04:09 PM

There are so many differences between a CTS and a V that I would never try integrating the two. Craziness...

Tuan_CTSV · #11 (**permalink**) 06-21-09, 04:34 PM

I'm pretty sure the main difference here are the motors. The CTS-V clearly have a lot more things going on in the engine bay. It just sucks that Eibach does not make anything for the V, and usually Eibach are on top of their games when it comes to new cars. We are all trying to make our V different from each other. Right now with the limited market for aftermarket products we are in the trial and error period. This was something I knew I was getting into, and I felt that others should know before buying this. I'm just glad that what I did works for now, until some proper springs comes out for the V. After I did this, the car is back to normal with no squeaky sounds.

chopmeat · #12 (**permalink**) 06-21-09, 11:52 PM

Guys listen, the only reason I did this was that a good standing member on here recommended these.
He was obviously wrong.
The springs are coming out this week and D3's will go in.

stevenash71 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-22-09, 12:49 AM

where the hell do you get those thrust bearings and what would be the correct size?

Tuan_CTSV · #14 (**permalink**) 06-22-09, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenash71

where the hell do you get those thrust bearings and what would be the correct size?

i don't think the thrust bearings are needed here.. i think i went overboard on put the rubber hoses on the top and the bottom of the springs. but i wanted to make sure everything the spring came in contact was greased up or had rubber on it. I'm pretty sure the culprit of the noises were coming from the top of the springs. The top two coils of the springs is what I'm talking about. With the added weight of the motor, the car puts more weight on these springs, and the top two coils sits on each other and ends up squeaking from rubbing on each other. This is the reason why I put almost 2 feet of hoses on the top two coils.

badmammajamma · #15 (**permalink**) 06-23-09, 06:09 PM

HI Guys,

I am brand new to the board and I just love the CTSv. I have to get my cash together but when the incentives line up with the moon just right I am going to pounce on this car. Now to the reason for posting..

I own a 2005 WRX STI and I love this car I will never get rid of it. One of the things that bothered me about the stock springs (I modded the exhaust from the turbo and and tuned it for an additional 60whp) was that they made noise and did not grip the road as well as I liked. Sooo I ponied up the 2K for a set of Bilstein Pss9's. I installed them correctly (this is key) and was amazed at the gription the car now had.

So here I am Stage 2 STI with a great suspension to match.. Then I started to get random noises a few months after install. I will admit I did not even attempt any creative fix but I did bring it to my tuner and he said "no matter what you do you will always have suspension noise when you move from OEM suspension"... the trade off is a customized ride to your taste.

I now have several more thousand miles on the set-up and they are amazing. They do make noise but I find it acceptable on my STI. If I had a similar issue on a ride like the CTSv it would concern me but in the end I think part of the trade off for a better suspension is MORE noise.

YMMV