MstngShelbyGT07

Just installed Spohn Del-Sphere double rod end LCA's on the car. I knew there would be some increased NVH with them, but I am hearing a faint "clunk" when shifting gears now. This happens mainly on the 1-2, 2-3 up-shift when letting the clutch out (both on light and wide open throttle). It's hard to pinpoint if the noise is coming from the LCA's. It kind of sounds like it is coming from the rear of the transmission tunnel. I still have the stock 2 piece drive shaft... could this be the culprit causing the noise and I never really noticed it before because the stock LCA's were rubber bushed and dampened the sound???

SpartaPerformance

The noise you're experiencing is pretty normal. That's why most of the LCA with spherical rod ends are labeled as track use only

parchisi

I have a panhard bar with spherical rod ends and there's a lot a noise when going slow over bumpy surfaces. Its just the price you pay I guess.

NJ3

I think you are hearing the driveshaft clunk more because the joints transmit more noise. I have a one piece DS, UMI Roto Joints and I also hear more noises. It's all part of modding.

John@TrackspecMotorsports

Did you try retorquing them after the initial run? Also, did you torque them with the suspension settled and the car on the ground?

Give that a shot if you havent already, let us know if that fixes it! Rod ends are prone to making noise but not particularly right way. Its common for rod ends as they wear to allow the shaft or control arm to twist letting the rod end hit the mounting bracket causing the noice. The driveshaft could be the issue also but you didnt really hear it before and i doubt by installing rod ends it would be that much more intense of a sound.

MstngShelbyGT07

Nawh, it was torqued while on the lift. Will give that a try and let you know!

John@TrackspecMotorsports

Any update? Hope its resolved!

John

Ford-a-tude

He said they are double rod ends, so I'm not sure if torquing down while on the ground comes into play here. I thought that was more for rubber bushings and causing bind?

I have the UMI delrin upper and lowers and so far they have all loosened up on me. I can't tell you how many times I have had to screw around with that PITA upper arm! The thing keeps coming loose and when it does it allows the ball some wiggle room between the delrin spheres. CLUNK when getting on or off the gas as the rear end winds up. They should loctite these at the factory. Grrrrr!

John@TrackspecMotorsports

Correct! Since they are rod ends, it won't matter as much but regardless, what we have always done was initial torqued the control arms down on the lift, lower the car down. Drive the car around the block to get everything settled, then retorque while the on the ground. Its just a practice that ensures everything is tight and bind free.

And yes, medium loctite is our friend!

Norm Peterson

How closely did the Del-Sphere ends fit up into the axle and chassis side brackets? Did your bolt torquing involve much squeezing together of the bracket "sides"? Enough to clearly see?

And how much clearance is there between the bolts and the holes in all the parts they go through?

Those questions are sort of related if the reason for the clunk is what I think it could be..


Norm