on a 2007 cobalt ss/sc

put eibach sportline springs on the car and it is for sure the rear of the car. car only has 29k miles and if i hit a bump (even a small one) it sounds like metal hitting metal. has anyone had this problem? i've taken the springs out. flipped them around. took the right rear to the left rear and switched them. pulled them out put them back in 3 times so far and still i hit a small bump and CLUNK BANG noise as if metal is hitting metal.


any ideas?

stock exhaust is on the car too

bump stops maybe?

if you open the trunk and push down hard on the car will it still make the sound?

no, bump stops are cut properly.

did that and when i opening the trunk and kept pushing all my weight on it and trying to go side to side. nothing no sound or problem. but if i go out my driveway CLUNK BANG. then down the road BANG horrible sound like metal banging vs metal.

not sure what else it could be. happened the day i put them in. with the stock height in the back it was fine.

Are you a heavy dude? u might be bottoming them out, lol.

you did install the spring seats back in when you reassembled, right?

just trying to eliminate possibilities.

yes.

you cut the bump stops?

I didn't..... Instructions on mine said not to?

Someone correct me if im wrong

what about the shocks? were they both re-installed properly?

if the bump stops are done properly and the spring mounts were reinstalled properly and the shocks are ok... then idk why it would bang with the stock exhaust!

when i did my springs i didn't cut the bump stops cause i didn't want it going lower than the factory set points so that it wouldnt hit my exhaust.

weird, I had a full 3" exhaust on my car with it as low as it will possibly go and no noises like that. I'd go over everything again. Check your exhaust hangers, maybe one popped off and the exhaust is hitting hte rear axle

the shocks i only took off the bottle bolt then lifted the rear back up and tightened the bolt back in. i did this 3 times. i took everything off and put it back on. switched sides. reversed the springs. eibach logo is up right the way the manual says. idk why it makes this horrible noise.

i plan on jacking up the car then putting jack stands under then jacking up the tire itself and see if or what is hitting to make the noise.

anyone else have any idea's?

you cut the bump stops?

I didn't..... Instructions on mine said not to?

Someone correct me if im wrong

I dont cut bumpstops....thats why yours didnt get cut.

the shocks i only took off the bottle bolt then lifted the rear back up and tightened the bolt back in. i did this 3 times. i took everything off and put it back on. switched sides. reversed the springs. eibach logo is up right the way the manual says. idk why it makes this horrible noise.

i plan on jacking up the car then putting jack stands under then jacking up the tire itself and see if or what is hitting to make the noise.

anyone else have any idea's?

Make sure you check around your exhaust, if everything really is installed properly thats the most likely cause.

what about the shocks? were they both re-installed properly?


yes, if you pulled the rear shocks out, make sure the bolts holding them in are tightened down properly. I didn't torque mine down well enough, and one came loose. Makes a horrible clunk and bang sound every time you hit even the smallest ripple in the pavement.

the shocks i only took off the bottle bolt then lifted the rear back up and tightened the bolt back in. i did this 3 times. i took everything off and put it back on. switched sides. reversed the springs. eibach logo is up right the way the manual says. idk why it makes this horrible noise.

i plan on jacking up the car then putting jack stands under then jacking up the tire itself and see if or what is hitting to make the noise.

anyone else have any idea's?

leave the car on the ground, or jack it up just enough that there is no tension on the shock. See if either the op or bottom bold is loose. Trust me, i cranked mine down with as much force as i could, and it still backed off.

(maven, i don't have a torque wrench, wasn't an option)

so re-torque both bolts on the shock? you think that could be making the BANG CLUNK Noise? sounds like metal hitting metal?

so re-torque both bolts on the shock? you think that could be making the BANG CLUNK Noise? sounds like metal hitting metal?

i know it's been said, but make sure they are both seated properly with the lower and top coil sitting flush, and not at an angle. when doing springs, especially the rear (even more so if you did it by yourself, or your helper was on the same side as you) it's very easy to have one move a little bit while you're doing the other side. also make sure that the little plastic cup that goes into the coil and then sits on the mount is in 100% flat.

if they're installed properly, and everything looks good, like already mentioned it's probably either a bad shock or the exhaust is hitting your torsion beam. not really much else to make any noise back there.

My car makes a loud clunk noise going over speed bumps.. Comes from the driver side and only seems to happen when it is cold out

My car makes a loud clunk noise going over speed bumps.. Comes from the driver side and only seems to happen when it is cold out

welcome to the world of owning a cobalt!!

i was driving with laloosh last week, he kept saying "damn kev, what was that sound". my response? "It's a cobalt. i don't ask these questions anymore" :guns:

so re-torque both bolts on the shock? you think that could be making the BANG CLUNK Noise? sounds like metal hitting metal?

yes, makes a horrible noise like the axle is trying to force itself through the rear floorboards haha. just make sure the bolt is all the way through to the inboard flange.

mine does it to but I just chalked it up do being a lowered 4 door on HnR springs

so basically i am not the only one with this problem? lol

I'll bet it's your exhaust...even though it's stock. Look under the car and see how close it is, if it is an inch or less apart from your crossbeam, that's the problem.

does it sound like its coming from the inside on the passenger side by the window somewhere? thats where mine was, dealer fixed it but now its back...

idk i think it's the exhaust and guessing the hanger or one of the bolts are hitting something

Not sure if your problem was before or after the springs, but;

I had a similar problem on my 2.4 Stock. it started as a light bump and I assumed it was tools in my trunk (used to renovation work). It got louder, so I took it in to the dealer. The day I drove it to the dealer it sounded like the rear suspension was trying to slam through the underbody of the car.

Just checked my service slip it was the trailing arm bolts came loose. They had to replaced them and tourqed everything properly never had a problem since. ( this was almost 2 yrs ago )

Mine does that on every pothole i hit..

I had a similar problem on my 2.4 Stock. it started as a light bump and I assumed it was tools in my trunk (used to renovation work). It got louder, so I took it in to the dealer. The day I drove it to the dealer it sounded like the rear suspension was trying to slam through the underbody of the car.

Just checked my service slip it was the trailing arm bolts came loose. They had to replaced them and tourqed everything properly never had a problem since. ( this was almost 2 yrs ago )


only thing i can do? any other idea's? i might just call the dealership and see what they say

cut ur bump stops

already did that

cutting your bump stops at the rear may lead to coil bind or shock limit travel. Big bang. Dumb

already did that

thats probably your problem there. Like qwik said, without the better valving of the FE5 struts, your bottoming out and causing coil bind, which is not a good thing.

hey LS1f body...time for a new sig: PINK:lol::lol::lol:

lol, you know what, i will do it just for you john.

gimme some time with the 'ol MS paint, and i will make Mavens pink dreams come true :lol:

lol, you know what, i will do it just for you john.

gimme some time with the 'ol MS paint, and i will make Mavens pink dreams come true :lol:

i think we are too hard on you. this pink theme is old now....damn i gotta getup and go to the machine shop and work on your stuff this am...see you in a bit. you going to afganland soon? or home? are you allowed to say? cmon....

not yet, all i can say is march sometime.

and i will have a finished product here for you in a wee bit :lol:

i cut them properly. i first did not cut the back bump stops at all and had the noise. then i pulled off the wheels and cut them the right length and i still have the noise.

i cut them properly. i first did not cut the back bump stops at all and had the noise. then i pulled off the wheels and cut them the right length and i still have the noise.

Milkey I dont know what the right length is cutting bump stops, it did not help you. And long distance internet diagnosis is tough as you may have made a mistake if you are not a supertech like Maven.

BUT something I noticed the other day; there is a thick spacer underneath the top strut mount on the Cobalt. the fitment goes like this: spring (plastic ring underneath it on the strut lower plate against the bottom of the spring). then a spring, followed by a top plate, (a rubber ring underneath that against the spring) a white plastic bearing with the dark plastic side facing down, then the top cobalt strut mount WITH A THICK SPACER INTEGRAL TO THE MOUNT but this spacer can fall out while working changing springs. If you miss this, the center strut nut will bottom on the threads without letting the top plate anchor securely on the strut rod, SO if this spacer is gone, and you assemble everything onto the car it will clunk coz its loose.

just sayin'

it's not the front. it's the rear. all that is in the rear is the shock. no strut.

sorry missed that: loose or broken shock (mount0, twb mount or coil bind.

still have this problem. damn i don't think it's ever going to be solved unless i take the springs out and put stock ones back in for the back. :(

make sure you have your exhaust in all the hangers sometimes simple is the answer. my car does the same thing except my is from my anti sway bar clanking