Steeda Shock Mount Noises

[ChitownStang]

So I posted this thread because the installation of my Steeda suspension has been a real pain in the ass from problems with the threads on the shocks to bad bearings in the shock mounts. I have had my car up in the air replacing shock mounts about 6 times now and it's making me crazy. I keep chasing a sharp clanky noise over cracks in the road. I've already had Steeda replace one mount and I seem to have another bad one as when I swapped the left with the right shock, the noise follows and the bearing seems loose again when swiveling the one making noise. What is going on here? Should I get the proper nuts and washers and put my stock mounts back on my Fixed Proactions and call it a day or what?
What is your experience with these mounts and noise over bumps, any issues?
and yes I've checked the nut on top and it's tight.
Thanks for help

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[WhiteyDog]

I have the the Steeda billet rear mounts and their adjustable pro-action shocks and never had any issues with them. I don't have any noises and never had to readjust anything. Since you have the top nut tight, everything else is tight? (No, I'm not trying to be an idiot). Did you install any other suspension items at the same? Tire and wheel clearance okay?

 

[Cobra Jet]

There was another thread in the suspension forum that was posted a couple of months back - a couple of other members had the same issue you are experiencing.

Keep in mind these are mass produced parts. I’m wondering if the reported failures are due to:

1) the supplied bearings are of inferior quality
2) the bearings are possibly not being pressed into the mount as spec’d, or it’s getting damaged by the press and that damage isn’t noticeable until the mount is installed and under load
3) the mount design needs to be revised so that these type of failures cease to exist

Steeda would be more versed into the “why” of these mounts prematurely failing. They are an excellent company and always have great customer service and do right by their customer base.

 

[ChitownStang]

I also did the IRS Bushings but the noise didn't come in until the shocks and mounts were installed a week later.

I have the the Steeda billet rear mounts and their adjustable pro-action shocks and never had any issues with them. I don't have any noises and never had to readjust anything. Since you have the top nut tight, everything else is tight? (No, I'm not trying to be an idiot). Did you install any other suspension items at the same? Tire and wheel clearance okay?

 

[ChitownStang]

Oh, and I also put the stock shocks and mounts back on and all the noise went away.
Problem is I don’t have the proper hardware to mount the stock mounts to the fixed proactions or I would’ve done that

 

[NoVaGT]

You've gone through 6 Steeda mounts?

 

[NightmareMoon]

If they’re causing you that much grief, absolutely go back to the stock parts. Ford should be happy to supply you replacement hardware.

 

[ChitownStang]

No, this is my second one to go bad but trying to isolate the noise has me switching parts and moving shocks so I can figure out what it is.
I think the nuts that come with the pro action shocks were thrown out by my installer since he used the Steeda mounts
Maybe I’ll ask Steeda if they have them
All in all Steeda support is great but this product was not needed and I should’ve never bought
Maybe the horrible roads in Chicago are destroying these bearings, I don’t know.

 

[wildcatgoal]

Please post close-up pictures of your completed assembly. I have had these shock mounts for ages without an issue; I was one of the first to have them.

See my notes on the installation here: https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/wildcatgoals-build-2016-dib-gt-pp.63645/page-2#post-1672618

I'd love to see this installation myself when I'm up in the Chicago area over Christmas. I have fixed clunks, squeaks, etc on many cars, including my own. What I do not like is that Steeda says "no NVH" - I disagree on a few of their products like if you replace a bearing with a bushing -- there HAS to be NVH increases, often in rare circumstances, but there has to be in that case. But this shock mount is a quality product. It is.

There was another thread in the suspension forum that was posted a couple of months back - a couple of other members had the same issue you are experiencing.

Keep in mind these are mass produced parts. I’m wondering if the reported failures are due to:

1) the supplied bearings are of inferior quality >> they are not inferior bearings; there was a very early batch from the bearing supplier that had a few bad apples, Steeda's has been shown to replace them even after 1+ years use
2) the bearings are possibly not being pressed into the mount as spec’d, or it’s getting damaged by the press and that damage isn’t noticeable until the mount is installed and under load >> Steeda's Valdosta facility is a ISO 9001-2008 manufacturer and they are equipped to manufacture parts for other companies (in or out of the car parts business). Mistakes can happen, but I doubt this is a valid concern.
3) the mount design needs to be revised so that these type of failures cease to exist >> 100% of the time I have helped resolve an issue with a Steeda part myself in my local area, it was installation error. I'm not privy to all of Steeda's own resolutions, but I do know most are installation error (overtorquing with heavy-duty impact guns or cheap/uncalibrated torque wrenches is big, big problem).

Steeda would be more versed into the “why” of these mounts prematurely failing. They are an excellent company and always have great customer service and do right by their customer base.

 

[NoVaGT]

No, this is my second one to go bad but trying to isolate the noise has me switching parts and moving shocks so I can figure out what it is.
I think the nuts that come with the pro action shocks were thrown out by my installer since he used the Steeda mounts
Maybe I’ll ask Steeda if they have them
All in all Steeda support is great but this product was not needed and I should’ve never bought
Maybe the horrible roads in Chicago are destroying these bearings, I don’t know.

Thanks for the info.

I'm getting ready to do a bunch of Steeda suspension stuff, quite similar to yours, and it's obviously concerning to hear of issues.

I hope you get it all straightened out.

FYI, on my 2012 Brembo car, there was a clunking in the rear that couldn't be found, shocks were changed to no avail, and it ended up being sway-bar bushings. So keep an open mind, it might be something else.

 

[ChitownStang]

I will have to get pics next time a take everything apart. It would be great to get another mustang owner with similar mods to hear my noises to see if they are the same. What part of Chicago are you coming to?
Looking at your install, everything looks the same except I do not have that extra nut on the top like yours has. Is that some kind of cover?

 

[ChitownStang]

I'm sure you will be fine as Steeda is a great company.
I did think about the noise coming from the sway bar but when I put stock shocks and mounts back on the noise is gone.
Also the noise seems to happen more often going slow over sharp cracks in road which Steeda is saying is the characteristic of a bad bearing.
I just got off the phone with Steeda and they are truly the best company to deal with when you have problems as they truly do care about you as the customer! They did say that if my roads are really bad, which chicagoland roads are, that this could be the reason they are going out. They are sending me a new one to replace and if this one goes out they suggested I ship the proactions and mounts back to them to check it out. Guess we will see how this all plays out

Thanks for the info.

I'm getting ready to do a bunch of Steeda suspension stuff, quite similar to yours, and it's obviously concerning to hear of issues.

I hope you get it all straightened out.

FYI, on my 2012 Brembo car, there was a clunking in the rear that couldn't be found, shocks were changed to no avail, and it ended up being sway-bar bushings. So keep an open mind, it might be something else.

 

[BmacIL]

I took mine off because they were making clunking noises when the wheel unloaded (like if backing out of a driveway/over a curb at an angle), but they were from one of the initial batches. The first set I bought (which I no longer have, but had no complains about) did not have any noises once tightened properly. I'm back on the Ford OEM mounts until the BMR SM760 is released.

 

[wildcatgoal]

Primarily McHenry and Palatine. Undecided on dates. The "extra nut" on top you're referring to is intended to use to keep the shaft from spinning when tightening the main top nut. I have Steeda Adjustable shocks (similar to Koni Yellows but with unique valving).

 

[ChitownStang]

Cool, give me a shout when your're in and maybe we can get together.

Primarily McHenry and Palatine. Undecided on dates. The "extra nut" on top you're referring to is intended to use to keep the shaft from spinning when tightening the main top nut. I have Steeda Adjustable shocks (similar to Koni Yellows but with unique valving).

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