CREAKING EIBACH SPORTLINE SPRINGS HELP (collar arrow needs to face a certain way?)

[mattrose4]

Hello everyone, I installed my Eibach Sportline springs about 2 weeks ago and ever since I've been getting creaking noises from the front passenger side. I torqued down all nuts and bolts to factory spec, but still the problem persists. I've fallen into a deep rabbit hole about what it could be and one thing I found that may be the cause is the arrow on the strut collar that is located above the bushing but below the top hat. There is an arrow and a green mark on the collar and from what I read is its supposed to be in a certain spot and the arrow needs to be facing a certain way. I have pointed the arrow forward (still creaks), backwards, (still creaks), and forward and out towards the head light (still creaks). Does anyone know which way this arrow is supposed to face? Do i need to line up the 2 green lines on the top hat and the collar? I thought about that, but what little information I found on this topic doesn't line up with the line. Over the past week I have taken this strut out 5 or 6 times and before I do it again I just wanted to see if anyone here can provide some insight. ***NOTE*** I have copied the orientation I did on the drivers side that doesn't make any noise (arrow faces head light) and still creaks on passenger side. I will say that during install the loop the top of the spring slides into did tear, but I didn't think it'd be an issued because once weight in applied it shouldn't budge. I didn't line up the 2 green lines yet because the arrow would point back towards the driver seat and I haven't seen anything online saying it should face that way (there is next to no information on this topic btw).

 

[Mawfuqqa]

Mine also creaks on front passenger and sometimes rear passenger.

It’s annoying but I left it alone. I called eibach and they assured me there’ll be no issues during street/hpde aside from annoying sound. They suggested to lube the rubber spring sleeves, I opted to do nothing.

 

[mattrose4]

Mine also creaks on front passenger and sometimes rear passenger.

It’s annoying but I left it alone. I called eibach and they assured me there’ll be no issues during street/hpde aside from annoying sound. They suggested to lube the rubber spring sleeves, I opted to do nothing.

Thats pretty much what I'm getting. I only notice it on slow bumpy turns. Drives completely fine over all. Ill try bushing grease where the springs make contact and see if that helps. Its just frustrating to have to keep taking these out. Its surprising how little information there is out there about how to properly "clock" the strut. I was hoping someone would know a little more on that arrow and the meaning behind it, but even in Hondas service manual it just says "disassemble and reassemble" the strut. No details on the correct orientation. the top hat can only go in one way but that collar seems to have to be at a certain spot.

 

[Baby blue]

I purchased eibach spring also, but professionally installed 6000 miles later nothing.

 

[mattrose4]

I purchased eibach spring also, but professionally installed 6000 miles later nothing.

I've always done all my own work and have worked at a performance Subaru shop as well. I've never ran into this issue before. I'm not saying I didn't mess up installing them correctly due to the noise I'm hearing, but Id love a "professional" to just provide some insight on that collar and if that arrow even matters at all. It could just be grease up the bushings and contact points, but its hard to tell. Bright side I am incredibly fast at taking these struts out now lol I just don't know how I could've done anything different than what a professional would do.

 

[Pekingduck]

I had noise from suspension with my swift after install and end up being something else that wasnt touch but it got loose. I had eibach on a lot of cars and no issue. Remember eibach make spring for trd USA

 

[mattrose4]

I had noise from suspension with my swift after install and end up being something else that wasnt touch but it got loose. I had eibach on a lot of cars and no issue. Remember eibach make spring for trd USA

Yea, I dont think its the spring itself, but its not totally out of the question either. Do you remember what was lose when you had creaking? I tightened everything to factory spec with the car under load as well. The only thing I could think it may be at this point is the orientation of that collar with the arrow. Im not 100% certain which way that arrow is supposed to point. I tried forward, outward, and forward outward facing the head light. The last way I tried it made the noise way quieter but still creaks.

 

[Pekingduck]

Yea, I dont think its the spring itself, but its not totally out of the question either. Do you remember what was lose when you had creaking? I tightened everything to factory spec with the car under load as well. The only thing I could think it may be at this point is the orientation of that collar with the arrow. Im not 100% certain which way that arrow is supposed to point. I tried forward, outward, and forward outward facing the head light. The last way I tried it made the noise way quieter but still creaks.

I think it was the endlink on the sway bar side.

 

[mattrose4]

I just did my buddy's lowering springs on his 2025 type R and the strut from the factory has the arrow on the collar facing forwards towards the bumper. Install went smooth and all bolts torqued to factor spec and no creaks on his. I'm chalking this up to being a faulty spring (which can happen), but I want to make sure everything is good before I go to the Eibach. I have a new bushing and collar coming in that is between the top of the spring and the top hat. I will update this thread after I replace those this afternoon and apply bushing grease to all contact points. Also something to note, if you slide the top bushing on the spring the ordination of the arrow is no longer forward, but forward and out slightly due to the extra length of the spring. There is 2 green marks on the collar and bushing that line up from the factory. Once I get this new bushing installed and I'm going make sure all marks are lined up again and provide an update. Hopefully this thread will help those others than have ran into the creaking springs.

 

[mattrose4]

***UPDATE*** Last night I took the strut out again. I replaced the bushing the spring slides into on top side and I replaced the plastic sliding ring under the top hat. I did a test fit with the OEM spring and and placed the arrow facing towards the front bumper just like OEM. The Eibach spring is longer so when the bushing is fully seated the arrow ends up pointing forward and out towards the head light. This is completely okay. I used bushing grease and lubed up all the contact points on the spring and bushings both top and bottom. I installed the strut back in the car and torqued everything to factory spec. THE NOISE IS GONE!!!!! Its PERFECT!!!! I'm not sure what the exact issue was, but my theory is my last bushing was torn where the loop is. I believe this was allowing the spring to slide in and out of the seat when turning and hitting bumps. Long story short, grease all contact points, make sure Arrow is forward or forward out on the collar, and make sure there is no tares on the top bushing seat. I'm happy I figured out what the issue was and I really hope this helps others that install lowering springs

Sponsored