SOLVED - Finally a thrust bearing that works

[x.shell]

Just want to share this with the community.

For those that are running coilovers with 2.25" or 60mm springs will know the inevitable noise/creaks/pings that eventually creep into the front suspension -- often described as happening at low speeds while turning the wheel.

The accumulation of debris and pebbles in the rotational points in our McPherson strut set ups, eventually leads to this noise. I've tried all manner of thrust bearings (4 different kinds) but none would stay quiet for very long; especially if you recently have a rainy day. After struggling with this for years, I finally settled on some common torrington needle thrust bearings while also getting into the routine of tearing down and cleaning the strut assembly every 6 months or so.

When came time for me to upgrade my JRZ RS2 to RSPro3, I wanted to get a replacement top spring perch as well. Bryan Hise at 057Motorspots was kind enough to send me a set of JRZ's new sealed thrust bearings to try out. The thrust bearings on these are integrated into the top spring perch and sealed. Brilliant. The red aluminum is two pieces that rotate and have internal bearings. The black plastic piece is just the spring seat. The tolerance is very tight, completely sealed and silent. Seems near impossible for any debris to get into the bearings. Although these are made by JRZ, they'll actually work on any coilover shock that has the normal 22mm > 18mm > 14mm shaft. I am thoroughly impressed with these.

I know this is a problem that most people don't care about or gave up on, but I just thought I'd share my impressions with bimmerpost -- it's kinda what I tend to do when I find new information that might be helpful for that one guy.

JRZ thrust bearings/spring perch




Other solutions I've tried:
Plastic Thrust Bearing (literal ball bearings sandwiched inside).


Swift Thrust Sheets.


Torrington Needle Bearing Thrust Sheets.

[irunalot]

How did the thrust sheets work? I just switched to those when I installed the MCS dampers.

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by irunalot

How did the thrust sheets work? I just switched to those when I installed the MCS dampers.

It worked okay. But they eventually bind up when enough debris or pebbles get stuck in between the spring coils and sheet and perch. If you don't clean them regularly, the debris will chew up the plastic. They'll still work, you'll just have to clean them more often. If it rains a lot in your area, it's a losing battle.

In terms of low friction movement, nothing beats metal bearings. The Torrington needle bearings were the best ones I've used before getting these JRZ's. They are by far the most popular for coilovers. The needle bearings are easy to clean once you have access. Having it sealed makes it that much better. There's a reason why OEM uses sealed bearings — virtually no maintenance.

I've also though about getting some coilover socks, but they're overpriced and I was too lazy to make my own. I was impressed that MSS's HAS kit comes with socks.

Hope this has helped.

[irunalot]

Originally Posted by x.shell

It worked okay. But they eventually bind up when enough debris or pebbles get stuck in between the spring coils and sheet and perch. If you don't clean them regularly, the debris will chew up the plastic. They'll still work, you'll just have to clean them more often. If it rains a lot in your area, it's a losing battle.

In terms of low friction movement, nothing beats metal bearings. The Torrington needle bearings were the best ones I've used before getting these JRZ's. They are by far the most popular for coilovers. The needle bearings are easy to clean once you have access. Having it sealed makes it that much better. There's a reason why OEM uses sealed bearings — virtually no maintenance.

I've also though about getting some coilover socks, but they're overpriced and I was too lazy to make my own. I was impressed that MSS's HAS kit comes with socks.

Hope this has helped.

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback. That was very helpful!

[E92inSG]

I just ordered the swift sheets myself for my RS pro. These front coils are REALLY noisy!!

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by E92inSG

I just ordered the swift sheets myself for my RS pro. These front coils are REALLY noisy!!

When you have no thrust sheets, it'll get noisy very quickly. My RS Pros are completely silent.

[E92inSG]

Yup I was deciding between the swift sheets or actual Torrington bearings but I heard the bearings get destroyed pretty fast as well on street driving thru mud and road dirt etc.

The swift sheets are advertised as no maintenance

[DeathBear]

Apologies but I have a noob question. I am currently looking into getting coilovers as well but is wondering if this noise is common with all coilovers or is it specific to certain brands/setups? Trying to see what else I should buy and get the install done right the first time

Thanks!

[E92inSG]

Originally Posted by DeathBear

Apologies but I have a noob question. I am currently looking into getting coilovers as well but is wondering if this noise is common with all coilovers or is it specific to certain brands/setups? Trying to see what else I should buy and get the install done right the first time

Thanks!

The actual term is spring bind, when u steer at low speeds the spring twists and if there is no bearing for the spring to rotate smoothly, it “catches” and produces a popping sound as it “skips” across the perch. Stock top mounts have this bearing in place so if you’re changing to a coilover that utilises the stock top mount you won’t have this issue.

If not then you need either thrust sheets or Torrington/ needle bearings to allow smooth rotation of the spring as you turn.

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by E92inSG

The actual term is spring bind, when u steer at low speeds the spring twists and if there is no bearing for the spring to rotate smoothly, it “catches” and produces a popping sound as it “skips” across the perch. Stock top mounts have this bearing in place so if you’re changing to a coilover that utilises the stock top mount you won’t have this issue.

If not then you need either thrust sheets or Torrington/ needle bearings to allow smooth rotation of the spring as you turn.

What's odd was I had Bilstein PSS10 and it reused the OEM top mounts, however, they still bound and popped whenever entering driveway or doing 3 point k turns. Both times I installed those on the F8X that happened. However, currently running KW CS and haven't had that issue in a few years.

[horsepower_and_hounds]

I find it interesting, I do all my installs and have never experienced spring bind. M4#1 H&R springs, then BC Racing coilovers with OEM hats
M2 H&R springs
M4#2 EMD springs, MS springs, KW HAS, now BC Racing coilovers with their camber plates

All without bind, pops, creaks etc

[E92inSG]

i just installed torrington bearings today at the bottom of my JRZ RS Pro perch in front and what a difference! no more clangs & twangs! lol

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by E92inSG

i just installed torrington bearings today at the bottom of my JRZ RS Pro perch in front and what a difference! no more clangs & twangs! lol

You should move them to the top — less debris will get up there.

[E92inSG]

@x.shell

How are these JRZ top mounts holding up for you?

My Torrington bearings still require cleaning every once in a while or they start to get noisy with grit

Considering getting these new top mounts from JRZ

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by E92inSG

@x.shell

How are these JRZ top mounts holding up for you?

My Torrington bearings still require cleaning every once in a while or they start to get noisy with grit

Considering getting these new top mounts from JRZ

No noise so far.

I'm installing new studs this weekend, so I'll take a look and snap some pics then.

[dvq]

Wouldn't some spring covers help?

[MR RIZK]

What am I missing here. Why not use a vorshlag camber plate as it has a sealed thrust bearing.

[E92inSG]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

What am I missing here. Why not use a vorshlag camber plate as it has a sealed thrust bearing.

My RS PRO's already include JRZ's own camber plates. so I would prefer to not to have to buy another set, for now.

[hellokitty]

I occasionally have some noises. I jack up the front end and spray the debris with my pressure washer and it holds up for a couple of months.

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by E92inSG

@x.shell

How are these JRZ top mounts holding up for you?

My Torrington bearings still require cleaning every once in a while or they start to get noisy with grit

Considering getting these new top mounts from JRZ

Here are some videos of my JRZ thrust bearings from this weekend. These vids were taken as soon as I removed the wheels; no cleaning. Keep in mind, that I haven't been driving as much since the pandemic started.... I would guesstimate that I've driven 3000 miles on these +2 rainy days on these.

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

What am I missing here. Why not use a vorshlag camber plate as it has a sealed thrust bearing.

There are several reasons why people simply don't use Vorshlag camber plates.

The first reason is... options. Simply put, there is more than one choice of camber plates. That reason alone gives these thrust bearings a reason to exist.

Second reason is because Vorshlag was one of the last companies to finally come out with a camber plate for the F8X chassis, even though they teased it for years. A lot of people already went with other solutions before they officially released their camber plates.

Me personally, my JRZs came with camber plates back in 2015. When I recently upgraded my JRZ RS2 to RSPro, I migrated the camber plates over since they were plug and play. The JRZ camber plates actually share a lot of similarites to the Vorshlag version, and I appreciate the simplicity of the design. There is no reason for me to go with Vorshlag at this point.

[MR RIZK]

Makes sense. If I had the JRZ setup already I would have stayed within their ecosystem. I was more curious from a technical standpoint if you exhausted all options why you didn't go with the vorshlag ones however you answered that.

I was lucky as I suspect I was one of the first to order the vorshlag plates as they were in "development" a longtime and their release date happen to coincide with my MCS purchase. I found that with the vorshlag and swift sheets it was pretty quite but with the occasional creak here and there when offloading load on driveways. Adding the Torrington bearing to the bottom has cured this for me albeit I will need to keep them maintained.