Front springs popping noise on '72 Nova

[JTW]

Newbie spring question here, but I couldn't find any pertinent info using the search. Here's my problem -- I just finished (well, sort of finished) my '72 Nova last night so I took it to the alignment shop this morning. The front end is stock except for Hotchkis springs, DSE tie rod sleeves and Energy Susp. poly bushings throughout. I noticed a little popping noise in the front end, so when I arrived at the alignment shop I opened the hood and pushed down a few times on the radiator support. I didn't have to push down very hard to cause it to make the noise, and it sounded like a metal-to-metal noise like the coil spring popping in the lower control arm. It will do it over and over every time you push the front end down. I've noticed this noise before when letting the car down off the floor jack, sounds like the spring pops when it settles into the lower control arm. Do the new springs have to break in or settle in, or will this always happen? Is there any type of rubber 'cushion' you can put between the spring and control arm to stop the noise? Any suggestions?

Just for the hell of it, here's a pic with the new wheels taken last night:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[jakespeeds]

There is suppose to be a rubber seat for the top and the bottom of the coil. Most people never use them and most of the time you can get away without them but it sounds like in at least one of the coils you either do not have it sitting in the top or bottom seat. There are special little pockets that the coil end is suppose to sit in. If you miss one of these pockets the sound you are describing is what happens.

Jake

[baz67]

Is it seated in the lower control arm properly? Could the sta-bar endlinks be binding? When you lower your car the angle of the sta-bar changes. If you have not replaced the endlinks the added stress could cause the popping.

[CAMAROBOY69]

Can you get under your car and take some pics for us? It could help determine the cause of the problem at first glance. Could be a number of things.

[JTW]

Hey guys, thanks to all of you for helping a Newb out. I did check to be sure that the springs are seated properly in the lower control arms. My first thought was that the end of the coil was no longer where it belongs. BUT... I think I solved the problem and, if I did, it was not spring-related. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2005/12/redface-1.gif While waiting for the alignment to be finished, I remembered that my grease gun broke before I had the front end finished and not everything got greased. I called the alignment guy and asked him to lube everything and the noise seems to have went away. I didn't hear it on the drive home and it doesn't make the noise when I push down on the front end anymore. I'm thinking it may have been a ball joint or a tie-rod end making the noise. Hopefully I didn't damage whatever it was, but since I only drove the car about 15 miles I'm not too worried about it. I'll post again if the noise resurfaces, but for now I think everything is okay. :twothumbs

Thanks again, and Merry _________ (insert Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Festivus, etc. here) and a Happy New Year!

[blackbeast]

are you sure it's the spring or suspension, sound suspect, but just in case. I had a weird noise everytime i would nail a shift, or go over a big bump. Turns out the front body mount bolt had worked (rusted?) its way out and was no longer there. so basically the core support was slamming down on the frame.