What is this sound? (suspension shocks)

[lizpat]

clickable link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_Nm17lw1two

That's the sound from a Bilstein inverted monotube damper---sounds like pop pop pop pop. Everything is tightened, there are no loose bolts or nuts.

Is this a common noise from these types of dampers? So far, it's been functioning perfectly fine except for the noise: you hear it a LOW SPEEDS, at high speeds you can't hear it (porbably because it's drowned out by other sounds.)

Low speed = low compression velocity, this means that the damper is no longer resisting that initial compression stroke (think digressive valving.)

 

[edyvw]

clickable link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_Nm17lw1two

That's the sound from a Bilstein inverted monotube damper---sounds like pop pop pop pop. Everything is tightened, there are no loose bolts or nuts.

Is this a common noise from these types of dampers? So far, it's been functioning perfectly fine except for the noise: you hear it a LOW SPEEDS, at high speeds you can't hear it (porbably because it's drowned out by other sounds.)

Low speed = low compression velocity, this means that the damper is no longer resisting that initial compression stroke (think digressive valving.)

I have their B6 monotube's on BMW, and never heard this noise.

 

[dadto2]

Worn anti-sway bar links?

 

[Kira]

Enough motion to press on one thing far enough to make it pop through a worn spot.
Yes to link and why not a ball joint?
The owner has to be able to get his ear around down there.
Could the motion find its way to a control arm to frame bushing?

That installation is not new. Could a rubber spring seat finally have dried out enough to create "wiggle room"?

Are there not valves and orifice discs which could be faulty from the factory?

 

[D60]

How old is the damper? If nothing else is obvious I might be inclined to take it apart and cycle by hand, looking for a "dead zone" or other odd behavior upon initial movement

 

[JohnnyG]

Don't overlook the upper strut bearing. I thought I could see some slight movement up in that area.

 

[Kira]

^^Me too...but the camera holder was shaky...it was like watching "The Blair Strut Project".