Pop after RAS install

Anyone else notice a pop on their RAS when they first get going in the morning? I just installed mine a few days ago and it gives a decent sounding pop on each side when I first start pulling out of my driveway. The rest of the day not a peep until the next morning. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this or maybe it’s just the fact that the springs need to settle a bit. Thanks.

 

Do you also have a rear TRD sway bar installed?

 

I do yeah.

 

I have Alcan springs as well. I wonder if it’s just catching this bracket too.

 

No pop at all ever from mine, not even on the first day. Hope you get is resolved and enjoy the benefits!

 

certainly looks suspect

 

There’s just a tiny gap. Hard to tell from this angle but it’s not actually contacting the bracket. Could definitely still catch it though I’m sure. I wonder if I should up the tension to create a bigger gap here.

 

Those move so the small gap can likely be contact when slight anomalies occur on the road...

 

different shackles and taller bump stops might solve it if you can accept some added lift. Maybe not though since the RAS sits on the spring eye.

 

can you move the clamp? This is mine....

 

At least move the clamp to determine if it's indeed the cause

 

I think the clamp might be riveted through on Alcan's spring but I'll check. I'm going to take a good look later today. I may just pop the sway bar off too in order to see if there is too much tension on that. My leaf springs give me 1 inch and then the RAS gives another, so maybe there's too much there

 

Put some white paint or even nail polish in the gap. Go drive. If it rubs off you know it’s the issue.

If it’s not, check the sway bar next.

 

Ah great idea!

 

So can’t move the leaf spring clamp unfortunately. I did take the tires off and at full droop my white gap checker thingy (technical term) didn’t fit through the RAS spring anymore so I opened the springs up a bit more to fit it. This seems to have widened the gap between the RAS springs and the leaf spring bracket. . I also removed the sway bar just to see if there was any tension on it and there wasn’t. Going to put some paint on there and take it for a spin in a bit. Tomorrow morning will be the real test since that’s when the noise really hits hard.

 

You might stuff a rag, duct tape or similar to form a cushion of sorts in that area to help determine if that area is the problem. A solution might be to possibly purchase and add new clamps, then cut off those that are being a problem. Just depends on how everything lines up and functions as a whole.

 

I had to bend my Dobinson's leaf spring clamps over a little for clearance when I put in my RAS HD, it added maybe 15 minutes of install time per side once I figured it out but I've had zero issues since then. I literally bent them over a bit since mine were also fixed in place at the bottom. Thousands of miles of towing and tens of thousands of total miles later and they're still flawless.

Maybe you can just knock them over a bit with a scrap piece of 2x4 and a small sledge.

 

I tried all recommended solutions.....removed the bolt for the leaf spring clamp so the RAS springs would not contact it, removed the sway bar, removed the RAS and started over again, and it still pops once or twice from each side every morning when I start moving. Spoke with RAS customer service via email and they said the popping sound is from the bearing that is located on the rear hook where the threaded rod passes through the hole and recommended I grease those cups. Did that and still no luck although it did decrease the noise slightly. Waiting to hear back from customer service on further steps.

 

Spray assembly down with this stuff ... especially the area they recommended you grease. If that don't work try air bags.

 

Looks interesting...

 

Might try to give both sides slightly more tension, maybe 2 or 3 threads

 

Ditto, if the spacer didn’t fit when checked before it still might be too loose.

 

Funny story...First few days of having my truck I threw a wheel lock key in the center console safe and the next night went to run an errand. "SOB, WTF is wrong?" Sounded like a ball joint or shock mount broke. Found myself crawling around under the truck in the dark with my phone light trying to locate the issue a few different times with no luck. Then, I moved on to check for a loose wheel and remembered the damn key socket in the safe. Don"t believe it, try it, you will be shocked at how it sounds like it's in the chassis. Just sayin' sometimes this crap can also be something totally different than what you think.

 

I did see those. Was thinking I would sub out the one bracket for one of these. Much lower profile.

 

It’s weird too because when I went back to adjust the tension the first time I heard the popping the spring on the drivers side at full droop decreased to the point I couldn’t fit the disc. So then I opened it up more. Passenger side was fine. The jam nuts were locked too so who knows.

I did that too once except it was a flashlight in my center console. Shaking my head once a figured out where that bang was coming from. Unfortunately that’s not the case here.

 

OP are you sure you did the install exactly as required? I ask because the first time I installed mine i had a little play at the end of the spring where the bolt and nuts go. Its been a while but I think I tensioned the springs when it was in the air when it was supposed to be with weight of the truck or vise versa.

 

Yeah I think I did install it correctly. I watched some videos. Double checked the install instruction. No weight on the axles is the key so that the suspension is at full droop. I will say the hook end is definitely at a more prominent angle than others I’ve seen installed. That’s why I’m wondering if my Alcans containing more springs with a sharper curve are causing the angle at the bearing to be too sharp so it’s popping. I’m wondering if I go to the thicker disc and add more tension if that will help. I just don’t want too bouncy of a ride unloaded.

 

Depending on your lift, you might have a bad driveshaft-> pinion angle causing axle wrap. Did you use a drop spacer to lower the center carrier bearing to maintain a minimal angle to match with your lift?

 

Here’s a photo of the threaded rod. Looks like the top of it is pushed up against the opening which makes me think that’s the part that’s binding up. Not sure though if others look like that or not. Hard to tell with all the grease I jammed up in there the other night.

 

Yeah I have a drop spacer for 1-2” of lift. And I’m probably at 2 with the RAS.