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The car has developed a noise in the left front suspension. Well, in the left front corner. I originally assumed it was a loose sway bar link - that kind of noise. The odd feature is that the noise is not present when the car is cold. It only shows after being driven for many miles and something warms up. During the recent cold blast when the daytime temperatures were still around 10F, I did not hear the noise at all. Now that the temps have gone above freezing, the noise is prevalent after driving the car for a while. I sometimes wonder if the noise is more of a "binding" noise/creak than a loose thunk/rattle.
I have noticed a problem with what I assumed to be the front springs binding when turning at low speeds. (once again, this was more noticeable when warmed up). I suspected back upper shock mounts, or that perhaps the thrust bearings were missing from the installation of the PSS9 suspension (common mistake apparently).
I put the car on the lift, and sway bar and control arm and shock bolts are tight. I might drop the shocks out this weekend to see if the upper mounts or thrust bearings are bad.
Suggestions?
Why would the noise increase with temperature?
Bushings and other rubber/plastic parts have a certain elasticity to work. Cold temps they tighten up and are not as flexible. Warmed up and they start to give more.
Mine does the same thing on the right front..
I haven't really investigated it yet.
I did change the sway bar drop links because one had play. That has not solved the problem.
I will be following this thread with interest, as my C4 seems to exhibit the same symptoms.
I would describe the noise as a rattle, located in the right front, and is only heard when the car has been driven for awhile.
Both C4's? Only after warm up, sound coming from front corner(s)... my guess would be something related to the front drive - differential, CV joints, hub, wheel bearing (you'd probably get some whine/grind with this as well) etc.
Both C4's? Only after warm up, sound coming from front corner(s)... my guess would be something related to the front drive - differential, CV joints, hub, wheel bearing (you'd probably get some whine/grind with this as well) etc.
I have thought about CV joints - but the sound is not quite like the clicking/binding sound that I recall from my FWD Honda's with really high miles, torn boots, grease gone, worn out.. outer CV joints. But then, I really noticed it this AM at low speed coming into the parking lot, but both while driving straight and when turning. Perhaps more frequently when wheels are straight ahead.
I will get a thunk on as little as the 3/4" lip entering my garage. Still unsure if it is a loose rattle, or a binding noise.
The 996 is relatively low miles - 65K, CV boots all nice, etc.
I do not recall seeing many front differential problems being mentioned here.
Driving me nuts.
Both C4's? Only after warm up, sound coming from front corner(s)... my guess would be something related to the front drive - differential, CV joints, hub, wheel bearing (you'd probably get some whine/grind with this as well) etc.
Could be AWD related I suppose, but in my case the sound is caused by suspension movement from a rough road. It is not a rotationally induced sound like CV joints or a wheel bearing might cause. Only suspension compression/rebound will cause the noise.
My right front CV joint was replaced a couple of years ago by the PO and everything visually seems well intact and tight.
I have some clunky rattles in the front on my C4 that are not serious enough to investigate. I have removed the FWD components (half-shafts, differential, drive shaft), so I'm pretty sure they're not to blame in my case.
Simple list off the top of my head:
strut top hat
ball joint
tie rod end
My girlfriend's beetle had a clunk that sounded like a bad bushing or failing part from above. Replaced everything and the car still had it. Ended up being a bad inner CV that was loose and with no load would clank around (in neutral), but with load was silent. If AWD, might be worth checking out to see if your CV's are making any noise.
Did anyone ever figure out what was making the noise? I have the same issue. Changed sway bar links and strut mounts. That helped but the noise is still there, especially on hot days after the car has been driven a while.
My bet is that it is the lower control arm (dog bone). It is cheap enough and easy to replace. In my case I could tell this was the problem by applying light breaking which would stop the noise. To get the clunk going the car needed to be driven about 10 miles. I did a realignment after the install but the numbers did not change so maybe I could have saved that money.
Was right outer tie rod on my car. Symptoms only after warmed up. Depending on outside temp it took shorter or longer to exhibit. Porsche Tech did put some fat there somewhere 1 year ago, still symptom free so far. (2001 C4)
My bet is that it is the lower control arm (dog bone). It is cheap enough and easy to replace. In my case I could tell this was the problem by applying light breaking which would stop the noise. To get the clunk going the car needed to be driven about 10 miles. I did a realignment after the install but the numbers did not change so maybe I could have saved that money.
Had the same issue, clunk when warm - replaced all for of these - clunk gone. They are near impossible to visually diagnose - unless you can see where its been hitting which is difficult.
01-21-2015, 11:34 PM
Front suspension thunk/rattle when warm
