Schnauzer

I have a 2003 C4S with 32,000 miles. It had a bothersome front suspension rattle when crossing cracks in the street pavement. The confusing aspects of this were that it didn’t start until the car had gone 5 or 10 miles and it did not happen if even a small amount of brake was applied. Naturally I looked all over for loose items in the trunk but that was not it. Finally I had the shop replace the lower control arms. These are the ones with the fork, not the ones with the ball joint that are also called lower control arms. Happily the rattle is gone.

Woodman71

Congrats on the win!

Wonder if this might be happening to me. When I go over manhole covers/railroad tracks I sometimes hear a sound like a spoon rapping on a pie plate.

My old GTI in high school did this, and I discovered the culprit was loose brake dust protector/covers. But I believe the 996 doesn't have those.

Schnauzer

I bet this is more common than people realize. I bought the new arms from EPS.

http://www.epscontrolarms.com/996-lower-control-arm

They say that this is a common problem but I don't see postings about it. The suspension is firm so maybe people just expect the car to sound bad going over bumps. It had no effect on the drivability. The roads near my house are old concrete so it bothered me to hear the rattle as I arrived home. Also my wife started making cracks about the noise and that made it worse.

Astro

Is this a DIY project ? I just spent a ton of money replacing the struts, sway bar links, etc... And I'm still hearing some irritating noise up front.

Schnauzer

I had mine installed for $250 labor but I think it is pretty easy. It would normally also require realigning but the before and after numbers did not change on mine so maybe that is not so necessary.

happyclam

is this a different sound than say worn sway bar bushings?

Schnauzer

I had no rattle when even a slight bit of brake was applied. I am guessing that sway bar bushings or sway bar drop links would not behave like that.

I saw some very tired sway bar drop links that were making noise. They would be something you could see with the car on a hoist. The old lower control arm seemed OK on my car and on the bench. I guess it needed more force to make it rattle.

mrjonger

I only had one rattle, now I have multiple and it's driving me crazy. I'll do some more research, but is there away to know if this is the culprit? I also reading it could be sway bars links.

Also, I'm really sick on working on the car and thinking of just farming this off to the local indy. How much time to DIY? Also, I'm guessing I don't need a Porsche specialist for this?

Thanks in advance.

ejdoherty911

Virtually all of these suspension parts with bushings need to be replaced either due to age or mileage. Replacing my suspension (coilovers) and a bunch of these control arms, and sway bars, and drop links, and on and on, made a huge difference in the driving experience and also eliminated all the squeaks, groans, and rattles. Of course you will need an aligment. What does this all cost? $5,000 and up if you pay someone else to do it all.

napoleon1981

Yes it is. I can change that tuning fork in 5 mins. It is held in only by 2 bolts. One with a nut on the control arm, and one in the chassis.

Seeeu911

Those are Polyurethane I wonder what the difference is in transmitted noise and harshness vs stock control arms with rubber bushings ?

napoleon1981

The original arms do not have rubber bushings either.


I don't like the EPS arms from a design perspective at all, but watch the the youtube and form your own opinion.

mrjonger

Thanks, between this and what Astro said, sounds like more DIY. Between this can and my house, I'm drowning. What is that quote about you owning your stuff or your stuff owning you =P

EDIT: OK, so this is what I'm seeing from Pelican for control arms and sway bar links - comes out to $5400 - probably a bit cheaper if I get this elsewhere and probably 40% less if I go aftermarket parts, and this is before replacing shocks and springs. Conceivably, a bad bushing on any of these can cause a rattle. I'm going to guess the metal parts ok unless me driving it around on bad bushings has caused significant damage at the connection points. I'm thinking I'd rather just pay someone to go through this and replace the bad bushings. Probably cheaper than me going through and replacing this stuff until all the rattles are gone?

Front & Back Control Arm x 4 : Part #: 996-341-053-17-OEM ($400 ea)
Front Control Arm x 2 : Part #: 996-341-941-01-OEM ($800 ea)
Rear Control Arm Link x 2: Part #: 997-331-045-04-M100 ($200 ea)
Upper Control Arm Link x 4: Part #: 997-331-047-01-OEM ($165 ea)
Lower Control Arm Link x 4: Part #: 996-341-043-06-M100 ($260 ea)
Rear Sway Bar Drop Link x 2: Part #: 996-333-069-04-M80 ($33 ea)
Front Left Sway Bar Drop Link: Part #: 996-343-069-04-M80 ($31)
Front Right Sway Bar Drop Link: Part #: 996-343-070-04-M80 ($29)

AnthonyGS

You sir are correct. The aftermarket part screws up the actual spring rate of the suspension. That's the reason Porsche used the spherical bearing. I'd bet an arm with an aftermarket all metal spherical bearing would be best, but that would require maintenance via greasing more frequently.


Seeing how the arm is installed, I don't like the aftermarket one either, but I know nothing..... I'm just some dude from TX.

shawn_nj

Damn mine started this same annoying metal tap sound when going slow over bumps and cracks. I only really notice it with convert top up and at slow speeds.