chaadster

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping some of you can give some tips on where to start chasing down the source of a popping/cracking/snapping type of noise I get from the front end.

It occurs mostly during low speed turning, and seems to come from the driver's side front wheel area, although I can hear the sound occassionally in straight line driving, too. It might be related to suspension movement and/or steering, but doesn't happen consistently enough for me nail it down yet.

You can hear it outside the car, and it's a sharp snapping or popping sound, like metal-on-metal. Sometimes it'll give a couple of pops at a time.

Steering seems to be okay, though there may be some play developing, I'm not sure; you know how you start to be hypercritical once you notice something unusual?

Any ideas?

Thanks all!

Big Dave

If you haven't figured it out by Thursday, bring it to our monthly meeting and we'll try to diagnose it for you.

AO

Could be a few things. One thing that comes to mind immediately is wheel bearings.

Jack the car up and grap the tire at 12 & 6 o'colck and try to wiggle it. It should have very little play.

Other possibilities to check are pad and rotor condition, steering rack boots, and as silly as it sounds look for a rock or pebble lodged in the vanes of the rotor or in the caliper.

BTW, you ARE coming this Thursday aren't you? How 'bout the FIL with his new beast?

Kolbjorn S

Sounds almost like a CV joint...?

AO

That's what I thought, but can't be on the front of the 928... that's why I'm thinking the bearing is going or gone.

chaadster

Thanks for the replies, guys. I don't know my way around the front end of a car very well, but I was wondering if perhaps there's a bushing that might be giving up the ghost?

DTW Gang (I kinda like that!): I'm planning to come up for the Thursday meeting, so I can bask in the SITM afterglow and enjoy some vicarious thrills! I'm having dinner with my father-in-law tonight, and will put the hard push on him to bring his car up for the meet, too. We'll see.

AO

Chaad-
I'll pack my tools (actually, I just won't take them out of the car ) and maybe we can have a mini tech session. Hope your FIL makes it.

chaadster

Thanks Andrew.

BTW, after seeing some of your SITM pix, I wanted to say that you've really got a knack for photography. Your old avatar-- with the car on the misty moors-- was cool, and I particularly liked the last one, with the rosy sunlight hues. You're car is looking mighty sharp these days...

Mongo

worn tie rod or steering rack maybe something to factor in too.