Roll cage installation identified a problem in my suspension
10-03-2018, 02:45 PM
#1
Roll cage installation identified a problem in my suspension
I bought my 991.2 GT3 in February this year. This is the clearly the best of the six 911s I have owned over the years and tops every car I have driven to date. My plan was to get the feel of the car for a few months and ultimately take it to the track from time to time. I decided to install a roll cage and ultimately went with the BBI product. The guys at HG near San Diego installed the roll cage and did a great job as it looked like it was installed at the factory. After they installed the bar and took it for a test drive they noticed a significant clanking noise which sounded to me like the bar was actually loose. We tried to figure it out but the shop was ready to close for the day so I drove the car home only to feel sick inside since I now had a car that sounded like an old pickup truck that made a loud clanking sound every time I went over the slightest bump or imperfection in the road. Initially we had no clue what was causing the terribly loud clanking noise. HG had installed at least a dozen of these bars with no problem. So I brought the car back the next day and they check the installation yet all looked good. So they checked out the suspension and apparently at least two bolts were quite loose (not sure which ones). After tightening the bolts with a proper torque wrench the clanking sound was gone. The car seems much tighter and the suspension feels like it should (tight but quiet over bumps). So apparently by installing the roll cage I became aware of a problem with the suspension due to the fact that the roll cage transferred the sound into the interior and could have enhanced the suspension problem due to a more stable chassis. Prior to installing the roll cage I had no idea my suspension was loose which was probably an issue for some time that would have gone unnoticed. Now, I not only have a beautiful roll cage (powder coated in gun metal to match my interior) but my car sounds (no clanking) and feels much better on the road. Thanks to the guys at BBI and HG for their detective work and fine craftsmanship.
10-03-2018, 03:23 PM
#2
Was there clanking before the roll cage?
Why did you go BBi?
Why did you go BBi?
10-03-2018, 03:55 PM
#3
Race Director
Car built right before/after a German holiday? 
10-03-2018, 04:16 PM
#4
There was not much if any clanking before the roll cage was installed. Perhaps a little suspension noise and looseness over bumps which I assumed was normal since it was there from the time I purchased the car. However, after the roll cage was installed and the suspension bolts tightened the car felt much tighter all around, more precise and made no clanking or suspension noise. I bought the car in late February which I suspect means it was built just before German holiday. So the morale of the story is have your dealer check the suspension for loose nuts and bolts. Until my roll cage was installed I had no idea my car had this issue. Also, I am convinced that the BBI roll cage helped make the chassis feel tighter around corners. However, this is purely subjective.
10-03-2018, 04:35 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
normally, the sounds come from loose end links on either the front or rear anti-sway bars, and yes a rollbar will give an extra echo to rear suspension noises (the normal ones and the not-so normal ones).
My rear drop links have come loose at least 3 times in the last year, but my front ones have stayed just perfect (Elephant Racing which eliminated the bind on my lowered RS).
My rear drop links have come loose at least 3 times in the last year, but my front ones have stayed just perfect (Elephant Racing which eliminated the bind on my lowered RS).
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10-06-2018, 01:01 PM
#8
normally, the sounds come from loose end links on either the front or rear anti-sway bars, and yes a rollbar will give an extra echo to rear suspension noises (the normal ones and the not-so normal ones).
My rear drop links have come loose at least 3 times in the last year, but my front ones have stayed just perfect (Elephant Racing which eliminated the bind on my lowered RS).
My rear drop links have come loose at least 3 times in the last year, but my front ones have stayed just perfect (Elephant Racing which eliminated the bind on my lowered RS).
10-06-2018, 01:12 PM
#9
normally, the sounds come from loose end links on either the front or rear anti-sway bars, and yes a rollbar will give an extra echo to rear suspension noises (the normal ones and the not-so normal ones).
My rear drop links have come loose at least 3 times in the last year, but my front ones have stayed just perfect (Elephant Racing which eliminated the bind on my lowered RS).
My rear drop links have come loose at least 3 times in the last year, but my front ones have stayed just perfect (Elephant Racing which eliminated the bind on my lowered RS).
10-07-2018, 10:42 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
10-07-2018, 11:53 AM
#12
Burning Brakes
Wow - not great for Porsche QC Dept as it doesn’t sound like a one off case. I wonder if they’re not being torqued correctly at factory or if they’re working loose on the street?
10-07-2018, 01:04 PM
#13
Rennlist Member
If anyone could provide pics or other identification of which bolts were loose, that would be amazing. Will be on the lookout for this when my car arrives.
01-12-2019, 09:49 AM
#15
Race Director
