Idaho911

I know suspension noises have been discussed ad nauseum but my 67k mile Targa has developed a noise in the front end that sounds like plastic panels rattling when driving at low speeds over somewhat rough pavement. The location sounds like it is front-middle on the passenger side.

I have scoured the frunk looking for anything loose and not finding anything obvious. A casual check of the lining under the car also revealed nothing.

My research is steering me (heh heh) towards either the tuning forks, control arms, or both. But before I drop several hundred dollars on parts, is there a definitive way of finding the noise?

I do not have a lift, only four jackstands. Do I just raise the front and start prying at things with a pry bar? If I do that, would I also need to jack the suspension up so it's level, as though it's flat on the ground/has load on it?

Dr_Strangelove

If you are certain the noise is coming from the front end you don't even need to mess with 4 jack stands to check the suspension for play. Just jack one side up at a time on level ground and pull/push on the wheel and see if you get lateral movement.

hardtailer

Your best option is to get one of these
https://www.jameco.com/z/WSAH136-Vel...t_2130984.html
and instead of mounting the microphones to the board fit each onto a crocodile or battery clamp and connect them to the board via a pair of wires.
You could get more of those.microphones and connect them to the board via a rotary switch.
Clamp the mics onto each link as close as possible to the (ball) joint and go for a drive.

Listen to the noise on each L/R channel and each mic in order to identify which is loudest. That's the one with most wear.
The difficulty will be in discerning small noise level differences. As the 'structure borne noise' is hardly damped travelling through the aluminium link the noise level hardly drops.making it difficult but not impossible.to identify/locate the joint that has play and causes the rattle.

Check out a video on YT on the channel called number 27 he uses a very similar device either on his lotus elite or ferrari 308. Can't find the video myself, unfortunately...

parris

I would bet on lower control arms

jumpy chunky

Diagonal control arms fixed that rattle on mine.

jobyt

dollars to doughnuts it's the drop links. had the same rattle after new lower control and castor arms. $65 and an hour of your labor and you'll be noise free.

edit: I only have jack stands as well, but a great hydraulic jack that makes short work of getting the car up. Invest in a good torque wrench as well, and make sure to follow the factory torque settings.

Looneybin

does it still make the noise if you are applying the brakes?
if the noise is not there when braking, it's the tuning forks - the braking pressure from the wheel puts load on the forks and they don't rattle

Idaho911

What about tie rods?

On a whim, I raised one side of the car (other wheel ON ground) and checked for play at 12 and 6 and then 9 and 3.

12 and 6 is rock solid.

9 and 3 has play and a clunk, clunk as I move it side to side, and I can see the tie rod moving in and out. I can post a video if desired.

Is that a valid test and result, though? Both sides do this so I am unsure if that is in fact normal or not.

Looneybin

you can get a front suspension rebuild kit that includes coffin arms, forks, and tie rod ends
when i did my car, it was like new again

pauldvazquez

I would be interested in a link to the kit you note above.

Thank you,

Idaho911

Probably something like this:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/clo...er-trw-997kit1

Looneybin

yep, that's the kit i installed
I also picked up a steering tie rod wrench from harbor freight, made the job simple

hardtailer

Video would help but the result is valid as long as the rack does not move in your test. Your moving side to side must be as quick as if you're shaking a spray paint rattle can and very little movement as to not overcome any play youre trying to identify and instead move the rack and pinion itself.

Fluke996

So did you install this kit and did it resolve your front end rattle? I have the same noise and my mechanic says all suspension components are tight.
He suggested problem may be stabilizer bar bushings or strut tower mounts going out.
I also have the M030 suspension added on about 5 years after original car (1999) purchase.

pauldvazquez

Idaho,
Thanks for the link. It is appreciated.