AndyK

I replaced my drop links and that didn't cure my knocking issue, so the next thing I may throw money at are the tie rods.

Question is, if the tie rods (inner or outer) are faulty enough to cause the knocking after warm-up, would they also cause the car to feel antsy at speed - or show any other signs while driving?

Or, would control arms more likely be the cause of a less than planted feel at speed if they are worn??

philooo

my car used to feel floaty at speed, lowering the ride height helps a lot.
Did you remember it being more planted before or you bought the car like that ?

AndyK

No, I don't think it got worse in the 7k miles I have driven it. It was always never as planted as I would think. My newer BMW is like a rock on the highway, with very little power steering assist. The 996 feels like an old Ford as far as too much steering assist.

philooo

yeah that is the exact same feeling I had with my car until I lowered it with pss9 suspensions.

really the ride height they gave to the car is really nice to drive around town and not to worry about the curbs but on highway this is terribly woobly.

once my car was lowered / harder suspensions it was much much better.

the ride is very smooth on stock suspensions as well.

The 996 is very sensitive to suspension and alignment change, I'd suggest to try using pss9 or pss10 suspension that transforms the ride, may be a simple short spring swap do the trick as well.

cheaper for sure.

white out

check sway bar mounts.

Nick

Ubermensch

Check the boots on the lower control arms. May be difficult to see the tear, but that was my issue.

AndyK

I really think my suspension is shot after 12 years. The car floats down the highway like an old Mustang!

I should check the sway bar bushings and mounts. If the mounts or bushings are shot, that would affect how the car handles, right?

perryinva

If there is no play in the TREs, then there is no affect on handling, just noise. Mine (at 47k miles) were all very tight when removed, but in a vise with quick movement applied, they creaked and moved in distinct increments, ot smoothly. The new TRWs I put in are smooth as butta and blessedly silent, and easy peazy to remove and install with the right TRE tools. Worn ball joint on the Control arm could cause some handling issues, but not as you described. Again, they are creaky/noisy before they are a handling issue. Yours sounds like shot shocks and alignment to me.

AndyK

I really should start saving for a ROW M030!

Down South

The RoW M030 is one of the best mods you can do. Mine had about 95K with all original suspension parts. It didn't lower the car much, but it transformed the handling dramatically.

But...after new spring, struts, bushings, drop links and alignment the clunk is still there. I just ignore it now.

AndyK

Ouch! Must be the part you didn't replace?

Do you find with the M030 the ride is harsh on all but smooth surfaces??

perryinva

It's the TREs. Seriously.

AndyK

how easy peasy is it to replace the entire tie rods without a lift?

philooo

RoW M030 stay very comfortable, too much I'd say. great for daily driver, but for weekend I'd go for something harder.

All the suspension links/bits can be replaced easily using a simple jackstand, decent space in there.

WHAT IS ARE THE 'TREs' "?

AndyK

TRE = Tie Rod Ends
Does ITRE = Inner Tie Rod Ends?

ROW M030 sounds perfect for me! Wish that $600 used set was for a 2000 MY. But then, he wouldn't be selling them.