"Grinding" from front end when cold
12-01-2012, 06:25 PM
#1
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
"Grinding" from front end when cold
I'm actually not expecting a solution (you'll understand why), but I'm curious if anyone else has/had something similar.
It's a 01 996 C4 with the full taco-wing aero kit (wing, skirts, and lip) and we've had it since new and it's always been parked outside.
Whenever it's been cold soaked (e.g. parked overnight) in sub-35f temps we get a grinding/rubbing sound from the front end when we back it up and turn to the right. It will only do it that once for the day until it has cold soaked again (actually in sub-15 weather it only takes a few hours to "reset"). This started on it's first cold day (about 8-10 months old at that point). Back it up to the left and there is no noise. Pull it forward either direction and there is no noise.
For the first few years our dealer could never reproduce this issue (never sure how since it happens every time), but they attacked it anyway (which is why I said I would have another Porsche if I ever got the chance as they clearly stand behind their product). Finally we had the tech take it home for a long cold weekend and he reproduced it consistently, but still never could identify what is causing it.
In their attempts to solve the problem (without being able to reproduce it) they entirely replaced the following:
Basically everything mechanical from the cabin forward was replaced in the first couple of years trying to correct the issue.
My wife and I differ a bit on our descriptions. I think it is coming from the right side, she thinks it's more centered. I think it is more of a feel than a sound (which I think is born out by not hearing anything from outside the car). I think it is more of a plastic/rubber sound (kind like a piece of hard plastic rubbing the treads of a tire), she thinks it's more of a metallic sound.
PASM and the AWD system function flawlessly and there has never been any drive train issue (other than a couple of RMS replacements) with it.
Anyone else experience anything like this?
It's a 01 996 C4 with the full taco-wing aero kit (wing, skirts, and lip) and we've had it since new and it's always been parked outside.
Whenever it's been cold soaked (e.g. parked overnight) in sub-35f temps we get a grinding/rubbing sound from the front end when we back it up and turn to the right. It will only do it that once for the day until it has cold soaked again (actually in sub-15 weather it only takes a few hours to "reset"). This started on it's first cold day (about 8-10 months old at that point). Back it up to the left and there is no noise. Pull it forward either direction and there is no noise.
For the first few years our dealer could never reproduce this issue (never sure how since it happens every time), but they attacked it anyway (which is why I said I would have another Porsche if I ever got the chance as they clearly stand behind their product). Finally we had the tech take it home for a long cold weekend and he reproduced it consistently, but still never could identify what is causing it.
In their attempts to solve the problem (without being able to reproduce it) they entirely replaced the following:
- Steering rack and power steering system.
- ABS system (pump, front lines, front calipers, sending units, etc..).
- Front suspension and control arms.
- Front drive system (diff, axels, and hubs).
Basically everything mechanical from the cabin forward was replaced in the first couple of years trying to correct the issue.
My wife and I differ a bit on our descriptions. I think it is coming from the right side, she thinks it's more centered. I think it is more of a feel than a sound (which I think is born out by not hearing anything from outside the car). I think it is more of a plastic/rubber sound (kind like a piece of hard plastic rubbing the treads of a tire), she thinks it's more of a metallic sound.
PASM and the AWD system function flawlessly and there has never been any drive train issue (other than a couple of RMS replacements) with it.
Anyone else experience anything like this?
12-01-2012, 07:42 PM
#2
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
My guesses include a bad wheel bearing or a front differential bearing, but it sounds like you've addressed those issues.
12-02-2012, 11:15 AM
#6
I'm experiencing something similar although mine seems to be getting progressively worse. I'm also getting a lot of "road noise" at freeway speeds. I don't get any play when pulling/pushing on the wheel but I'm thinking wheel bearing for both of us.
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12-02-2012, 07:40 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Good luck with yours. I had something similar with one of my old BMW AWDs and it turned out to be a bad axle on the front passenger side (had previously been wrecked and badly repaired which included reusing the axle which had been slightly bent).
01-29-2013, 12:23 PM
#11
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Interesting that I just had this happen to me for the first time the other day (a very cold day). Came out of work and backed out of a parking spot while turning the wheel to the right. I heard what sounded like a scraping sound so I stopped, got out and looked things over, but didn't see anything obvious. It has not happened since (though I haven't had the car out in the cold again), and it definitely never happened prior to that.
