Mick The Kraken

Hello all.

I posted something about this a couple years ago (or more) and finally had it looked at...

My '06 S has a front end rattle, on both sides, when going over rough road. Heck, I can even make it "knock" at the approach of a speed hump (not even a bump). It's far more noticeable with the windows up. I finally took it to a reputable shop to have it looked at while getting some other more pressing items tended to. They stated on the bill, "TEST DRIVE CAR AND INSPECT FRONT END NOISE; REMOVE AND REPLACE BOTH DEFECTIVE FRONT STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS, STRUT BEARINGS AND BUMP STOPS." So, the entire front strut assembly/system/what-have-you has been replaced and yet the rattling still persists. I called them up a couple days later and explained things and am now going back on Monday to have them (re)examine what I'm hearing. Needless to say, this is extremely frustrating. And the damn thing is that whatever is causing it doesn't (seem to) affect how the car drives/handles/steers (at all), it just sounds like @#$%...to the point that my wife and friends have commented (dramatically, mind you) that "It sounds like the front of your car is going to fall apart."

Even as I'm likely going to get to the bottom of things in as little as the next several days, I'd like to see what you all make of this - I just don't get it.

Thanks for your time!

~ Mick ~

DaBigBR

Drive it with the mechanic in the car.

Mick The Kraken

My intension is to do exactly that. Thanks, BR.

Edgy01

Take out the inner fender shields within both front wheel wells. Check between those plastic liners and the body of the car for loose metal hoses. There are fasteners that secure many metal tubes / lines which can get loose if subject to a long usage over rough roads. When they get loose they get very noisy.

Mick The Kraken

I'll certainly make sure to bring that up. Of course I now might have a new strut system for possibly no reason at all.

Thanks a lot, Dan. I appreciate the reply.

Sporty

check your frunk and all the compartments, battery, cd changer, tool kit etc -who knows could be something that simple is loose

Mick The Kraken

Did that years ago...nothing. From everything I read on these forums, it came down to strut mounts. I deferred the work so long because whatever was causing the noise didn't affect driving. I even had one shop (years ago) tell me that there was no harm in just ignoring it. So, when this shop went to replace the mounts (and the also apparently "defective" struts and bearings), I figured I was good to go. Alas, I am not.

Porschetech3

duplicate

Porschetech3

Have them replace part #3 997-341-043-00 both sides. It is the most common cause of the rattle noise commonly called the "tuning fork control arms". Same part fits both sides, I'm surprised someone hasn't mentioned this to you, but then again they might have but were not the ones actually doing the work, so it may not have had enough importance placed on it..

Edgy01

My dealership needlessly replaced my cup holder assembly (under warranty) thinking it was coming from there. Nope. It was a loose hydraulic line in my right front fender well.Might be a similar solution (I hope!) for you. Sometimes the answer is a cheap solution!

cosm3os

Subscribed. Mine seems to do it only after a long it hard drive .

TYPE911

Worn Sway bar drop links can cause this noise. Had same noise on 70 911 & M3. Check here and let us know.

spf_970

Mick The Kraken

I'll mention your suggestions the shop and let you know what we find. Thanks a mil,' everyone!

Mick The Kraken

So, if you are experiencing this now or unfortunately happen to in the future, make sure to have whatever shop you take it to check that before replacing YOUR WHOLE EFFING STRUT SYSTEM.

Uhem, thanks again.