entendu

Out for a spirited drive, this is the second time I've heard it. Tight right 15 mph switchback, taken at about 25 mph. Thonk, thonk, thonk from the left front wheelwell at the apex, close to lock. Not a constant rubbing, not tires slipping -- almost like someone's holding a playing card to the spokes! Did not notice the same on left turns. Stopped immediately as i straightened out.

Tried driving circles in front of my house to make it happen again, but not enough room to get the speed I needed. About to rip the wheel off and see what I can see... any thoughts?

pp000830

Hi entendu,
I would check the strut hat, the strut body and the spring perch.
When loading and unloading the suspension things may be moving around.
Andy

71-3.0-911

If it sounds like baseball cards, check the wheel liners? Could be an obvious rub mark.

centerpunch

Car has stock suspension?

entendu

PO claims RoW height. Green struts not sure on springs. Nothing extreme.

pp000830

Hi entendu,
Are the struts original to the car? If so they could be the cause of your issue by now. Either the strut tubes are no longer held concentrically in place banging against each other or they no longer provide much dampening and are bottoming out in turns banging when they hit the end of their travel. On the upside, if they are your issue replacing them with most any aftermarket struts will profoundly improve the handling of the car. Consider replacements with threaded tubes so they are height-adjustable.
Andy

PRSWILL

THIS- I had a bilstein strut fail last year- sounded like that.

entendu

thanks for the ideas so far. I was able to take a video of what’s happening. Also here are pics of the springs and dampers

IainM

With car on a jack stand, put the jack under the wheel hub and carefully raise the hub. Any motion other then directly up & down with the jack should be investigated further, eg with a pry bar.
if it’s clonking there will be visible slop somewhere.

LimeyBoy

Check the plastic duct/deflectors on the lower arms. Another RLr had these re-installed
incorrectly and they rubbed on lock.