Front end noise

Mike80911 · Mike80911's Garage

Hi All
Looking for a little help diagnosing a front end noise. Whenever I make a U turn I hear a thumping noise and the car moves slightly from side to side. It almost feels as if I am going over a bump. I was thinking ball joints. Does anyone else have any opinions? How do you check ball joint play on a 930?
Thanks
Mike

T77911S · 11-07-2016, 03:53 AM

alignment.
mine did the same thing. probably toe
also possible old tires

slyguy · 11-07-2016, 01:03 PM

Same way you check for play on any other vehicle. Don't wast your time with an alignment or tires until you've checked them out. Worn tie rod ends give a wandering feeling but good time to check em as well.

full quack · 11-07-2016, 04:10 PM

Something has to be rubbing bad enough and with enough friction, to cause a tire to be lifting and falling to generate body movement. The only thing I can think of that could be that bad to cause what you are describing, would be a totally fail upper strut mount????
The rise and fail and the clunking noise, really sounds more like a failed rear cv joint....maybe the sound is tricking you as to where it is coming from?
Just a thought.

Mark

T77911S · 11-08-2016, 04:07 AM

mine did the exact same thing.

go find a shop with a good alignment machine, ask the guy if he has done Porsche's before and have it aligned. he can also tell if your ball joints or tie rods are bad.
I did mine for $80. no need for an expensive Porsche shop job.
the machine my guy used was so sensitive he could tell when I leaned on the machine,
I did put new tires on at the same time. I did ask and my front toe was off.

what I think was happening was when I turned sharp like you are doing the toe is so far out that the tires are fighting each other and it feel like you are going over bumps. because you are going so slow when you do this the effect is more pronounced.

when the same guy did my daughters F250 he found the ball joints were bad on her truck. I replaced them and he finished the alignment, no extra charge.
same with my E30, replaced tie rod ends.

Mike80911 · Mike80911's Garage

Thanks for the replies gives me a good starting point

krasuskyp · 11-30-2016, 06:15 PM

Mine occasionally does the same making 3pt turns - and my ball joints are fine... I think. Zero other symptoms.

infraredcalvin · infraredcalvin's Garage

1. jack up, place on secure jack stand - make sure it's secure, grab the tire with both hands and yank every which way... heck for anything loose or any sort of free play?
2. Check rubber boot covers for tie rod ends and ball joint for cracks or tears
3. Check that the top nut on strut is not loose, or that rubber bushings at the strut top are not crumbling, cracked, etc.

If none of those reveals any issues, you're likely to need an alignment shop to diagnose, so, remove top nut and allow strut to drop enough so you can move the dust cover at the top of the strut to reveal shock insert. Check that the strut has not become loose in the strut housing - I forget, but some boge struts thread in at the top as well as lock in with a pin or screw at the bottom.

Rawknees'Turbo · 11-30-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infraredcalvin

1. . . jack . . .with both hands and yank every which way...
2. Check . . ball(s) for cracks or tears
3. Check that . . . nut . . is not loose . . .

. . .remove . . . and . . . drop enough so you can . . . insert. . . . at the top as well . . . or screw at the bottom.

Holy Jeebuz - what kinds of freaky freaks we have up in this here forum!!!!