Noise from the front suspension

El_Mecanico · 03-07-2009, 05:54 PM

There is noise coming from the front end of my Porsche and I have no clue where its coming from. I have 95k on the car and has all the original components. I drove it up on ramps and can not find anything loose however it sounds like a car with a broken shock or something loose even. Has a tacataca to it if that makes since. It makes noise at every direction and seems to be more progressive as I keep driving it. Sometime I can feel at under my feet. Anyone have this happen?

El_Mecanico · 03-07-2009, 09:25 PM

struts or ball joints?

tonythetarga · 03-08-2009, 04:48 AM

Driving it up on ramps keeps the suspension loaded the same as if it was on the ground. You should jack it so both front wheels are off the ground at the same time. Grab the wheel at 12 and 6 and try rocking it back and forth (wheel bearing check), then at 3 and 9 and do it again to check the tie rods. Take the wheels off, check the brakes for a broken pad, check the rotor for a crack. If you have the stone shields it will be difficult to check the back side of the rotor. Have someone turn the wheel side to side and see if the steering rack is damaged. Check the sway bar bushings as well. Maybe before you jack it up open the trunk and check the shock tower top nut and the three bolts for the bushing on each shock tower.

WERK I · WERK I's Garage

Also, while the car is lifted off the ground, inspect the A-arm bushings on the side you suspect the noise is coming from. It may be the old rubber bushings have cold-flowed to the point the torsion bar is banging against the torsion bar tube.

El_Mecanico · 03-08-2009, 10:24 AM

How much play should you have at the rubber bushing between the tie rod and steering rack? It seems to be the only play the front end has jacked up.

WERK I · WERK I's Garage

Do you know if you car hear the knock on rebound or compression?

El_Mecanico · 03-08-2009, 10:56 AM

Not absolutely sure mostly rebound...sounds like the front end is coming apart. Broken shock on a ford is what it sounds like.

El_Mecanico · 03-08-2009, 10:58 AM

I also replaced the front suspension pan...its all in tack. However had the noise prior too.

WERK I · WERK I's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Mecanico

How much play should you have at the rubber bushing between the tie rod and steering rack? It seems to be the only play the front end has jacked up.

You mean the tie-rod that attaches to the steering rack? If so, there should be zero play... no slop.

If the knock is on rebound, more than likely strut, but it does not rule out A-arm bushings in extreme cases. The suspension is unloading, so if there is any slop, this is when it will happen.

El_Mecanico · 03-08-2009, 05:17 PM

Just finished taking a look at it and went through all the components and this is what I found...nothing, with the exception of the bushing for the tie rod end next to the rack. I think after pressure washing under the wheel wells the struts must have dried up causing every thing to squeal. I will be ordering the turbo tie rods and inspect the struts while I'm at it.

JFairman · 03-08-2009, 05:40 PM

If you have bilstein struts it could be a worn roll pin that secures the end of the shocks shaft into the bottom of the strut.
Mine made a clunk over bumps and I drove out the roll pin out with a drift punch, rotated it 180 degrees, drove it back in and the clunk was gone.

Could be a loose nut holding the insert in at the top of the strut too.

tonythetarga · 03-08-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Mecanico

Just finished taking a look at it and went through all the components and this is what I found...nothing, with the exception of the bushing for the tie rod end next to the rack. I think after pressure washing under the wheel wells the struts must have dried up causing every thing to squeal. I will be ordering the turbo tie rods and inspect the struts while I'm at it.

Is it a squeal or a knocking sound as you originally described?
A squeal could be rubbing from the torsion bars or it could be rubbing from the sway bar. You can't see either without disassembly and inspection. The sway bar bushings are the easier of the two but putting the bar back in is tricky and you might want to search for several methods to try.

El_Mecanico · 03-08-2009, 07:46 PM

This is very noticeable while driving in the drive way slow speeds including parking. Its a combo of squeaky noise and clunking sound. It makes noise when I turn the wheel step on the brake and going over bumps. Everything is tight so it may be the t bars rubbing.

El_Mecanico · 03-08-2009, 08:01 PM

Come to think about it the noise sounds more like a rattle and I can feel it sometimes on the floor board. Any idea?

Tigerrat · Tigerrat's Garage

Sounds more and more like the torsion bars. You can support the front and loosen the adjustments to remove the rear endcaps and see how compressed the bushings are. Mine squeaked in and out of driveways and such. Ken

El_Mecanico · 03-09-2009, 05:34 AM

I think your right...do I let the wheels just hang or keep it on the ramp before pulling the caps?

El_Mecanico · 03-09-2009, 05:44 AM

Ken can the torsion bars be removed without taking the suspension apart?

Tigerrat · Tigerrat's Garage

I don't think so but haven't tried. Suspension is next on my list. But you can sure see the shape of the bushing and maybe a few inches of the bar. That's what I remember. You might could spray in some lube just to see if that temporarily cures or changes the noise. Others can tell you more or search on TB squeaks.

El_Mecanico · 03-10-2009, 06:11 AM

Seems like the torsion bars...when I push the car up from underneath it appears the torsion bars are sticking as they rotate making a tapping sound. Maybe some lube?

El_Mecanico · 03-10-2009, 10:08 AM

OK, I pulled the torsion bars and found some rubbing on the left side. Here is my question the front torsion bars what holds the rear end of them. In other words what centers them I think they are slapping around in the rear end of the A frame.