Front Suspension Clicking Noise- Turning

[SpecCarrera]

I have an 87 Targa that I bought last summer... when I start driving the car (cold) back up and make several turns to exit my parking structure, I hear a clicking sound up front...

Is this a sway bar bushing or suspension part I can lube?

Car drives well, and was alligned after I bought it...

Thanks in advance!

Patrick

[MotoSook]

You'll have to be more specific with noise type and general location.

[SpecCarrera]

sorry, a bit too vague-- it's a sharp clicking sound while I do a 3/4 steering rotation-- either direction... hear it maybe 3 or 4 times while making sharp turns. ie. 3/4 turn, 5-10mph, every 5 seconds a click sound is heard... level or graded...

It sounds like it is coming at the wheels, or between the front wheels... if that helps--

[PorscheGuy79]

My best guess would be wheel bearings but those are more like thumps...wait for Souks replay...he literally taught me everything I know.

[MotoSook]

Have you checked the bearings? With the wheels straight and car parked (of course) try to push and pull transversely (to the car) on top of the tire. There should be a small elastic give due to tire flex, but no popping or clicking, or mechanical motion.

With the tires raised (car on jack, does do the front wheels rotate freely and without noise?

[MotoSook]

LOL..you have learned well Young Jedi...you posted as I was writting my post. LOL!

[PorscheGuy79]

Originally posted by Souk
LOL..you have learned well Young Jedi...you posted as I was writting my post. LOL!

Now I just gotta get around to doing the rear wheel bearings...

[SpecCarrera]

Will check out the wheel bearings-- the car came with lowering springs, and suspension is pretty stiff... enjoying the hell out of the it!!! 131K on it.

Thanks for the advice Souk- will check and see-- sounds more like a creaking sound, but who knows until I test and get it up in the air..

[SpecCarrera]

[87coupe]

If the wheel bearings check out ok, make sure it's not something simple like the tires rubbing, or a peice of debri tangled up in the suspension components.

[SpecCarrera]

thanks, will do... ya, hope it is something benign... the tires do rub once in a while--

[ruf-porsche]

If it was a front wheel drive car I would say to check the CV joints, but since it a PORSCHE 911 I don't think you need to worry about that not unless some numbnut PO decided to convert it to a front wheel drive car

LMAO

[SpecCarrera]

Ya, CV's not clicking on my RWD 911 (of course)... would like an AWD 911, but that would be a bit expensive or impossible to transplant from a C4???
hahaha

[rnln]

SpecCarrera ,
sounds similar to mine problem. Still can't find anything yet. If you can find anything, please post.
Thanks.

[armandodiaz]

If you feel it in your steering wheel it may be your bushing and/or rack. I had that problem once, I changed the steering wheel bushing and rebuilt the rack. It's been perfect for 3yrs now.

[Elu]

you know, I get that same sound on a cold day when I back my car out of the driveway. It's almost like a rubbing sound, more like a low popping noise. But it only does it when it's cold outside and only when I'm backing out....and once I start driving it it goes away. I don't know what it is.

[BeauBlues]

Originally posted by SpecCarrera
Will check out the wheel bearings-- the car came with lowering springs, and suspension is pretty stiff...

Lowering springs??? Was your car converted to coilovers? Your 911 should be riding on torsion bars. Sorry to get off topic.

[PeteBrown]

I have a similar binding or popping noise when I turn the steering wheel but it does not do it all the time. I noticed this sound after I upgraded my suspension with 22mm front torsion bars, Bilstein sports and turbo tie rods and lowered the car. I thought I was the universal joint(s) on the steering rod due to raising the rack with the spacers. I loosened steering shaft at the univeral near the smugglers box to remove any pressure the raized rack may have put on it. At first the noise was gone but it it has re-appeared occassionally. Any ideas?

[SpecCarrera]

Oh ya, forgot! No springs on the 911-- just shocks, struts, torsen and sway bars... I just bought the Dempsey 101 projects book to start learning about the car-- have allot to learn!
Cheers,

Patrick

[SpecCarrera]

Pete Brown's post describes the noise perfectly-- like wound up tension-- not sure if last owner swapped out to larger torsion bars or not... it's not a big deal for me- but since I am a new 911 owner, there is a big learning curve-- much different beast than my Spec Miata and WRX...