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Front suspension clunking.

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Old Sep 20, 2008 | 06:57 PM
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Front suspension clunking.

when i bought the car it was tight as a drum. in fact it still is...but for one thing.
whenever i take slow-speed bumps, there is a thumping/clunking noise somewhere up front. it doesn't reverberate at all. just the short/abrupt noise upo impact and thats it. no bother in highway, possibly because i cant hear it. cant feel it through the steering at all, so doubt its the rack.

anybody got ideas on what the cause might be??
 
Old Sep 20, 2008 | 07:07 PM
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loose sway links?
 
Old Sep 20, 2008 | 09:39 PM
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I get the same thing. I think it's either the droplinks or a U-joint. I thought it could be caused by play in the tops of the shock towers, but I replaced my complete assemblies and I still get it on slow speed bumps and driveways. I am curious to other's thoughts as well.

TDK
 
Old Sep 21, 2008 | 08:41 AM
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I had the same problem on my 03 996. It turned out to be control arm bushings, which are rubber and wear out over time.

The control arms have to be replaced in their entirety, you can't just replace the bushing.
 

Last edited by DJSArcade; Sep 21, 2008 at 08:47 AM.
Old Sep 21, 2008 | 01:32 PM
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Loads of info on this topic on 6speed, search is your friend... If you're not running adjustable drop links then it's probably control arms...
 
Old Sep 21, 2008 | 02:10 PM
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i had the same problem, sway bar or links were loose
 
Old Sep 21, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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same issue exactly - took it in to my indy, told them. they replace tie rod end and took to a highly respected alignment shop...
end result... still have it....

I think its control arm bushing, maybe drop link... I am mad I spent money on an alignment that will be un-done if I replace more parts... let us know what you find
 
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 12:35 PM
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Mine is doing the same thing - is there an upgrade?
 

Last edited by Steve Germany; Sep 23, 2008 at 01:06 PM.
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 12:50 PM
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Isolate the problem, do you have adjustable drop links? If yes, that's more than likely your problem. If no, is it a cluck or a creak sound?, does it happen when stationary and turning the steering wheel (more than likely top mounts). If you push on the wing , bouncing the car, does it make the sound? More than likely control arm bushes. It could be a combination of top mounts and bushes like had so ended up replacing all... Bushes you can upgrade to powerflex PU bushes, Top mounts you can upgrade to GT3 top mounts or uniball.
 
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 03:20 PM
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I noticed after installing coilovers my car would do it when hitting a bump or road imperfection/hole. My control arm/tie rod bushings are fine - it is not this. I replaced my swaybars with H&R - it is not this either. I do not have droplinks -it is not this either. Sounds like a bump stop issue.....and it sounds like a lot of us have it.
 
Old Sep 23, 2008 | 05:14 PM
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+1 on that noise with PSS9 on my 996. I went with KWv3, pure perfection.
 
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 12:20 AM
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I'm having the same issue.
I can't seem to find anything loose.
I can feel a weird ticking feeling through my steering wheel at low speeds.
What can it be?
 
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 04:49 AM
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I had a loud clunk whenever I turned and accelerated from a dead stop.
The noise came 'out of the blue'.
Could not figure out what it was.
Then it went away and I realized it was the can of Meguiars hot shine that I had bought and then removed from my 'trunk'.



 
Old Sep 24, 2008 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by SXN
I'm having the same issue.
I can't seem to find anything loose.
I can feel a weird ticking feeling through my steering wheel at low speeds.
What can it be?
Yep, That is the same feeling that I have. The JICs go on next week and I'll look for a bad bushing at the same time. Hopefullly the stars will allign and all will be good in the world! Otherwise a 997 turbo is looking good!
 
Old Sep 29, 2008 | 12:38 PM
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Take a peek at your front shock towers. There's a hole right above your shock towers where you can view your 3 camber/caster adjustment bolts. Look at the large hole right in the middle of those 3 bolts. My car had the large "washer" flipped wrong side up. which didn't allow the nut to tighten the dish shaped washer down properly. It was easy to see this, because I simply stuck my finger 1 inch into that hole & jingled the washer around. Simple fix for me.
 


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