I have a 04 C4S, last night I was driving when I passed thru some depression on the road (those constructions imperfections and bumps) and I heard a snap (front left wheel – like those when the spring sits in place) then I heard a loud scraping noise, as if I was dragging a plastic bottle under the car. I stopped right away, checked all 4 wheels (no flat tires) checked under. Nothing was there. The noise was loud and it seemed to be coming from the left wheel. Started driving the car the scraping noise was less intense. Turned the steering wheel left (no noise) turned it to the right the scraping noise got intense. Pulled over to a shop nearby, lifted the car up everything was in place, no damages, no scrap marks, nothing abnormal. Drove the car home noise disappeared.

This morning, driving the car to work, on straight line no noise at any speed. The car seemed to be fine. When going to the underground parking, going down the ramp, I had to make a right turn (left front wheel receives all the weight and right wheel has less strength) at that moment I heard the scraping noise again (something like my tire rubbing against the plastic cover). I checked again all clearances seemed to be fine.

I took it put for a spin, there is a “S” section close to the office. I was about 40 Km/h, first leg of the “S” is a left turn (no noise) second leg is a right turn (noise was there – similar to tire touching the plastic cover).

Has anyone had this experience? What maybe is causing this noise? Only happens “turning right”.

 

Reads like something broke from the force of hitting that depression.

Might be some suspension part.

Might be some steering part.

But it could be a plastic panel. I had scraping noise when my car was moving that proved to be a broken wheel well liner that was loose at the leading edge and air was forcing the leading edge down enough the thing rubbed on the pavement. I heard this noise while driving on surface streets.

You should probably get the car to the shop and get the car on the lift and have everything on both sides checked out. The front wheels might have to come off so the front brakes can be checked. Something in the brake may have broken from the force of the impact and accounts for the noise. Wheel bearings will be checked too for excessive play or other signs of problems.

 

I did go to a shop, lift the car up, removed the wheel off. Everything seemed to be in place, no scrap marks, no leaks, no apparent damages, no debris in the rotors, in the back of the rotors cover, nothing that could point to a problem.

The gap between the tire and the plastic cover is about 1". My opinion: when you turn right you put weight on the left wheel, what lowers the car, and then the scraping noise "should" appear, but no marks whatsoever. The noise is there but from where?

 

My money is on the wheel bearing. Did the mechanic actually take it for a ride? Wheel bearings sometimes needs a load placed on them to exhibit symptoms. Yours sounds like a classic wheel bearing scenario.

 

I got it fixed, i dont know how it happened but the spring moved a bit in the strut base, and it changed the geometry of the whole system. After dismantling everything and put everything back again, the noise disappear. No more rubbing. Both sides have different geometry, the left the base is closer to the wheel, the right the gap is bigger.