2012 Panamera S, 64k miles. The usual litany of expensive sounds emanating from the suspension. Most of this work was done in the past month or so.
Symptoms​​​​​​ / Solutions

1. Creaking over speed bumps when cold. Silent when warmed up.
   • Replaced swaybar bushings. Cheap part and stupidly simple to fix. Probably less than an hour.
2. Dull thump when hitting the brakes hard and fast. Initially thought it was normal. It wasn't. Started poking around with a prybar and discovered the problem.
   • Replaced both lower control arms and bushings. Passenger side front bushing literally fell out of the arm when it was removed.
3. Rattle/clunk when rolling over small to moderate road imperfections. This one took the most time and effort to find. Replaced the swaybar end links - that wasn't it. Replaced the upper control arms. That wasn't it. (But now everything on the front end has been replaced with Lemforder parts. Lucky me...) Double checked torque values on everything associated with the front suspension. Everything was in-spec. Checked torque on center strut nut. All good. Put the car in the air, pulled the belly pan off and got to work checking every single nut and bolt associated with the front end. Everything was 100%. Looked at the steering rack.
   • Passenger side steering rack mounting bolt/nut was loose. Torqued back to spec.
4. BIG vibration at highway speeds. Replaced tires - no change. Road force balanced tires. No change. Put the car in the air, broke out the dial-indicator and checked each wheel.
   • Replaced passenger front wheel - bent. Absolutely no idea how this happened as I have no memory of any sort of impact strong enough to bend a wheel. But here we are...

All parts were purchased from FCP Euro. Yes, you can get them cheaper somewhere else, but FCP will warranty them for life.

Used this great DIY from forum member Yves for the swaybar bushings. Some tips:
- I didn't disconnect the end links. I was able to do the work without removing the bar.
- I numbered each bolt hole on the brace itself, and then used hash marks on each bolt head that correspond to the numbers on the holes. Sharpie works fine.
- I used a yellow wax pencil to denote which bolts had been torqued. Keeps you from missing any.
- There are two bolts they've labeled "do not remove" in their pictures. Those are the steering rack bolts. Make sure they're tight. Mine were not and that was the source of the thumping/knock.
- Check the torque on the subframe cradle bolts. There are 4, they're 16mm and way up there. You can't miss them.
- Also a great time to do an oil change and overall inspection for leaks and other damage.

 

Thanks for this @shrike071! Very helpful overview. My car was previously fully sorted but just started exhibiting a “rubber crunching” sound. 2014 4S. Only when cold and most noticeable when going downhill at very low speed. Also only with lateral movements (i.e. driving straight but over uneven road and suspension has to compensate for the small side-to-side movements). No issues over speed bumps or with turning. Have 68 000km (42 000 miles). Recent engine out reseal for timing chain cover leak so front end was disassembled. Prior to that new LCA’s, sway bar bushings, and driver’s side axel shaft.

Need to dig into this once the weather warms up. Always something to keep me preoccupied! Thanks again for sharing!

 

@shrike071 , could you feel anything through the steering wheel when the rack bolt was loose? Noise was the only symptom?

 

Nope - had no clue it was loose. Only symptom was that rattle/thud sound.

 

O wow I'm hopeful this is the missing link to my little rattle thud! Is this an easy DIY?

I did the same first two things you did (via a very expensive Porsche dealership service center lol)

I feel like I paid $1200 for not as the noise is still there (proactively replaced the sway bar bushings and both drop links) I will say the front end feels much tighter now. So how do I find this steering nut lol?

 

@here can anyone assist me in guiding me through a DIY of tightening my steering rack mounting bolts?

 

A cheap EZ/PZ method of reducing some chassis squeaks and rattles is an annual application of "Wurth Rubber Care" (professional label - red top, available at Amazon, etc) on any and all rubber weather stripping, especially around the sunroof.

 

On the vibration, the only thing you did was replace a well? I've got vibration (feel it in the peddle and seat, passengers can feel it too - but not really in the steering wheel). I've completely swapped wheels and tires, but its been about the same and getting worse. Curious if anything else was involved in fixing it or if I potentially have bent wheels on both sets.

 

Check the wheel bearings. My vibration issue was caused by the passenger side wheeel bearing needing to be replaced. You can lift the car up and check for in and out play. Part is relatively inexpensive. Good luck.

 

It took over 4 years from Jun '18 till Jun '22 till all the suspension issues in my Panamera were sorted it. This included replacing the lower (twice as they were installed incorrectly the first time) and upper control arms, front wheel bearings, compressor, and left and right air spring. I even escalated the matter to PCNA, but they did absolutely nothing about it other than to point me back to the dealership. This even when I told them that there were systemic issues with their suspension design as evidenced by numerous posts by owners - I share links to posts (including some from this group). They have to have known about these problems. Thank goodness for my Fidelity Warranty which covered a bulk of the costs of the repairs. My car now runs like a dream the way it was always meant to but the whole experience has soured me on Porsche and I drive very gingerly now worried that I will soon hear a new creaking or clanking from the suspension.

At any rate, sorry to vent, but the above were all of parts which had to be replaced before the suspension issues were sorted. Mine is a 2013 Panamera S which had 15K miles when I first took it in to fix the suspension issues and had 48K miles as of Jun '22.

 

Good call, I'll add that to the checklist when I have it up in the air.

 

I think we've all been there. That's why I developed the "9XX Vehicle Rattle Finder" - a set of vibration simulation MP3 files, designed to help you locate those pesky rattles in a stationary vehicle.
I've personally tested these files on over 300 Porsche vehicles during my 9XX Experience tours, and I'm now offering it for FREE at my store to all car lovers out there.
No catch, just an honest attempt to share something that could make our drives a little more peaceful. 🎧🔍

 

its the different rattles and suspension noises and the correlated issue?

 

I think those are too heavy for sound wave alone to vibrate.