Front End Noise Only When Car Is Hot

[roastduck88]

Hi

After driving my car for 30 miles + I notice there are noises coming from the front driver side of the car anytime I go over bumps. When the car cools off the noise is gone. I took it to a Porsche dealer and paid for a full inspection and they found no physical signs of damage, I also took it to a local Porsche Shop and had them replaced the front 2 shocks, springs, and bearings and the noise still exists. There are no loose nuts or tie rods (or anything obviously loose) when it was on the lift and we were not able to reproduce the noise on the lift even after driving 30 + miles. I'm pretty much out of ideas and this noise is annoying. What do you think it might be?

Thanks,

Raymond

[Loren]

Did you check the swaybar mounts?

[roastduck88]

Did you check the swaybar mounts?

Yes the mechanic checked them and said they were fine. Do you think it could be the steering rack? He said it was slightly loose. The thing that really baffles me is it only happens after prolonged driving and once the car cools off, there is no noise.

[Loren]

Did you check the swaybar mounts?

Yes the mechanic checked them and said they were fine. Do you think it could be the steering rack? He said it was slightly loose. The thing that really baffles me is it only happens after prolonged driving and once the car cools off, there is no noise.

If the steering rack is loose then it needs to be tightened.

[roastduck88]

Did you check the swaybar mounts?

Yes the mechanic checked them and said they were fine. Do you think it could be the steering rack? He said it was slightly loose. The thing that really baffles me is it only happens after prolonged driving and once the car cools off, there is no noise.

If the steering rack is loose then it needs to be tightened.

Thanks! I will ask him about it and hopefully that resolves my issue.

[jdcSD]

This is virtually identical to a problem that I have as well with my 2002 C2 Cab. After 20 miles I get a clunk type noise from the front end when going over expansion joints, large cracks and the drop offs going into parking lots and driveways. I had a full acoustic diagnostic performed where they place microphones or something like that in critical areas and they found nothing. Finally had the drop links or ties (not sure of the correct name - they connect to the sway bar) replaced and that made no difference what so ever. All components are tight to specs according to the technician (including the sway mounts which I also checked myself to be sure). The last conversation was that the steering rack could be the culprit. Please post your outcome. I am curious to see if that fixes it for you. Right now I am irritated about spending money and not getting any closer to a solution.

[Richard Hamilton]

If it is a creaking sound, I would suspect it is the lower wishbone. The ball joint creaks when going over rough surfaces, and usually only manifests itself when it warms up.

[jdcSD]

If it is a creaking sound, I would suspect it is the lower wishbone. The ball joint creaks when going over rough surfaces, and usually only manifests itself when it warms up.

Thanks for the tip. I will verify that they checked that as well. It is clunking not creaking but it is definitely worth eliminating as a potential cause.

[roastduck88]

This is virtually identical to a problem that I have as well with my 2002 C2 Cab. After 20 miles I get a clunk type noise from the front end when going over expansion joints, large cracks and the drop offs going into parking lots and driveways. I had a full acoustic diagnostic performed where they place microphones or something like that in critical areas and they found nothing. Finally had the drop links or ties (not sure of the correct name - they connect to the sway bar) replaced and that made no difference what so ever. All components are tight to specs according to the technician (including the sway mounts which I also checked myself to be sure). The last conversation was that the steering rack could be the culprit. Please post your outcome. I am curious to see if that fixes it for you. Right now I am irritated about spending money and not getting any closer to a solution.

It will be a while before I replace the steering rack. So far this is what I've replaced at The Renn Shop. Front suspension, front suspension mounts, sway bar links. The next 2 things on my list to replace are the ball joints (control arms) and steering rack but that will have to wait. I will have to talk to Marvin at The Renn Shop to arrange a time.

Please let me know also if you made any progress. (This noise is driving me insane!)

[PorschePRH]

Anybody have any conclusive outcomes with these noise issues now that it's 8 months later?

I too have a clunk type noise on "drop off" situations.

I just installed PSS9's and an alignment, but I can't quite recall when the problem started.

I tried reproducing the problem in the garage by jacking the car up, taking the wheel off, putting another hydraulic jack under the suspension and letting the suspension down quickly, but no noise.

The spring bushing at the top moves nicely, and it just doesn't seem to be that.

When taking a rubber mallet to the area, I found a suspicious noise when banging on the steering rack. It seemed like the arm was loose and clunking. So I am wondering if there is a common problem with the steering racks that I should look for?

My car is an 03 C2 with only 25K easy miles, so it's hard to believe it's a normal wear issue.

[Keggers]

Anybody have any conclusive outcomes with these noise issues now that it's 8 months later?

I too have a clunk type noise on "drop off" situations.

I just installed PSS9's and an alignment, but I can't quite recall when the problem started.

I tried reproducing the problem in the garage by jacking the car up, taking the wheel off, putting another hydraulic jack under the suspension and letting the suspension down quickly, but no noise.

The spring bushing at the top moves nicely, and it just doesn't seem to be that.

When taking a rubber mallet to the area, I found a suspicious noise when banging on the steering rack. It seemed like the arm was loose and clunking. So I am wondering if there is a common problem with the steering racks that I should look for?

My car is an 03 C2 with only 25K easy miles, so it's hard to believe it's a normal wear issue.

Have you seen this thread from a few weeks back? Might be of help to you.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=26423

[PorschePRH]

Anybody have any conclusive outcomes with these noise issues now that it's 8 months later?

I too have a clunk type noise on "drop off" situations.

I just installed PSS9's and an alignment, but I can't quite recall when the problem started.

I tried reproducing the problem in the garage by jacking the car up, taking the wheel off, putting another hydraulic jack under the suspension and letting the suspension down quickly, but no noise.

The spring bushing at the top moves nicely, and it just doesn't seem to be that.

When taking a rubber mallet to the area, I found a suspicious noise when banging on the steering rack. It seemed like the arm was loose and clunking. So I am wondering if there is a common problem with the steering racks that I should look for?

My car is an 03 C2 with only 25K easy miles, so it's hard to believe it's a normal wear issue.

Have you seen this thread from a few weeks back? Might be of help to you.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=26423

No I hadn't. Thanks for the link, it's exactly what I was was looking for!

[roastduck88]

Problem appears to be fixed! Finally had a chance to take it to The Renn Shop and Marvin replaced the tie rods and the steering rack. He says the Tie rods are most likely the culprit but I had to replace the steering rack anyways since it was "loose". The tie rod replacement fixed the noise and the steering rack replacement improved my handling quite a bit. And to think when I took my car to the dealer not only did they NOT find an issue with my steering rack, but they also could not find the noise and claimed that it was most likely caused by the convertible top.