FIXED BY INSTALLING SUB FRAME SHIMS/BOLTS
**3/11/2012 Update**
Finally figured out this noise yesterday when I was working on the car. I had the strut mounts/bearings replaced a week or two ago which seemed to, once again, eliminate the noise. That lasted all but a day or two.
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. I was servicing the TyrolSport guide pins on the front calipers (remove, clean, re-grease, re-install). When I got to the last/most difficult one to re-install due to my lovely brake line being in the way, I noticed that it was significantly more loose than the other guide pins. Lubed it up, installed and tightened appropriately, and went on a drive. Zero noise. ZERO.
I'm aware that not too many people have this caliper stiffening kit installed so this noise may just be isolated to my car, but it's worth checking regardless if they've ever been removed or anything like that from your own car. Lets hope I don't have to update this thread ever again. Stupid guide pin.
**9/23/2011 Update**
Bumping this as my lovely clunking/cracking sound is still present. Here's what else has been done since my last update:
-All sub-frame bolts replaced and torqued
-Swapped out rear LCA bushing with Whiteline ALK
-Replaced front LCA bushing with OEM
-Replaced bolts/nuts for FSB brackets
Upon examination of the stock rear LCA bushing housing it was clear that when I bottomed out in Atlanta that they made contact with the ground. The front facing lip of the housing was marred and bent backward at a 75* angle vs. the flat 90* a brand new one would be (if using the car from front to back as a 180* line). I've acquired a used set of FSB brackets to see if perhaps the ball joints are going bad or already bad, but there's no visual indication that they have. How could I check this?
Other thoughts:
-Ball joints?
-Tie rod end?
-CV joint?
-Some other part of the car that I don't know could be causing this sound?
Symptoms listed above in original post are all still the same, however, the loudest cracking/clunking occurs when making right-hand turns. I verified this last night by making sharp turns in col de sacs
I also have the Unibrace XB and UB installed on the car, but the noises happen nowhere near those areas. I don't want to put any additional money towards the car hoping to fix this issue until I know what it actually is. The sound can also be clearly heard outside. Perhaps louder there than inside the car itself.
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Before anyone says it's my sub frame allow me to share what I've tried already.
I noticed a clunking sound coming from the front right side of the car when making slightly aggressive right turns. First thought was my sub frame bolts. Took it to my buddy at the dealership and he said everything looked good. In addition, whenever this knocking sound occurs there are times where it will also make a creaking noise. These are the other areas I've checked:
-Sub frame/pendulum mount
-Unibrace UB bolt points
-Tyrol brake bushing
The issue appears to have gotten worse where now even if I go over speed bumps, slow down (braking), or go over uneven inclines at a slow rate of speed it makes the noise (level of sound varies every time). On several occasions while turning right the noise has traveled from the right side of the car to the left side where I feel it through my feet on the floor of the car.
Just looking for insight as far as what else I could check. As far as I can tell the car feels okay (nothing loose), but who knows...I drive it every day.
**3/11/2012 Update**
Finally figured out this noise yesterday when I was working on the car. I had the strut mounts/bearings replaced a week or two ago which seemed to, once again, eliminate the noise. That lasted all but a day or two.
Fast forward to yesterday afternoon. I was servicing the TyrolSport guide pins on the front calipers (remove, clean, re-grease, re-install). When I got to the last/most difficult one to re-install due to my lovely brake line being in the way, I noticed that it was significantly more loose than the other guide pins. Lubed it up, installed and tightened appropriately, and went on a drive. Zero noise. ZERO.
I'm aware that not too many people have this caliper stiffening kit installed so this noise may just be isolated to my car, but it's worth checking regardless if they've ever been removed or anything like that from your own car. Lets hope I don't have to update this thread ever again. Stupid guide pin.
**9/23/2011 Update**
Bumping this as my lovely clunking/cracking sound is still present. Here's what else has been done since my last update:
-All sub-frame bolts replaced and torqued
-Swapped out rear LCA bushing with Whiteline ALK
-Replaced front LCA bushing with OEM
-Replaced bolts/nuts for FSB brackets
Upon examination of the stock rear LCA bushing housing it was clear that when I bottomed out in Atlanta that they made contact with the ground. The front facing lip of the housing was marred and bent backward at a 75* angle vs. the flat 90* a brand new one would be (if using the car from front to back as a 180* line). I've acquired a used set of FSB brackets to see if perhaps the ball joints are going bad or already bad, but there's no visual indication that they have. How could I check this?
Other thoughts:
-Ball joints?
-Tie rod end?
-CV joint?
-Some other part of the car that I don't know could be causing this sound?
Symptoms listed above in original post are all still the same, however, the loudest cracking/clunking occurs when making right-hand turns. I verified this last night by making sharp turns in col de sacs
I also have the Unibrace XB and UB installed on the car, but the noises happen nowhere near those areas. I don't want to put any additional money towards the car hoping to fix this issue until I know what it actually is. The sound can also be clearly heard outside. Perhaps louder there than inside the car itself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before anyone says it's my sub frame allow me to share what I've tried already.
I noticed a clunking sound coming from the front right side of the car when making slightly aggressive right turns. First thought was my sub frame bolts. Took it to my buddy at the dealership and he said everything looked good. In addition, whenever this knocking sound occurs there are times where it will also make a creaking noise. These are the other areas I've checked:
-Sub frame/pendulum mount
-Unibrace UB bolt points
-Tyrol brake bushing
The issue appears to have gotten worse where now even if I go over speed bumps, slow down (braking), or go over uneven inclines at a slow rate of speed it makes the noise (level of sound varies every time). On several occasions while turning right the noise has traveled from the right side of the car to the left side where I feel it through my feet on the floor of the car.
Just looking for insight as far as what else I could check. As far as I can tell the car feels okay (nothing loose), but who knows...I drive it every day.
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