Knocking noise from front of car

[reevers]

I have a 2005 997 C2s. Covered 50k miles. The car has developed a knocking/ creaking noise in the front of the car when going over bumps and potholes in the road. Anyone else had this problem? How was it resolved?

 

[Dylan1]

you havent left one of the kids in there have you??[]

 

[reevers]

Checked, answer would be nope none there!

 

[snarf]

I seem to remember reading some early reviews that mentioned problems with anti-roll bar bushes it might be worth having these checked.

 

[okellyt]

ORIGINAL: snarf

I seem to remember reading some early reviews that mentioned problems with anti-roll bar bushes it might be worth having these checked.

Like Allan, I think I remember reading front suspension brushes may need changing at around 50k miles. Best to get it checked out, it might be nothing

 

[reevers]

Thanks for the suggestion. Changed the front bushes, but regretably the noise is still there. Example would be going over a speed bump/ rough road at 20 miles per hour, noise is audible, but going over the same at say 30 mph the noise is not!

 

[tscaptain]

"Well Sir, could you explain why you were doing 40 in a 30 limit?"
"Yes, Officer, to stop the knocking noise at the front!"

On previous types (my Scooby, in particular) it was the dampers knocking/creaking at low speed which was less apparent faster?

 

[reevers]

Thanks for that! Would the whole dampner need replaced? Would these parts be readily available?

 

[tscaptain]

Well if it is the damper it will be the whole unit. Should be easy to get hold of and replace I would have thought but not cheap as your "S" has PASM. Who did the bushes? OPC?
Can the noise be tracked down to left or right or can't you tell? On my Scoob you could hear it creaking just by pushing down on the wing (with care!) Not saying it has to be dampers but where I would look next.

 

[Ian W]

It could be the strut tops - these are plastic (they don't build 'em like they used to!) and do tend to fail. The symptom of a failed strut top is knocking over bumps

I also remember on the 996, there were a couple of drop links to the anti-roll bar. I don't know if they carried them over to the 997, but if they did then these little horrors fail too and clonk over bumps.

 

[clarkes]

I've experienced a creaking noise from the front suspension of my 2007 tt since new. The OPC diagnosed it to be a loose "stabiliser bar" with they tightened. The noise - which was noticeable at slow speed - all but disappeared after the work but it occasionally re-appeared, particularly when reversing. I recently took the car in for some warranty work just before its 2nd birthday and the noise was diagnosed as worn strut top bearings so it seems to confirm the information in the other replies to your post. As it was work under warrantly I cannot help with indications of costs.

 

[reevers]

OPC have came back with a faulty strut to blame. £615.00 to replace though

 

[garyw]

Just make sure they're not doing the usual diagnosis via the parts bin scenario [&:]

garyw

 

[JFK]

I have a similar problem diagnosed as lower control arms. These were replaced but the creak remains. Did the replacement strut resolve your problem Reevers ?

JFK

 

[reevers]

Replaced OSF strut. Main knocking noise completely gone. I have to assume though that the NSF stut will need to be replaced soon though. Mileage currently 60K

 

[berty987]

You can chase your tail for weeks trying to track down a suspension creak on one of these cars. There are one of about about 4 or 5 components that can fail leading to various creaks or knocks. I took my car to Center Gravity to have a suspension noise fully investigated. A good workshop will know how to test each suspension component and what to listen and look for. In my case the slow speed knocking sound when driving over uneven ground was the result of failed PASM shocks that had an internal fault. The shocks were removed from the car and sent to Bilstein to have a ful diagnostic test. The diagnostic time is not cheap for this type of problem (but a lot cheaper than Porsche) , however the resuts will be definitive. Try calling Center Gravity and book yourself in for 1-2 hours worth of diagnostic time , it will save you more in the long run, especially if you are paying for the repairs yourself. Center Gravity also offer a fitting service as well as full 4 wheel alignment for which they are primarily known. After replacing any major suspension component the car weill require about 3-4 hours worth of geometry setting up to make sure it drives properly anyway.

Unlike the main agents , Center Gravity actually understand how the adjustments affect the cars handling and will tailor the set up to suit your driving style or type of journey you most frequently drive. Chris Franklin who owns/ runs the company is a True enthusiast and specialises in Porsches so your car is in safe and experienced hands.