Clicking binding type noise

[PhatRS]

A weird noise has manifested itself around the front subframe area, sounds like a cllicking binding type noise almost like a spring popping back into a mount. I though it may have had something to do with the new suspesion I have put in but I cant replicate it by moving the shocks around by hand with the car in the air. Cant feel any play in wheel bearings and all bolts for mounts and braces have been tightned and retightened. It only happens at very low speeds and randomly at various steering angles. Have moved the steering wheel back and forth with the wheels in the air and it makes no noise at all so seems load related.

Had thoughts of worn busings somewhere but would have thought they would make noise at higher speeds and braking/accelerating too. Steering rack seems ok too, has a bit of play when moving the wheel but Im sure its nothing out of the ordinary.

Have tried to research it but its so hard to research a noise with not really any other symptoms although problems with axels or worn front/centre diffs do apear quite frequently.

Any thoughts appreciated or useful ways to test various components.

Will be going in for a diagnosis once I get paid if I cant figure it out in the next week or so as I dont want to do any major damage to it, had enough catastrophicnessss for a while

[funkytown]

do you have a k frame installed? if its loose like mine and the four bolts (particulary the two onto the back of the front lower rms arent tight) then it clunks randomly just like you described at low speeds etc and not able to replicate when its up off the ground

[PhatRS]

Incidentally I do, I have tightened all the bolts for it but might loosen them right off then tighten it again. The noise doesnt quite match that if you know what I mean though, also think it might be heard braking and accelerating too but Ill check it out.

[funkytown]

sounds like mine did. i could hear it through the fire wall out towards where i thought the bottom ball joint is. my front bolts i thought were tight had to be super super tight else it would clunkidy clunky all the time.

tighten from the front of the k frame first then the rears yu might have better luxk. those k frames never fit perfectly

[PhatRS]

Yeah you might be right then, sounds like where mine is coming from, never heard it till recently and had the K frame on for like 4 years. Mine fit bang on but I did end up getting one specifically for my model not bastardising a WRX one.

Will have a looksee and play tonight see if it makes a diff. Will be nice if its as simple as that

[rex-leggy]

i have a similar clicking . but have no k brace ???

[JWDRPN]

my v7 sti is very similar but it only does it when turning left or the car is on an angle like a drivway (wtf) my mechanic said one of my cvs had no grease...it went away and now its back...all suspension bolts have been tightened

hav been told it is not my centre diff

mine has a similar feeling to a flat tyre

no solution so il be watching this thread

[PhatRS]

Well the K brace makes a profound difference but its not the cause, took it off and drove back and forward turning and could still hear a bit or binding just quieter. Put it back on and torqued up all the bolts, there is no way the K brace moves now but it still makes bindng noises turning and much louder than before (I bet the brace is like a big amplifier, sends all the sounds through the chassis). Now also makes a huge clunk going over even the small drain in front of my gge and when you compress the suspension with a jack you can hear the same clunk and even feel it in the back of the A arm. The 2 bolts that hold the right hand A arm mount on are quite loose although I cant feel any play in the mount feels like the thread in the alloy has stripped as they wont torque much more than hand tight without loosening off.

not my pic but the ones at the top.

Now on the look out either for some longer bolts of perhaps replacement alloy A arms, not gonna pee about with drilling them out and retapping.

[PhatRS]

 JWDRPN said:

my v7 sti is very similar but it only does it when turning left or the car is on an angle like a drivway (wtf) my mechanic said one of my cvs had no grease...it went away and now its back...all suspension bolts have been tightened

hav been told it is not my centre diff

mine has a similar feeling to a flat tyre

no solution so il be watching this thread

That sounds more like wheel bearing than mine, mine feels fine (well did) just makes a noise.

[PhatRS]

Seems to be sorted now thanks to spare parts man San, now have v8 arms in the front so with previous alignment that wasnt that flash the camber and toe in is now a joke but no clicking to speak of.......well not just backing in and out of the gge a few times anyway.

[PhatRS]

All back to square 1 Im afraid, maybe 2 of driving and I have noise again, cant imagine that I have shredded another a arm mount but will get under and have a nose tomorrow, failing that its off to a pro for a diagnosis and alignment as no matter what I set it to doesnt seem to stay close to right for long.

[funkytown]

if your about town id happily hve a listen.

[PhatRS]

Im out in the Hutt now unfortunately, may get one of my local mates to lend an ear. Not something Im keen to be driving lots of Ks with.

Funny that I did 2 trips up the hill in Kelson last night and no noise at all, this morning on the way to get the train for work started up again. Tightened the A arms to "f'ing tight" as per manual too, must be some other demons at work lol.

[funkytown]

any obvious marks around the front mount points of the K frame and the front arm?

you've got coil overs right? loose strut or something? when swapping the arms the other night did you put in your all lower ball joint or a new one?

[PhatRS]

Ball joints are near new Whiteline (ones only seen maybe 1000k), Struts are brand new BCs and all is tight, no rubbing on K frame that I can see, look like arm gets real close to the chassis due to free caster mod but no rubbing marks.

Noise comes from random areas now too, sometimes in the centre sometimes left sometimes right. Re greased swaybar bushes last night too but that hasnt done jack either. Hoping its a couple of bushes going as that will give me an excuse to get some good ones .

[funkytown]

unhook the sway bar and drive it - do you get noise?

[PhatRS]

Mechanics had the car for a day, they cant find anything that is gonna fall off and kill me, have checked all the bolts as I did and lubricated the other bushes that I didnt do still makes a noise but Im at least not so concerned about it now I have a 2nd and 3rd opinion.

May try unhooking the sway bar and see if that makes a difference although relubining those bushes didnt go a great deal.

At least now have full V8 arms installed too so front matches the rear and has made the track yet wider so looking forward to having a go through some twisty roads