Suspension noise can't be diagnosed by Porsche

[Nic728]

There is a rattling, clunky noise coming from the front suspensions of my 2005 boxster S. I took it to the small independent garage where I do small changes. They had nstalled new bilstein shock absorbers for me a few months ago. Their first thought was the mount struts and they changed them. But the noise is still there. They looked at it again and now think it's the control arms and the steering gear that need to be replaced. I went to Porsche for a second opinion. They think it's neither and say it's probably from how the suspensions are mounted. Need to uninstall them and put them back in to see if it's the spring hitting something or another moving part. They are quite sure it's not the control arm as they know how that sounds and this is different.

I wonder if anyone has had this issue before. I find it hard to reconcile both diagnosis and don't find either garage very convincing. Porsche's advice is to change the entire suspension but st the same they say there is no guarantee that will fix the noise!

[Trev450]

I think I would suggest to your indy that they refit the stock dampers and if the noise goes away, the problem clearly lies with the units they have fitted. You can then discuss how to proceed from there.

[gt3nor]

Is the noise present all the time, or just when hitting bumps?
Might check the front trunk movement, the latch mechanism might have som slack.

[Nic728]

Thanks for your suggestions. I already checked the front trunk thinking it was that. I think I will give it another shot with the small garage and ask them to reinstall. If that does not work I might have to change the whole suspensions with Porsche. Which is going to cost me 4000 dollars. Not good

[alant]

Might sound stupid but when I first got my 2005 S it had a clunking noise at the front end when going over bumps, and at speed

The small rubber grommet / stop had come away from the fuel filler cap and it was the metal cap meeting the metal frame that was causing the rattle

[Pope]

Is it a creaking / cracking graunch? Apart from sounding painful I have had the antiroll bar droplinks cause such a noise - on the S they double as the strut carrier pinch bolt - retighten the droplink nuts and the rollbar nuts (being locknuts they should already have been replaced after removal during the suspension swap).

[SaintsPaul]

Take it to CenterGravity.
They will find the noise if it is suspension related

[WinstonWolf]

SaintsPaul said:

Take it to CenterGravity.
They will find the noise if it is suspension related

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. It'll also drive better than it ever has since you've owned it

[Tap450]

Try the front stabilising arms on what ever side it is or Evan both. They tend to go but can't feel any play in the bushes

[Steve H]

SaintsPaul said:

Take it to CenterGravity.
They will find the noise if it is suspension related

The OP is paying in HK dollars, it may be a bit of a long trip .

[SaintsPaul]

Steve H said:

The OP is paying in HK dollars, it may be a bit of a long trip .

I know Pete took a trip to Monaco for a customer so I am sure he would love an all expenses trip to Hong Kong