996 Front Suspension Noise Fix

[Blue Streak 2]

Hi,

Just for all those who like me have a front suspension clonk at low speeds here's how I fixed my problem.

Car is a 2002 996 Carrera 2 and at low speeds, i.e. below 40mph I'd get a clonking off the front right hand suspension when going over rough surfaces or even lightly undulating surfaces like block paving. Wasn't horrendous but sounded like a loose ball joint. First move was to change the anti roll bar drop links, no joy though easy to change as it's just 2 bolts. I then got the car up on a ramp to have a look at the front wishbone bushes and use a crow bar to lever the wishbone balljoint but everything looked ok. Next suspect was the strut bearings, changed these but again no joy, now starting to drive me mad.

Finally took it to RPM's drop in clinic on a Saturday morning where Ollie came out in the car to diagnose the issue. He suggested the changing the 'Tuning fork' link from the wishbone to the body. On one end it has a ball joint which can produce the clonking sound.

So I ordered the part from RPM (Top guys by the way) and fitted it this Saturday, again fairly easy to do, just jack the front and as long as you have a torque wrench it's just 2 bolts, took less than 30 minutes. And........success! Took the old one off and it had a small but perceptable level of play in the ball joint. I'm now enjoying a clonk free 996! Thanks to Ollie at RPM.

[identti]

Thanks for posting this. I seem to have a similar noise at low speed in my new 996 so will investigate and hopefully it's an easy fix too.

[Rob996]

Doing all 4 on mine at the moment. All being well that irritating low speed rattle will be cured.

[nebpor]

Are the tuning forks the coffin arms?

Had all 4 of them done shortly after buying mine. Worked a treat ...

[sundayjumper]

I did all of those things on mine and it didn't cure it. More of a creaking than a clonking, though, and much worse when hot.

Eventually turned out to be either inner or outer track rod ends. Not sure which end as I did them together.

[skinny]

nebpor said:

Are the tuning forks the coffin arms?

Had all 4 of them done shortly after buying mine. Worked a treat ...

Nope, the coffin arms look like coffins, the tuning forks have a double prong on them. The tuning fork attaches to the coffin arms

[nebpor]

Thank you - I'll stick them on the list for the next service - determined to get the front end as tight as possible!