997.1 gt3 rattling / clunking sound left front when warm

[9971gt3]

I am having clunking sounds from the front in my 997 gt3. Appears to be only when warm after a period of driving. I even hear if right after I stop sometimes.

Heres a link to similar sound. Any thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjaL8hDVUzQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c_v83XU548

[9971gt3]

Thanks. Sometimes I can hear the sound when stopped. Does that help to sort out which problem it is?

[9971gt3]

I am 99% it was after releasing the brakes. Dont think the steering affect the sound.

Also hear it if braking hard or accelerate

[9971gt3]

Many thanks for help here.

I forgot to mention that the car was just at Porsche center one week ago the same day I bought the car.
And they could not find anything at that moment. It was in the days after on the transport drive home we heard this strange sound several times.

Porsche center now confirm that they did a normal service and checked the suspension, brakes, control arm etc last week. They could not find anything

I took it for a 30 minute drive yesterday and the knocking sound was gone.

I think the sound occur only in low speed after longer driving at higher speed and/or after hard braking/ acceleration

[9971gt3]

Thanks guys.

I will do a test drive with chief tech at the most "experienced with gt cars" porsche center in my country. He said exactly what you said about not changing the whole front We dont have any independent workshops like the ones you have I think.

The car had sat for almost 2 years with little use before I bought it. The brakes was screaming like hell and also some rattling sound while braking and I did some hard braking after a while the first day after picking up. Then the sound from the brakes went away for a period. But still screaming from time to time.

The day after, when we came off the highway the new strange sound appear for the first time at low speeds.

[9971gt3]

Ok, I think that is ok after some use now.

But you also said something else about the brakepads rattling? Is that maybe the problem here?

[9971gt3]

Thanks.Yesterday I went for a 2 hour drive to try get the sound and record it. But it was almost no rattling at all, only one sec at the end of the trip while going in to the garage. It was 2 hours with both highway and B-roads 80-120kmh. The climate is colder here where I am now(norway)

The annoying rattling sounds first came after driving hours on highways in Germany with higher avarage speed. It was there constantly at low speeds after going off the highway. The temperature were 10 degrees higher at that time.

Should I just wait to see if it get worse?

[9971gt3]

I think I have enabled it now

[9971gt3]

Yesterday I had a longer trip and the sound came back after a few hours. No need to turn or brake. Its constantly there after some time. In speeds up to 50kmh then I think engine/road noise are too loud to hear.

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/692582558

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/692578849

[9971gt3]

Hi

I have not done anything yet. Its still there, but I dont think it affects performance?

[9971gt3]

JamesFan33 said:

Did you sort this out?


Are these top mounts normal or have they moved? Looking at the nuts

[9971gt3]

Heres another video. Driving slow on a pretty flat straight road. The sound turns up after 30-60 minutes drive.

The sound does not get any worse on dumps or when dampers are more compressed.

Have lubricated swaybar bushings and top mounts with no result.

I spoke to bilstein rebuild service in UK and they can rebuild the dampers. And they said this is a common problem and maybe my problem according to what I told them.

What do you think?

https://vimeo.com/768275822

[9971gt3]

Does anyone have a DIY or youtube link on how to remove/replace 997 front damper?

[9971gt3]

Discombobulate said:

It's the front control arms. Only happens when warm - after driving - and worse at low speeds on rough surface, and often heading down hill. Sounds a bit like snooker balls in box.
They will feel normal - ie no movement - when checked but take them off and the play becomes apparent. Not generally an issue for handling, just an annoying noise.
Had this twice on my car.

Edited by Discombobulate on Friday 2nd December 12:09

There are so many saying that its the DU bushes in the bilstein dampers and some also think its the droplinks. And now we have the control arms. Are all these parts making the same rattling/clunking like the videos I posted?

[9971gt3]

Discombobulate said:

Everyone could be right. But I have done 60k in my car and had it happen twice - sounds just like yours - and control arms was the problem. The clue is that the problem isn't there when cold which it probably would be with drop links and top mounts. The control arm does get warmer, but most importantly has metals / ball joint that expand differently (the aluminium arm more than the steel bits) allowing movement when hot.

But the only way to be sure is to change the bits and see. Up to you where you start. Been there so know what it feels like

Mine was diagnosed by Pete at Center (sic ) Gravity. You could always try sending him the video..

Good luck.

One day I will have problems with the dampers also if thats not the problem. They are 120 punds each to rebuild and get the springload checked and topmounts checked at the same time at bilstein rebuild service. I start from there. Replacing the drop links are cheap as well.

Control arms are more expensive I think. Hopefully its not that