Thud from left front susp., input please
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: MD
Thud from left front susp., input please SOLVED
SOLVED
I know tons of people have had this issue. I'll add in some search tags for folks in the future who may search for this.
Well, like I said, my car came with T1 sway bars. I noticed other folks who changed sway bars were having this issue. Even though my bars are very snug and won't move if I pull on them, I figured I would torque the end links down to the recommended 53ft-lbs. I started with the corner that is causing the trouble. The nuts were already tight (my torque wrench clicked when set at 53, but I snugged them up a tad more.. I'd guess 60-65. After a test drive, problem solved!
Search tags: end link, thud, thump, front end, noise, bang, turning, sound
Original Post:
First, thanks in advance for any help.. I've done a search on "thumps, thuds, etc" and it seems random suspension parts can cause this.. Please see my trial and error so far of what I've already checked.
The car is a 2003 Z06 with 15k original miles. The only modifications are T1 sway bars, a new radiator, and intake. It has not been lowered or otherwise changed.
Two days ago I noticed a slightly hollow thump coming from the front end when I hit a bump. I've learned the following after some diagnosis:
- If I slowly (5mph) go over a bump one wheel at a time, it distinctly happens when the left front hits something. If I hit bumps barely moving (1mph), the sound does not occur.
- However, if I speed up (15-20mph) the same sound will generate from the right front wheel. (this made me think it was the leaf spring or sway bar, but those are both tight)
- I took the left front wheel off and checked the A-Arm bolts, shock absorber, and leaf spring mounting. All seems to be tight.
- I have also tightened the front leaf spring mount and sway bar thinking it was "linking" the front end and causing the thump at higher speeds.
- It is completely suspension related (ONLY when I hit a bump). There is no play in the steering, no unusual noise when I yank the wheel left or right, and hammering the throttle doesn't cause the sound either.
The sound is kind of a low hollow thump (not a metal clank) and distributes over the entire car at higher speeds, so I'm inclined to think it's something that is attached to the body.
What other suspension-related bolts or parts am I missing? I really want to fix it myself rather than give it to a dealership and have them "diagnose" the sound by test driving it all over town
Thanks a million!
Josh
I know tons of people have had this issue. I'll add in some search tags for folks in the future who may search for this.
Well, like I said, my car came with T1 sway bars. I noticed other folks who changed sway bars were having this issue. Even though my bars are very snug and won't move if I pull on them, I figured I would torque the end links down to the recommended 53ft-lbs. I started with the corner that is causing the trouble. The nuts were already tight (my torque wrench clicked when set at 53, but I snugged them up a tad more.. I'd guess 60-65. After a test drive, problem solved!
Search tags: end link, thud, thump, front end, noise, bang, turning, sound
Original Post:
First, thanks in advance for any help.. I've done a search on "thumps, thuds, etc" and it seems random suspension parts can cause this.. Please see my trial and error so far of what I've already checked.
The car is a 2003 Z06 with 15k original miles. The only modifications are T1 sway bars, a new radiator, and intake. It has not been lowered or otherwise changed.
Two days ago I noticed a slightly hollow thump coming from the front end when I hit a bump. I've learned the following after some diagnosis:
- If I slowly (5mph) go over a bump one wheel at a time, it distinctly happens when the left front hits something. If I hit bumps barely moving (1mph), the sound does not occur.
- However, if I speed up (15-20mph) the same sound will generate from the right front wheel. (this made me think it was the leaf spring or sway bar, but those are both tight)
- I took the left front wheel off and checked the A-Arm bolts, shock absorber, and leaf spring mounting. All seems to be tight.
- I have also tightened the front leaf spring mount and sway bar thinking it was "linking" the front end and causing the thump at higher speeds.
- It is completely suspension related (ONLY when I hit a bump). There is no play in the steering, no unusual noise when I yank the wheel left or right, and hammering the throttle doesn't cause the sound either.
The sound is kind of a low hollow thump (not a metal clank) and distributes over the entire car at higher speeds, so I'm inclined to think it's something that is attached to the body.
What other suspension-related bolts or parts am I missing? I really want to fix it myself rather than give it to a dealership and have them "diagnose" the sound by test driving it all over town
Thanks a million!
Josh
Last edited by Romulus; Oct 6, 2009 at 11:26 PM.
