Alright, so about 3ish weeks ago my car started making this noise and it sounds like a cracking or clicking noise. It is SO annoying. I have taken it to the two different shops one of which specializes in Corvettes. Every time I take it somewhere I get a different opinion. Here's what happens. I hear the noise everytime I go over a bump or turn am making a slow turn. It is coming from the front. I have tightened the endlinks and greased the area of contact for the lowering bolts and the A arm. So, I was told by the corvettes only shop that it was the lowering bolt but after going back to my local mechanic today and looking at it while it was up on the lift we pretty much narrowed the noise down to the front leaf spring. I'm not sure what it is. One thought is that there may be an internal crack inside the leaf spring. I'm not sure what it is but every time the leaf bends the noise happens. I'm not sure if anybody has experience with this or suggestions for a fix, preferably cheap to free (fingers crossed)... Thanks in advance for any help.
O yea. The car is 99 coupe. ~35,000 miles. lowered 3/4 inch and I was told from the previous owner has all Z06 suspension. The corvette shop said that I have aftermarket lowering bolts.

Thanks!

 

Bump. Help greatly appreciated!

 

This will be pretty hard to diagnose over the internet so all you can hope for is suggestions on what to look for or try. First thing I would do is unbolt the sway bar bushings and clean the area under the bushings. Wrap some teflon tape around the bar where the bushings ride and bolt them back up.

 

My first guess would be either the sway bar mount bushings as already noted as if not that then the adjustment bolt to A-arm locations are rubbing due to damaged bushings on the end of the adjuster bolts. You seem to already indicate that and the aftermarket bolts have a thin poly bushing over the end of the bolt. On my car, this bushing pushed out and I believe was the cause of a creaking noise I started to experience. I'm thinking I'll have to get a piece of rubber and put that between the bolt and the a-arm to fix my car since the bolts cost a few bucks and that bushing just did not last very long.

Another source could be worn out A-arm bushings or even a worn out ball-joint. The shocks could also cause noise as they travel but that's not too likely.

Peter