Front End Noises

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by razorboy

The source of all my pain (wobbling under brakes and creaking / cracking noises was lower control arm inboard nuts / bolts not tightened to spec.

They were way loose compared to the prescribed torque
Before you do anything to find a wobble or front end noise, make sure everything has been tightened corrlectly. This was the source of months of frustration and some unnecessary spending before I found the culprit

And of course you tightened them to spec. with the vehicle on the ground (full weight on the arm etc.)?

Failure to do it this way (with no load on the bushes) results in early bush failure.... and may explain how they got like this. It's probably pretty easy to pop the arms back on after working on the front end, leaving them very loose until the vehicle is lowered to the ground, and then forgetting to go back and torque them up.

[razorboy]

Originally Posted by wpoll

And of course you tightened them to spec. with the vehicle on the ground (full weight on the arm etc.)?

Failure to do it this way (with no load on the bushes) results in early bush failure.... and may explain how they got like this. It's probably pretty easy to pop the arms back on after working on the front end, leaving them very loose until the vehicle is lowered to the ground, and then forgetting to go back and torque them up.

Can't really explain it.
I was going through the front end looking for such a thing and it was the first nut/bolt I decided to check and it took no effort at all to loosen the nut. It's been like it for so long, I can't remember when it started and since I never did any suspension work on the truck myself, it must have been as you said - left loose and forgotten.

Anyway, yes vehicle on the ground tightened to 100nm and then 15 degrees. Snug as a bug

[Lamby]

Originally Posted by razorboy

Can't really explain it.
I was going through the front end looking for such a thing and it was the first nut/bolt I decided to check and it took no effort at all to loosen the nut. It's been like it for so long, I can't remember when it started and since I never did any suspension work on the truck myself, it must have been as you said - left loose and forgotten.

Anyway, yes vehicle on the ground tightened to 100nm and then 15 degrees. Snug as a bug

I have an annoying knock, I know its one of these bolts. Perhaps lower or Upper control arm or ARB links. I am going to get under there an check every single one of them and tighten them buggers with my torque wrench.

Cheers for the info.

[razorboy]

Originally Posted by Lamby

I have an annoying knock, I know its one of these bolts. Perhaps lower or Upper control arm or ARB links. I am going to get under there an check every single one of them and tighten them buggers with my torque wrench.

Cheers for the info.

It's so much more important than I gave it credit for.
I actually was changing out all the bolts in my reinforcement tray thinking that was the source of my creaking noises and as a side job, decided to start checking all of the suspension bolts for tightness. It was literally the first thing I checked!

I just grabbed the lower control arm and wiggled it and I heard it clink a bit so I dug deeper into it. Then I discovered that I could grab the assembly by the rotor and it was visibly moving around a tiny bit. Eyebrows went up at that point. If it was 100nm of torque necessary, these couldn't have been torqued any more than 25-30nm.

I spent money on this thing trying to locate this noise. Thrust bushings and even replaced the rack (although it was leaking anyway).

For a lot of us, checking the torque on the suspension bolts seems a bit of a time waster as I am always thinking what part needs to be replaced but I am here to tell you that these nuts and bolts not being torqued to spec caused a violent wobble in my steering under brakes (I have seen this a lot on the forum) and would make clicking, creaking, grinding type noises going from reverse to drive and during wheel turning at slow speed.

All makes perfect sense now!

[Lamby]

Originally Posted by razorboy

It's so much more important than I gave it credit for.
I actually was changing out all the bolts in my reinforcement tray thinking that was the source of my creaking noises and as a side job, decided to start checking all of the suspension bolts for tightness. It was literally the first thing I checked!

I just grabbed the lower control arm and wiggled it and I heard it clink a bit so I dug deeper into it. Then I discovered that I could grab the assembly by the rotor and it was visibly moving around a tiny bit. Eyebrows went up at that point. If it was 100nm of torque necessary, these couldn't have been torqued any more than 25-30nm.

I spent money on this thing trying to locate this noise. Thrust bushings and even replaced the rack (although it was leaking anyway).

For a lot of us, checking the torque on the suspension bolts seems a bit of a time waster as I am always thinking what part needs to be replaced but I am here to tell you that these nuts and bolts not being torqued to spec caused a violent wobble in my steering under brakes (I have seen this a lot on the forum) and would make clicking, creaking, grinding type noises going from reverse to drive and during wheel turning at slow speed.

All makes perfect sense now!

I would like to think that I did these to the correct torque specs when I did the job in the first place. HOWEVER, I was wrong! Razorboy was correct and I went around each component in the front suspension and tightened to correct settings. Lower CA to subframe is spec'd at 100nm (think that about 80lb/sf) and they where well off. They where about 60nm. The problem is, I have snapped bolts before with my torque wrench not clicking. I must need it calibrating. So I use the wheel nuts as a good feel guide. 140nm is a fair amount and 100nm not far off so force to be applied etc... however I didn't take into account that I was laying on the floor under the car with much less leverage to apply to the wrench. Hence the bots are lose. Lesson learnt. And I also bought a smaller torque wrench as my Large TengTool is a beast and doesn't do the lower forces.

Anyway thanks again, I am clunk free and a happy man.

[semcoinc]

Here is a picture of front end component torques that I found here on Xoutpost and added foot-pounds and a few other values.



Mike

[Rockit]

Originally Posted by Lamby

I have an annoying knock, I know its one of these bolts. Perhaps lower or Upper control arm or ARB links. I am going to get under there an check every single one of them and tighten them buggers with my torque wrench.

Cheers for the info.

Check for worn drop links and upper strut bushings.

[Lamby]

Thanks Rokit, Everything is new, I even have Powerflex polly bushes installed on the control arm, yes, firmer ride, not by much and feels more M3 than X5 in the corners but then again my bushes in the CA where shot. So any new part would feel amazing. Everything is tight underneath now, and no issues. I am a happy camper because nothing more embarrassing then pulling up at a set of traffic lights in a nice car only for a loud, clunk as you come to a stop.