Front End Noises

[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.