Clanking noise in the front

1990m3 · 02-25-2008, 01:42 PM

Unfortunately it's bee a busy winter and I haven't had time to get underneath and diagnose my problem, anyone have any ideas?

THe front drivers corner clanks a lot when I'm driving down the road or going over bumps, doesn't really seem to matter if the road is smooth or not. Also, above 40mph there is a vibration under hard braking.

The steering feels good so without looking I would be inclined to think it's not a tie rod end which leaves me to an upper shock mount, sway bar link, or control arm. The clanking almost feels like it's coming from under my dead pedal...this is most likely a control arm balljoint, right?

Any other similar experiences? I'll look at it tomorrow night after work and try to see for sure.

nando · 02-25-2008, 04:14 PM

ball joints, CABs, upper strut mounts come to mind.

jack up the car and see what you can move around - when my ball joints went out, I could move the front wheels quite a bit.

1990m3 · 02-25-2008, 04:28 PM

jacked it up, everything felt tight, guess i'll have to look a little closer at all the bushings

kellie · 02-26-2008, 06:46 PM

Can you duplicate it by having someone jounce the car while you try to pinpoint the noise?

1990m3 · 02-26-2008, 08:30 PM

don't think so, I tried that yesterday.

how long do control arms last? the car has had an easy life on florida streets and only has 89k, I have to look at it closely this weekend, but I'm hoping it's a tie rod end or control arm bushing...cheap and easy! I just realized those control arms cost $257.00 each!!

nando · 02-26-2008, 08:35 PM

the inner ball joints last forever, the outters do not - however, the outters are replaceable seperately for about $50.

aaron325ix · 02-26-2008, 08:47 PM

I had a very similar problem, but all my stuff had been replaced everything befor that(tie rods, CA's CAB's) My mechanic couldnt even figure it out for a while. Finally figured out it was my steering rack starting to take a shit. When you brake the toe changes and the loose rods in there are banging around. At least that is the way he explained it. It was doing it over very small bumps in the road too, kind of a knocking. just a thought.

nando · 02-26-2008, 09:00 PM

I doubt it with only 89k, but who knows. I think that would be noticeable in the steering though with more play.

aaron325ix · 02-26-2008, 09:13 PM

I could not "feel" any difference either, just a knocking. Actually after reading it again, the symptoms are almost exactly to what I was having. Although 89k is pretty low, but who knows.

1990m3 · 02-27-2008, 04:09 AM

Where can I order the outer ball joints from? Also, can i use m3 offest bushings for the control arms or are they iX specific. I have a set of offset bushings in the carriers sitting in my toolbox, it would make for a quick swap.

kellie · 02-27-2008, 06:31 AM

My friend has the M3 bushings in his iX and loves them.

nando · 02-27-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1990m3

Where can I order the outer ball joints from? Also, can i use m3 offest bushings for the control arms or are they iX specific. I have a set of offset bushings in the carriers sitting in my toolbox, it would make for a quick swap.

yeah, they work great actually. give it a shot since you already have them.

as far as where to get the parts, you should be able to order them almost anywhere over the phone - I don't know who lists them on a website though.

02-25-2008, 01:42 PM	#1
1990m3 E30 Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,010 Images: 47	Clanking noise in the front Unfortunately it's bee a busy winter and I haven't had time to get underneath and diagnose my problem, anyone have any ideas? THe front drivers corner clanks a lot when I'm driving down the road or going over bumps, doesn't really seem to matter if the road is smooth or not. Also, above 40mph there is a vibration under hard braking. The steering feels good so without looking I would be inclined to think it's not a tie rod end which leaves me to an upper shock mount, sway bar link, or control arm. The clanking almost feels like it's coming from under my dead pedal...this is most likely a control arm balljoint, right? Any other similar experiences? I'll look at it tomorrow night after work and try to see for sure.

02-25-2008, 04:14 PM	#2
nando Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: bellingham, wa Posts: 25,600 Images: 2	ball joints, CABs, upper strut mounts come to mind. jack up the car and see what you can move around - when my ball joints went out, I could move the front wheels quite a bit. __________________ Build thread R3v helped me raise $3000 for cancer research

02-26-2008, 06:46 PM	#4
kellie Mod Crazy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 710	Can you duplicate it by having someone jounce the car while you try to pinpoint the noise? __________________

02-26-2008, 08:35 PM	#6
nando Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: bellingham, wa Posts: 25,600 Images: 2	the inner ball joints last forever, the outters do not - however, the outters are replaceable seperately for about $50. __________________ Build thread R3v helped me raise $3000 for cancer research

02-26-2008, 08:47 PM	#7
aaron325ix E30 Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: sacramento Posts: 1,333	I had a very similar problem, but all my stuff had been replaced everything befor that(tie rods, CA's CAB's) My mechanic couldnt even figure it out for a while. Finally figured out it was my steering rack starting to take a shit. When you brake the toe changes and the loose rods in there are banging around. At least that is the way he explained it. It was doing it over very small bumps in the road too, kind of a knocking. just a thought. __________________

02-25-2008, 04:28 PM	#3
1990m3 E30 Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,010 Images: 47	jacked it up, everything felt tight, guess i'll have to look a little closer at all the bushings

02-26-2008, 08:30 PM	#5
1990m3 E30 Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,010 Images: 47	don't think so, I tried that yesterday. how long do control arms last? the car has had an easy life on florida streets and only has 89k, I have to look at it closely this weekend, but I'm hoping it's a tie rod end or control arm bushing...cheap and easy! I just realized those control arms cost $257.00 each!!

02-26-2008, 09:00 PM	#8
nando Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: bellingham, wa Posts: 25,600 Images: 2	I doubt it with only 89k, but who knows. I think that would be noticeable in the steering though with more play. __________________ Build thread R3v helped me raise $3000 for cancer research

02-26-2008, 09:13 PM	#9
aaron325ix E30 Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: sacramento Posts: 1,333	I could not "feel" any difference either, just a knocking. Actually after reading it again, the symptoms are almost exactly to what I was having. Although 89k is pretty low, but who knows. __________________ Last edited by aaron325ix; 02-26-2008 at 09:19 PM..

02-27-2008, 04:09 AM	#10
1990m3 E30 Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,010 Images: 47	Where can I order the outer ball joints from? Also, can i use m3 offest bushings for the control arms or are they iX specific. I have a set of offset bushings in the carriers sitting in my toolbox, it would make for a quick swap.

02-27-2008, 06:31 AM	#11
kellie Mod Crazy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 710	My friend has the M3 bushings in his iX and loves them. __________________