01 TT 225Q...odd clunk in front end...
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01 TT 225Q...odd clunk in front end...
Well, have been trying to diagnose this odd clunk in the front of my TT since I took her for a test drive and heard it. Not a huge deal...just annoying. I already replaced the front upper strut mounts (as I noticed they were worn) and for piece of mind before I take her in for inspection here next month, I also did the lower balljoints as well.
Now...the clunk. It doesn't happen all the time, but is on the p side of the car and occurs when there is a small bump in the road or a series of bumps. Of course, I've elminated the strut mounts and bearings, suspension still is good (checked struts (bilsteins w/ H&R))and ball joints are out of the questions as well. Tie rods...good. Sway bar links and bushings seems to look good as well. Makes me wonder if possibly the subframe bolts are lose? Maybe one or two? Or maybe its something else.
No ill effects on the road, straight drive...no vibration except slight at start up/cold start which i'm going to fix with some Density Line motor mounts I think as well as I'd like to tighten things up a bit.
Any ideas?
Joe
Now...the clunk. It doesn't happen all the time, but is on the p side of the car and occurs when there is a small bump in the road or a series of bumps. Of course, I've elminated the strut mounts and bearings, suspension still is good (checked struts (bilsteins w/ H&R))and ball joints are out of the questions as well. Tie rods...good. Sway bar links and bushings seems to look good as well. Makes me wonder if possibly the subframe bolts are lose? Maybe one or two? Or maybe its something else.
No ill effects on the road, straight drive...no vibration except slight at start up/cold start which i'm going to fix with some Density Line motor mounts I think as well as I'd like to tighten things up a bit.
Any ideas?
Joe
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figured this out...
as many had hinted towards the FSB bushings elsewhere, I suspected mine. Sure enough, while I thought my noise was coming from the passenger side of the car, it was actually the DRIVERS SIDE bushing "sleeve" that was cracked and causing the problem.
Removed the stockers, installed new PowerFlex polys and its all good
Dremel tool is your friend for removing the old sleeves...though the D side one was so bad that it practically chipped right off once I got the bushing out.
Joe
Removed the stockers, installed new PowerFlex polys and its all good
Dremel tool is your friend for removing the old sleeves...though the D side one was so bad that it practically chipped right off once I got the bushing out. Joe
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Its very common for the control arm bushings to tear, after all its german engineering. Unfortunately the Germans ripped this crappy design off Honda from way back in the early 90's late 80's.
Just because its torn doesn't mean its the cause of your knock. It depends how torn it is. Undo the lower nut on your sway bar link. Pop it out of the sway bar. Then wiggle and pull the ball joints of the link in and out. You would be surprised how loud those things can sound when they are just a little loose.
Just because its torn doesn't mean its the cause of your knock. It depends how torn it is. Undo the lower nut on your sway bar link. Pop it out of the sway bar. Then wiggle and pull the ball joints of the link in and out. You would be surprised how loud those things can sound when they are just a little loose.
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If those aren't loose then I would replace the sway bar bushings. But when you do these drop the entire subframe, makes the job way easier since its very little more work to do. I had to use my impact and put all my weight into the impact to compressing the poly bushings and getting the screws to catch.
FYI on the sway bar links, if their not super bad you won't be able to tell if the ball joints in the links are bad. If they are preload from the sway bar. I had this same noise and also had fun trouble shooting because I was to lazy to disconnect the links from the sway bar. I to replaced my upper strut mounts with out it being the solution. I also left the sway bar disconnected and drove over curbs and around the block. The sound was gone.
FYI on the sway bar links, if their not super bad you won't be able to tell if the ball joints in the links are bad. If they are preload from the sway bar. I had this same noise and also had fun trouble shooting because I was to lazy to disconnect the links from the sway bar. I to replaced my upper strut mounts with out it being the solution. I also left the sway bar disconnected and drove over curbs and around the block. The sound was gone.
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as I mentioned above...problem is solved. It was my FSB bushings. The drivers side sleeve in the OEM bushing was all cracked and partially gone allowing for slop. My LCA bushings, etc. are fine. The poly install went very well as well with the hardest part really being able to get to the "inside" 13mm bolt that is on the d side bracket.
Clunk is gone. Very tight and quiet front end now.
Joe
Clunk is gone. Very tight and quiet front end now.
Joe
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