Strange noise coming from the front suspension [Archive] - GRRRR8.net

Sephiroth

05-12-2011, 03:48 AM

Front lower control arm failure to name one. I would first start in the TSB sub form and then search around the forums for testimony and the updated part numbers if you desire. It will be covered under your B2B warranty if you still have it. There are dozens of threads on the issue.

jnak

05-12-2011, 05:31 AM

In my car:

Grinding/creaking sound was the strut mounts and bushings.

Clunking was the lower control arms.

SRG963

05-12-2011, 05:38 AM

I'm getting some creaking with my bad front control arms/radius rods slowly turning in parking lots.

New updated kit going in tomorrow, can't wait for the clicking/popping noise to be gone!

As mentioned above, check strut mounts and front control arms.

I12XLR8

05-12-2011, 06:00 AM

My G8 started to make some strange noises cumming form the font suspension area while driving. Are there any known issues?

Check out these two threads...

http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=23820

http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=24011

I have the car in the shop right now as they have still not got rid of all of the noise...looks like strut mount bushings will be next.

Davevx

05-12-2011, 09:54 AM

Just had the offside ones changed on the vxr8.. A slight knocking from cold which then disappeared . Changed under warranty

I12XLR8

05-12-2011, 10:25 AM

Check out these two threads...

http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=23820

http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=24011

I have the car in the shop right now as they have still not got rid of all of the noise...looks like strut mount bushings will be next.

Yep. Just got the call from my dealer...they have ordered a strut mount kit and will replace them all under warranty!

Voice of Reason

05-12-2011, 10:32 AM

I didn't even think about strut mounts. I'm getting a creak/moan now that it's warm out. I just assumed it was the LCAs because I just started to hear them rattle too.

2StepsAhead

05-12-2011, 10:39 AM

Could be the bmr saddles needing a regrease, I've regreased mine twice already this year.

I12XLR8

05-12-2011, 10:42 AM

I didn't even think about strut mounts. I'm getting a creak/moan now that it's warm out. I just assumed it was the LCAs because I just started to hear them rattle too.

The strut mount noise (now that we think we know what it is) was consistently reproducible at a stop with my foot on the brakes. I would turn the wheel slightly in each direction and get the creaking noise. Is yours doing the same thing?

I12XLR8

05-12-2011, 10:43 AM

Could be the bmr saddles needing a regrease, I've regreased mine twice already this year.

Saddles? Excuse my ignorance...what are these?

2StepsAhead

05-12-2011, 01:15 PM

Saddles? Excuse my ignorance...what are these?

The U shaped brackets that hold the bushing for the BMR sway bar, I saw that voice of reason had them listed in his sig and said he was getting a groaning...thats usually the indicator for me to grease the zerks.

sanderGR

05-12-2011, 03:07 PM

I actually have a hard time to describe the noise. It is not really grinding or clunking. Something in between. It happens at any speed. Seems like when the suspension is working, even only slightly.
It seems when I brake the noise stops. Not saying it it is the brakes, but it might affect the forces in the suspension.

Voice of Reason

05-13-2011, 06:51 AM

The strut mount noise (now that we think we know what it is) was consistently reproducible at a stop with my foot on the brakes. I would turn the wheel slightly in each direction and get the creaking noise. Is yours doing the same thing?

Yes, that's exactly when it happens the worst. Sitting still it's very loud, at a slow crawl, like when parking, it's also loud. But at any speed over 10 mph it's gone. And it's not consistent. I drove my son to daycare this morning and didn't get a single groan. But yesterday evening when I picked him up it was 86* and I was getting it a little. The night before when it was 90* it was very loud.

I'll probably re-grease everything and make sure everything is tight up front before ordering any replacement parts.

I12XLR8

05-13-2011, 07:02 AM

The U shaped brackets that hold the bushing for the BMR sway bar, I saw that voice of reason had them listed in his sig and said he was getting a groaning...thats usually the indicator for me to grease the zerks.

Well I feel stupid, I didn't even know they had fittings?!?!?!

2StepsAhead

05-13-2011, 07:09 AM

The bmr front saddles have zerks, back re uses the stock bracket and has to be taken off to grease.

SRG963

05-13-2011, 07:28 AM

FYI
You can find 90 degree zerks in the back of Advanced Auto which will fit the BMR saddles. It's a good idea to take in the straight zerk and match them visually (see below) after finding the correct size. Autozone didn't have them.

I bought 2 of the same part number but one didn't fit correctly. It looked different in the bag, not as dull looking. I pointed out they looked different at the store, but they assured me it was the exact same and would fit. Guess what, it didn't and I had to drive back to get another one that did fit (and looked the same).

I12XLR8

05-13-2011, 07:28 AM

Yes, that's exactly when it happens the worst. Sitting still it's very loud, at a slow crawl, like when parking, it's also loud. But at any speed over 10 mph it's gone. And it's not consistent. I drove my son to daycare this morning and didn't get a single groan. But yesterday evening when I picked him up it was 86* and I was getting it a little. The night before when it was 90* it was very loud.

I'll probably re-grease everything and make sure everything is tight up front before ordering any replacement parts.

I'll let you know when I get my strut mounts replaced if that fixes the problem.

I12XLR8

05-13-2011, 07:30 AM

The bmr front saddles have zerks, back re uses the stock bracket and has to be taken off to grease.

Do I need the BMR saddles when installing the BMR sway bar? I have bought mine used and think I'm getting the bar only! I don't mind changing the OEM ones if it's just better but would rather not have to wait if possible and just use the OEM's for now.

2StepsAhead

05-13-2011, 07:48 AM

sanderGR

05-22-2011, 12:53 PM

So, I was at the dealer. Couldn't reproduce. It was a cold day. Today, I got really warm, the car makes sounds as if the whole front is falling apart. No longer just comming from the left side.

I12XLR8

05-22-2011, 05:32 PM

Yeah you'll need the saddles as they have a larger bushing to accommodate the larger bar, should come as a package since whoever sold them to you should be going back to the stock saddles. Worse case contact bmr and they'll get you squared away, they're very helpful and provide great customer service.

The seller sent the saddles with the bars. I wasn't sure at the time but they came in. Now just have to find the time to get everything on...

I12XLR8

05-22-2011, 05:35 PM

So, I was at the dealer. Couldn't reproduce. It was a cold day. Today, I got really warm, the car makes sounds as if the whole front is falling apart. No longer just comming from the left side.

They had a hard time locating the source of my noises as well...even when they COULD reproduce them. Keep up the pressure on the dealer - if they can't locate the problem hopefully they'll do to you what they've done to me and just start replacing things! Let us know what happens when they finally hear it.

sanderGR

05-23-2011, 05:51 AM

Savage-wp

05-23-2011, 06:27 AM

My car also makes a knocking sound when going over small bumps. My car is out of warranty though. I don't suppose they will cover this, since this is a known fault and there is a service bulletin about this.

I12XLR8

05-23-2011, 08:03 AM

I start to wonder if I have a different issue. The noise happens only when the car is very warm. i.e. stop and go helps. At times it sounds more like a rattle. Yet, I can reproduce the noise by turning the steering wheel.

Strange. See if you can get someone to lift you on an alignment style hoist and see if you can pin-point the noise while the car is in the air and the suspension loaded. I guess the trick will be to get it in there where it's warm...

todds87ss

05-23-2011, 01:10 PM

sanderGR

05-23-2011, 06:56 PM

no, as stock as it gets. Only about 15k and really not driven very hard.

Virus

05-24-2011, 03:40 AM

There's 2 known issues. My car was at the dealer 21 out of the first 40 days of ownership as they literally threw parts at it because they couldn't find the source despite me telling them the source. Anyway, the strut mount bushings and bearings. The bearings will make a clicking sound as you turn the wheel if they go bad. The lower control arms will make a crunch/clunk sound when going over speed bumps/humps and over some rough pavement. You can replicate the LCA issue by simply brake torquing the car. You should hear them crunch when doing this. Not guaranteed, but it did work well for me.

bjhayes

05-24-2011, 08:37 AM

I start to wonder if I have a different issue. The noise happens only when the car is very warm. i.e. stop and go helps. At times it sounds more like a rattle. Yet, I can reproduce the noise by turning the steering wheel.

Me too.. I was going to give my dealer service writer a call today about bringing my car in tomorrow with some mild clicking / creaking noises in the passenger side front suspension.. I suspect strut bushings are the culprit by the sound. It started about a week ago and this morning driving to work NO CLICKING. But in the afternoon with the heat of the day I start to hear the creaks over small bumps, light braking, and when turning from a stop.

Virus

05-24-2011, 09:59 AM

Me too.. I was going to give my dealer service writer a call today about bringing my car in tomorrow with some mild clicking / creaking noises in the passenger side front suspension.. I suspect strut bushings are the culprit by the sound. It started about a week ago and this morning driving to work NO CLICKING. But in the afternoon with the heat of the day I start to hear the creaks over small bumps, light braking, and when turning from a stop.

I'm sure one of these is the culprits.

sanderGR

05-24-2011, 10:16 AM

bjhayes,

I think we have the same issue based on your description. I might have in addtiaon a slight clunk on the right side.

We are talking this?
http://www.peddersusa.com/PS_images/photos/large/img_1210223050.jpg

If so, will the GM replacment part be any better? Or will they just put in the same part?
Are there any aftermarket options?

dandragonrage

05-24-2011, 10:20 AM

Some aftermarket options for a strut mount:

Poly:
-BMR
-Lovells
-Whiteline

Rubber:
-Pedders (better than stock - edit: it has been claimed that they are the same. Not positive, myself.)
-GM (stock junk - don't buy)

I ordered Lovells mounts because they were the best deal that I found. Haven't installed them yet but I don't see any reason they wouldn't be good.

Do order new bushings with the mounts, too.

sanderGR

05-24-2011, 12:43 PM

How difficult is to install them? Just lift the front of the car up with wheels on?

bjhayes

05-24-2011, 01:43 PM

"I think we have the same issue based on your description. I might have in addtiaon a slight clunk on the right side. "

No clunck so far.. just the click/creak. I'm planning a trip to dealer anyway in the next few weeks so I'm adding this to my list of the following
- check the AFM lifters (sometimes ticking last longer than a few seconds)
- check my A/C recirc valve (again).. squeak squeak squeak when it opens / closes.. will be 2nd time for this.. 1st time they just 'lubed' it a bit.. This time hoping to get it just replaced.
- check transmission - had a transmission flare issue occur two times in the past 2000 miles (2nd-3rd gear issue)...

sanderGR

05-24-2011, 04:04 PM

Is there a way to check the strut mounts visually?

todds87ss

05-25-2011, 06:41 AM

Is there a way to check the strut mounts visually?

Yes. Collapsed mounts cause a larger distance between the strut top plate to sit farther from the top of the inner fender. You will notice a larger gap. Measure this gap and compare it to another G8. I have not done mine yet, as they are still OK, but have a set waiting. The stock rubber mounts are easily collapsable, and the GTOs saw this happen frequently. They changed the G8 design somewhat, so we are less prone to collapsed mounts. Pedders sells the same mounts as GM, so it's not an upgrade. BMR and Kollar racing (and probably others) sell poly mounts. I have used them on the GTO for years, and they have fixed the issue of collapsed mounts completely, with no additional interior noise.

dandragonrage

05-25-2011, 06:51 AM

Pedders sells the same mounts as GM, so it's not an upgrade.

Are you sure? They're calling them heavy duty (HD) mounts, but they are the same?

sanderGR

05-25-2011, 03:27 PM

SRG963

05-25-2011, 03:46 PM

Peeders claims there product is better than GM, not true?

Has anyone talked a dealer into replacing the strut mounts with after market parts? Me paying for the part, dealer performs labor under warranty?

That's between you and the dealership.

-Ray-

05-25-2011, 03:50 PM

I12XLR8

05-25-2011, 05:01 PM

Has anyone talked a dealer into replacing the strut mounts with after market parts? Me paying for the part, dealer performs labor under warranty?

I can't imagine they'd care. It would, however, mean that they would waive any responsibility for future issues with the struts if you still have warranty left. For now I'll be taking the OEM parts that are given for free and change them to something better when I have to.

todds87ss

05-26-2011, 04:42 AM

I've had Pedders on my G8 since the 2nd month I've owned it. No LCA issues and no tire issues.

The G8 does not have the failure rates of the GTO on strut mounts, so I doubt if you will have issues with them. I was going to have my GTO "pedderized" at one of their pedders day events. They were "out" of their mounts, but at the time claimed they were virtually the same as the stock GM mount (so they were going to use that). If you look at them side by side, they did look identical. I believe that they claim a different rubber compound, but I also know that some of their rubber mounts failed as well. Much different from any Poly mount I have seen.

As to the dealer, I have had ZERO luck getting them to swap to aftermarket parts. I have heard stories about folks getting this done, but have had no luck myself. They did replace ONE strut mount under warranty...ONE!

sanderGR

05-26-2011, 07:19 AM

As I am already planning to get aftermarket parts (strut mounts) I wonder if I should change some other parts as well. Sounds like the other issue with the G8 suspension are the LCA's. Can I get better aftermarket parts? Anything else?

SpeedRacerX

05-26-2011, 08:22 AM

I start to wonder if I have a different issue. The noise happens only when the car is very warm. i.e. stop and go helps. At times it sounds more like a rattle. Yet, I can reproduce the noise by turning the steering wheel.

Me too.. I was going to give my dealer service writer a call today about bringing my car in tomorrow with some mild clicking / creaking noises in the passenger side front suspension.. I suspect strut bushings are the culprit by the sound. It started about a week ago and this morning driving to work NO CLICKING. But in the afternoon with the heat of the day I start to hear the creaks over small bumps, light braking, and when turning from a stop.

Yup, this is exactly what I have now too. Same symptoms, same circumstances as to when it develops. Goes in next Wed for the dealer to look at. I will ask them to focus on the strut mounts and bearings.

sanderGR

05-31-2011, 04:14 PM

Another hot day. Issue back. So, I had a chance to diagnose...

Visual inspection of the struts:

The strut plate (not sure about the term) above the strut tower has a gap in between . I think this is waht we want? However, the strut on the drivers side is not straight. For sure different angel than on the passenger side.

Rocking the car:
Can reproduce the noises that I'm hearing while driving. However, it appears the noise is not coming from the strut mounts. Seems like to originate from somewhere between the wheel and the front of the car.