Need help diagnosing suspension clunk and steering wobble

[jakeru]

Based on what other boxster owners have reported, the spherical bearings in the rear track arms are pretty notorious for making clunking noises when hitting a bump at the rear wheel, after they get sufficiently large miles on them. Because I don't see why a similar problem couldnt happen at the front suspension (the front boxster suspension is basically the same design as the rear, but just a little lighter duty), replacing the front track arm would be my first instinct as to what you might try to fix your clunking noise.

(Alternately, you could try repairing the spherical bearing using this "peening" procedure - but of course, on your front track arm instead of the rear:
http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic/20681-boxster-control-arm-repair/ )

IME, the rear track arm clunking noise won't happen if you are dragging the brakes or accelerating while you hit the bumps - so something else you could try to learn about your problem better would be to try dragging the brakes lightly while going over bumps that you'd expect to make the noise, and verify whether dragging the brakes prevented the noise from happening.

Strut mounts probably wouldn't care whether you we're dragging the brakes or not. Ball joint noise might be quieted if you varied the lateral force (e.g., cornering or driving on a banked surface), but could respond to brake dragging also. Track arm bearings might also make noise regardless of lateral force (although I haven't tried that test yet on my clunking rear, I might have to now!). Steering tie rod end noise should also not be particularly sensitive to dragging brakes, assuming your suspension is not too badly engineered or tampered with (scrub radius isn't too badly out of whack).

Edit: here's a YouTube video showing the front "track arm" replacement procedure:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=899_OjGjBMg

[Gordons986]

jakeru thank you very much for your reply. Yes its this front trailing arm that ive been suspecting as the culprit so i will probably end up replacing this first or maybe trying the repair that you posted (thank you again)

I will try dragging the brakes in the morning but i can tell you that the noise does happen if under acceleration over bumps and turning while accelerating also seems to still make the noise but i will try braking in the morning.

Called the local porsche dealer here and the trailing arm cost is $358 for 1 pretty pricey. so i might try the fix and see if i can hold out for an online one to ship in.

Thanks for the link to the video, Ive actually seen it earlier today in my searches and watched it a few times lol.

One thing im concerned about is if it could be the trailing arm bushing that sits in the wishbone and not the ball joint on the trailing arm. or are these not so prone to wear/noise?

Like I said, the bushings in the control arm look good with no splits and the boots on the ball joints have no tears but they are hard to inspect. still cant find any looseness

[Gilles]

[QUOTE=Gordons986;486752]
Called the local porsche dealer here and the trailing arm cost is $358 for 1 pretty pricey. so i might try the fix and see if i can hold out for an online one to ship in.
/QUOTE]

Gordons, FCP sells the TRW trailing arm for a reasonable cost
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/porsche-suspension-control-arm-98733104302

and also the Meyle brand (Germany) for even less.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/clone-porsche-suspension-control-arm-front-forward-911-boxster-cayman-por-99734104300

I had very good experiences with the support from FCP, good luck

[steved0x]

[QUOTE=Gilles;486798]

Originally Posted by Gordons986

Called the local porsche dealer here and the trailing arm cost is $358 for 1 pretty pricey. so i might try the fix and see if i can hold out for an online one to ship in.
/QUOTE]

Gordons, FCP sells the TRW trailing arm for a reasonable cost
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/porsche-suspension-control-arm-98733104302

and also the Meyle brand (Germany) for even less.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/clone-porsche-suspension-control-arm-front-forward-911-boxster-cayman-por-99734104300

I had very good experiences with the support from FCP, good luck

The first one, the TRW, is for the back, and although it is the 987 part number it fits the Boxster, I just installed 2 of these.

The 2nd one, the Meyle, although it is listed as the front caster control arm for the newer boxsters, I don't think it is compatible with the 986 Boxster fronts. Meyle does make a part that fits our Boxsters, their part number is 416 050 0004, but it is just getting out there and is not widely available yet. Interestingly, they give 3 equivalent Porsche part numbers for it, matching 986 and also this part number: 997 331 043 01 which is the 997 Porsche rear link (996 used the same as our fronts in front and back, 997 uses the one linked above as the front and the 997 331 043 01 in the back). Since Meyle says it is the same, I wonder if we could use the 997 back TRW part on our fronts, which is still available?

Who wants to be the first to try it out Or read another way, who has the best return policy

[Gordons986]

Edit: Ok so today it is very wet and rainy here in Vancouver Canada and i took the car down to the local auto parts to buy oil etc (needs a change) I drove the whole way with radio off and listening to the noise except the noise happened for the first couple blocks but then got quieter and quieter.

I was also trying dragging the brakes over bumps that would make the noise and no sound. by the time i got home i pulled in and out of my driveway a few times trying to make the noise but it wouldn't.

So im wondering if water is getting into something to stop it from making such a bad noise acting as a sort of lubricant?

@Racerboy - the feeling of the wobble does feel like a loose inner tie rod but ive inspected the tie rod ends and there is no play so perhaps it is the lower ball joint on the wishbone as you describe?

If it was the lower ball joint would I be able to replicate the sound by getting me and another to push up and down on the fender? because Ive tried that also and nothing.

Leads me to believe the noise may be of longitudinal movement rather than lateral movement.

@stevedox - Not sure if ill try the 997 trailing arms but i thank you for the input and part numbers!

Any thoughts on why the noise wouldn't happen in the rain?