Rear Suspension Clunk/noise

[ryokan]

I have two Boxsters .Both 986 . Both cars at around same mileage 140000kms. BOTH cars have the same clunk over bumps .... i describe it as a flat clunk / rattling sound . In pursuit of the sound i have replaced engine mount, Macpherson struts and various rubbers on anti-roll bar etc ....no luck ... this noise persists. Is it a common fault as both my cars and one more friend's car all
have this same sound . Is it the trailing arms and if so which one ? Hope you can assist ryokan.

[piper6909]

Track arms (the tuning forks). Replace both sides. You can't test them while they're on the car. The ball joint where it attaches to the body has a plastic bushing inside it that wears out and causes metal to metal noise. Unfortunately it's not a replaceable item, you have to replace the entire track arm.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/98633104307M80.htm?pn=986-331-043-07-M80&bt=Y&fs=0&SVSVSI=1049

[Racer Boy]

What piper said!

[BrokenLinkage]

Agreed - very likely the track arms, and almost impossible to test short of just swapping them out.

I used the Vertex poly rebuilds on my 2001S and really have no complaints as compared to oem, although some have expressed some theoretical concerns in the past.

I have also heard the 987 track arms fit and work well. Does anyone know if they offer any advantage - real or theoretical - over the standard 986 version? I ask b/c I need to replace these soon on my 2004SE.

Thanks everybody for the collective wisdom.

[Anker]

I have Cayman trailing arms on mine. Don't notice any difference.

[Zzorro]

Had the same issue on my 98 986 with 180k kms. Agree with everyone responses. Tuning forks will probably fix it.

I ended up doing the entire rear suspension seeing as I wanted to get it done anyways. Problem fixed!

Funny thing is that the tuning forks ball joints I removed look and "feel" fine. Anyways, problem solved.

[Ciao]

Had the same issue and discovered a few bolts to the rear storage container were loose. But, it sounded like a suspension issue.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Anker

I have Cayman trailing arms on mine. Don't notice any difference.

I've got the Cayman arms on my 986 boxster and just put a pair on my 2009 Cayman, TRW JTC1316 from Amazon, price fluctuates but I got the latest pair for $78 each I think [edit was $68 each, score! Currently $89]. Crazy :,-)

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by steved0x

I've got the Cayman arms on my 986 boxster and just put a pair on my 2009 Cayman, TRW JTC1316 from Amazon, price fluctuates but I got the latest pair for $78 each I think [edit was $68 each, score! Currently $89]. Crazy :,-)

WOW! Even at $89, that's $180/pair! F-in A man! Great price! I changed mine last year, though. Is there an equivalent substitute for the fronts?

I wonder why the site says they don't fit Boxsters, though.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by piper6909

WOW! Even at $89, that's $180/pair! F-in A man! Great price! I changed mine last year, though. Is there an equivalent substitute for the fronts?

I wonder why the site says they don't fit Boxsters, though.

It's the 987 part # so my guess is Amazon doesn't know it's a match for 986. The part is very similar to the 986 part, bolt hole end to end it is the same length, the 987 part has a little more curve to it, maybe to give better clearance for the e-brake cable or maybe to give more clearance for bigger wheels?

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by steved0x

It's the 987 part # so my guess is Amazon doesn't know it's a match for 986. The part is very similar to the 986 part, bolt hole end to end it is the same length, the 987 part has a little more curve to it, maybe to give better clearance for the e-brake cable or maybe to give more clearance for bigger wheels?

Thanks. My concern was if it would change the alignment/geometry, but if the bolt holes are exactly the same, then it shouldn't.

Like I said, I changed mine last year, but it's good to know there's a cheaper option if I should need them again.