Suspension knocking and squeaking - can I solve this by replacing the control arms?

[BoxsterInTheSun]

After driving around for a while, maybe 30 minutes or longer, my 2002 986 ( 136,000 miles ) will start to clunk/knock and squeak going over even the smallest of bumps. It's suprisingly loud after a while.

Having done some research it sounds like this might be the control arms. My question is, do I replace just the main control arms ( front and rear )? Or do I need to also replace the lower control arms ( tuning forks ) too? As always, I'm trying to keep cost down so don't want to replace everything if I don't need to.

I also have a steering wheel vibration around 70mph that I'm wondering would be solved by this too ( I've had the wheels road force balanced and the alignment done ).

Thanks as always for any advice, I really appreciate this forum!

[maxbottomtime]

When you had the alignment done, did they give you any advice on which bushings, seals, etc. were shot? You can of course climb under your car and find out what has play.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by BoxsterInTheSun

I also have a steering wheel vibration around 70mph that I'm wondering would be solved by this too ( I've had the wheels road force balanced and the alignment done ).

Boxter, how old are your front struts? Worn struts would cause vibrations..

[BoxsterInTheSun]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Boxter, how old are your front struts? Worn struts would cause vibrations..

Interesting! I actually have no idea. The car has 136k on it, but I don't think the struts are original, I took a look underneath and they are yellow with Blistien markings on them...not sure how long those usually last?

[BoxsterInTheSun]

Originally Posted by maxbottomtime

When you had the alignment done, did they give you any advice on which bushings, seals, etc. were shot? You can of course climb under your car and find out what has play.

They did give me some paperwork that detailed which adjustments they were unable to make because the adjustments were already maxed out. I'll dig that out and post it here.

[piper6909]

regarding the clunking noise, the rear track arms "tuning forks" were the problem for me.

Here's a video on how to replace them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkNUWS38nuk

[tcoradeschi]

Originally Posted by piper6909

regarding the clunking noise, the rear track arms "tuning forks" were the problem for me.

Here's a video on how to replace them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkNUWS38nuk

Yep. Fairly common - the bushings at the attachment to the body go bad. Very easy to replace.