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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH2003 C4S Noise HELP
Reported or suspected cause
pinion bearing and pitted planetary gears in the transmission
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
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Reported cause
I had road noise and it turned out to be a bad pinion bearing and pitted planetary gears in the transmission.
Leading evidence: 'pinion bearing and pitted planetary gears in the transmission' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'pinion bearing and pitted planetary gears in the transmission' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check bolts' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I replaced the front wheel bearings and they were shot.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
correction on my first post,i changed front wheel bearings not cylinders
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agreed he said he changed tires, but if he used the same brand, size, model and the tires were the issue (by design) then he would hear the same noise (maybe)
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Suggestion
Check all the bolts to the coilover mounts, struts, suspension bits and arms.
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Suggestion
I guess it would safe to say that if you see any which means it would have to be about 0.005" (or more) that's too much and probably worth the time/effort to have an expert check the runout.
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hey guys
i have a 03 4S,have what sounds like a weird road noise i have had the car to Porsche dealer and 2 indy's,i have changed tires,2 front wheel cylinders,front diff oil ,and still have the noise,they all say its normal for the car,i find it hard to believe,hard to explain the noise,it does reduce on smooth roads,i am in the new england area,does anyone know any real good porsche guys in the area i could take it to,i am going crazy trying to find out what it is,Thanks in advance
Can you give us a bit of sense as to where the noise is coming from, what it sounds like, what the symptoms are?
I had road noise and it turned out to be a bad pinion bearing and pitted planetary gears in the transmission.
it sounds like its coming from the front of the car,almost sounds like a coffee pot perking fast,when your going along on the highway you can hear it clear,and like i said it is not as bad on smooth roads
if it changes with road surface then it prob is more suspension.... go ahead and change that as well and report back to us.
Seriously, I would check your sway bars and drop links.... something may be loose down there. Check all the bolts to the coilover mounts, struts, suspension bits and arms.
changes with road surface? - tires....
what are you running, what presure, what alignment specs, when was last alignment.
How long has it made the noise, did alignment change it, changing tires help (did you change brands of tire)
I would suggest you find a long downhill stretch and shut off motor at speed where sound is most noticeable and see if noise goes away with engine off and clutch depressed. If noise still there, then suspension/tire related as others have suggested. Good Luck!! demosan
Hey is there a price to win?
Is it a car load full of strippers
or a life time supply of toilet paper
I'm going to pick door number 2... it's your ball joints!!!
On your car
...
Seriously I had the same noise on my other P. and my Benz, tried everything just like you but to no avail... supposedly the ball joints are the first to go if your car is subjected to bad roads on a daily bases.
Guarantied ball joints.
Good luck
got the car Aug 2009,it had Continental contact 11,they were worn,i noticted the noise right after i got the car,i changed them to the sumitomo 111 tires and the noise was still there,the funny thing is it has never changed(got worst or better over time),i had it alinement done when i changed the tires,how can you test if a wheel is not running true?
agreed he said he changed tires, but if he used the same brand, size, model and the tires were the issue (by design) then he would hear the same noise (maybe)
if the noise ever goes away due to road surface (as stated) then its tires or alignment
I cant hear your car - but you said it changes with road surface....that leaves the tires... if you can find a new stretch of pavement - I mean NEW, and drive on it...no noise = its the tires.... if the noise is still there then you have to look somewhere else.
now if nothing has changed I suggest driving (or riding in) another C4 to determine if its "normal"
A proper tire mount/balance job (load force balance) should spot a out of true wheel. There's a call out for how far out the wheel can run and there's some guideline for how much weight a tire needs and where a tire needs the weight to balance that signals the tire (or the wheel) is bad. A tire tech should know this and check for this condition, always.
In a pinch you can raise the car and spin the wheel and observe the wheel's radial and axial runout. But you need some calibrated eyeball to know what's ok and what's not. There can be some runout, but not much. I guess it would safe to say that if you see any which means it would have to be about 0.005" (or more) that's too much and probably worth the time/effort to have an expert check the runout.
Be aware these cars with the various brands of tires can make all sorts of noise and this is normal. Over various road surfaces and with tires from Pirelli, Michelin, Continental and Bridgestone I've heard rumbles, buzzing, even whistling.
Sincerely,
Macster.
my c4s 2002 60K had unbearable noise on the highways.
I replaced the front wheel bearings and they were shot.
The thing rode quiet like a Cadillac afterwards
Maybe stretch your arm under the car and test for loose plastic panels under, in the wheel wells and the spoiler area. Could just be loose plastic with play slapping around. I wont go into the chance of a loose caliper. Only seen that in afghan.
In the trunk area if you haven't checked under the carpet there might be a board a previous owner installed to hold an amplifier. Mine had one hidden under there. You have to pull the fasteners off the sides to get the stiff front and rear carpets out to check under there. Might be good to do it anyway since the area might be holding dirt.
Also radiator mounts, a/c and other stuff is up there. Good luck.
