Creaking suspension

The nearside front suspension on my '98 996 cabrio has developed a nasty creaking noise. Took the wheel off and moved the front suspension up and down by hand and it is really loud. Nothing seems loose. Sprayed every thing with WD40 but to no avail. Asked local OPC to look at it during annual service check and they just said probably front arm. Car handles fine but the noise is loud and embarrasing at manouvering speeds....hardly the image for a premium brand sports car! Anyone else have this and was it sorted? Checked for similar threads but could not find one.

It's a common problem on Boxsters and 996's - a bush in the lower suspension arm. You have to replace the complete control arm. From memory, the part is about £150, plus about an hour's labour to change.

I agree with Richard. Mine was squeaking/creaking rather badly and it went into OPC for this among other stuff. They replaced the top mounts but that didnt cure it and then the lower bushes (about £350 parts / labour) and now its as quite as a church mouse that doesnt squeak

I have the same problem but it's intermittent so even more annoying - glad to hear what it is though - thanks guys.

Thanks for that. Richard, do you know the exact part description? I can then order the part from OPC but get it fitted at a more sensible price! p.s. At my last service, got the car home and went to put draught excluder back in boot and found black case velcroed to the side of the boot. It contained a litre of top up oil with funnel and gloves. Nice touch I thought till I inspected bill and found it as a £10.92 entry. Did'nt ask for it and keep my own top up at home. Sharp practice or what?

Lucky you only got the 'free' top-up oil....I usually get 'free' windscreen washing fluid aswell..... At my last service I left the 3 previous bottles of windscreen wash and 3 litre bottles of oil I got from my previous services in the boot, just so that they would see I don't need any more 'freebies'....... Needless to say I have since made space for the new members of my wash and oil family.

Simon The part number is 996.341.053.07 (models up to 2003) - just called a 'Control Arm' in the PET.. If you send me an email, I'll dig out the instructions from the manual, and attach them to a reply. You'll need the torque settings, etc. if you are doing it yourself.

I assume it is the vertical bush that causes the problem? Does this end bolt on to the back of the hub? Rather rhetorical as I'm too tired to look at my workshop manual...

Paul That's right - it's the bush that's near to the outer (ball-joint) end that normally creaks. My friend does about one a week! They are the same arm - both sides, front and rear, 996 and Boxster. That's why he always has one or two in stock. Now go at get some shut-eye!

Simon I tried replying to your email, and sending one to you through the forum, but I keep getting rejection messages saying "mailbox not found". Do you have another email address you could use to email me?

Sorry Richard. My email address has changed. I've reset my profile.

Thanks for reminding me to get my email settings changed Richard. As you were asking I thought I'd let you know about the misfire episode. Short version. Just driven 150 miles in pouring rain on M4 and was trickling through Chepstow, went to pull away from roundabout when the engine went very 'sick' lost all power and the 'engine check' light started flashing. Pulled over, turned every thing off and restarted. Car still very sick but light now steady not flashing. Limped home. Right hand exhaust clearly missing a beat so one cylinder in right bank probably not firing. Next day, light still on but car going normally. Obeyed manual and took car to OPC. Diagnostic check confirmed intermittent misfire on Cylinder 3 but was unforthcoming as to cause. Check light reset and it has stayed off. Presumably some damp got into electrics ?coil pack? Is this unusual in such a 'premium'car?

Simon, Not sure of the age of your car, but if 2001 or older and you haven't had the coils replaced, this is very likely to be failed insulation which is letting in damp and causing the misfire. I had exactly the same symptoms on my MY00 C4Cab traced to one coil at OPC (car was four years old at the time). Coil looked tired but cracking was not obvious. Had the remaining 5 replaced late last year before the winter. About £250 for all six fitted. Cheers for now, Adrian

I am the same problem and waiting to go back to the dealer to see what's going on. Today they have a quick look and said the oil is driving out on the joint so they put some on it/them but after I left the dealer there are still noise creaking round. So I took it back straight away and they said it can be the suspenion joint or whatever rubber gone crack and that's why making the noise. They then give me the quote around £150 inc. is it right? It makes me crazy when I drive the car with that creaking noise. [ ] Booking in already but wonder will this be under warranty????[ ]

If its what was done on mine, £150 sounds about right and believe me - I know how you felt about the creaking,,.,,,,,[ ]

Well Beershark, I just found out the price today from OPC is £330 inc and not £150. [ ] But porsche shop charge £280 inc what do you think???[8|]

I have asked OPC to tell me exactly what was done and the exact cost. They said they will 'try' and get back to me today. Will post when I know.

I thought that £150 was optimistic - that's what the part costs. It takes a good mechanic about an hour to change, so add £40 for an independent or £100+ for an OPC. Add the VAT, and it could be anywhere between £225 and £300.

Thanks Beershark and Richard, well the exact price I have to pay is £282 inc. from porsche and the clutch will cost £581 inc. is that the right price for clutch??? OPE cost £1100 (5 something hours labour 99+Vat)....so much OPE...[X(]

Well, Rob and I won't have the 'problem' of a clutch change (Tip's, you see - marvellous!!) However, £580 would seem about right to me from and independent. (£200-250 labour + £230 for a clutch kit + VAT).

Well I do have Tip's Audi TT 3.2 before and Tip's having problem (Delay) so...anyway thanks Richard and Rob.[ ] Have a good weekend.

I've emailed Hartech to see if they are going to offer a service rebushing 996 control arms. I seem to recall they do it for 944 wishbones, it can't be that much different to a 996 control arm can it (he says from a position of ignorance...)?

Mine had the same creaking, so asked Sutton Coldfield to have a look at it while it was in for it's service last month, they said that they can lubricate them and they are absolutely correct - the noise has gone and no charge! I can't fault them, they even collected my car from work and delivered it back the same day - no charge. I would recommend them to anyone - couldn't have been more helpful (which is quite rare for a Porsche dealer - apparently)

I would guess that these are not covered under the extended warranty? Phil

Can any one show us exactly which point to lubricate and with what? Rather try that than change an otherwise serviceable item, 'specially as I am having to shell out to have all the ignition coils changed and doing my damndest to ignore a re-leaking nearside rad!!

Phil its actually not cover by the warranty and they said is T&W and cost me £290 to have it done from the Porsche shop. Also door handle sensor having problem recently which mean its does locate the window in the right position when you shut or open the door, (causing you won't be able to shut the door in the normal way unless you lower down the window by yourself before you shut it), and this is also NOT cover by the warranty so just wonder what is the warranty actually for??[ ]

There is so much stuff it does not cover but i guess the main items like engine gear box are covered and they are the ones that we cost you if there is a problem. Phil