Noise from front end... control arm? Wheel bearing? Steering?

Hi All. On the 996 I just bought, which had a full PPI done by Courtney in Minneapolis, I started hearing a rattling noise from the front end, mostly left side. At highway speeds (70mph+) it sounds a bit like a piece of trim flapping in the wind... also sounds a bit like a small marbles inside a soda can. At low speeds, going over an expansion joint for example, I hear (and feel) a clunk. Lastly... after driving about 30 to 40 minutes at highway speeds, the left front wheel felt warm to the touch - noticeably warmer than the other three rims. I have a feeling I have two problems... a bad bearing on the left front, and control arm bushings going bad... but I am no 996 expert, so would love your opinions. And... is this something that should of been caught in a PPI? (PPI was done 200 miles ago...) Thanks!

Quotes source post: 11666457

What year is your 996? Do you hear any sounds when you turn right or left? Just to make sure the axles are fine, and the marbles in a can sound, please be certain is coming from the front not from the rear I'm not a certified Porsche mechanic and also not a mechanic at all, I google this link for you hope it helps http://www.justanswer.com/porsche/6w...ra-sounds.html Also the PPI are going to say they are not responsible, I did the mayor maintenance in a Porsche dealer a month ago which involves a full inspection of everything when I pick up my car everything was great just recommended to change the tires, last week the ignition switch die which I have to replaced and I asked shouldn't you guys know this was going to fail when I drop the car for maintenance and inspection? and off course the answer is NO

It's a 1999. I have not had a chance to check the sound when turning left or right. I only hear the rattle sound when at speed on the high way... don't hear it while stopped, at idle. Will try revving the engine and see if I hear a rattle. And, the PPI shop may state they are not responsible, but considering they sent me the PPI and noted that all the components in the front suspension and steering were all "OK" (Tie Rod, Ball Joints, bushings, etc)... if they failed to miss a major failure of a major part... I'd personally believe they might have some questions to answer.

There are a couple of areas around the windshield that make noises at speed. There is 1 that is a "flutter" caused by the outside trim. TSB 4/99 6420 "Noise at the windshield and Rear window" It involves stuffing "foam" cord into a gap. Go to Renntech.org - TSBs - 996 TSBs / search Windshield Also: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ld-squeak.html https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...oise-body.html

Hi FPB... thanks for the links, but the rattle I have doesn't sound like the ones described in the links. It sounds like a rattling / grinding, and it comes and goes (on for 2 seconds, quiet for 5 seconds, then rattle for 3 seconds ,quiet for 4 seconds, etc...). I have zero shake or wobble in the steering wheel, and car tracks straight. I'm wondering if it's maybe the A/C blower motor? I'll try running the car at speed with AC off. It sounds almost like an exhaust rattle... but I think it comes from the front. It feels like it is under my left foot.

There are some plastic air-diverting trim pieces and brake ducts in front of the wheels. You can just jack the left rear jacking point and the left front wheel will rise. Then put a jack stand under the left front jacking point. Check if those pieces are loose or broken.

Thanks Ahsai, I'll try it this week. I need to buy a new jack, I think the one I have wont fit under the car... :/

Hit some road debris. I continued to drive on but was hearing some odd noise from the front of the car. I finally stopped to eat -- inside OKC on I-40 -- and after dinner was next door to a Walmart. Got out of the car and checked things over and spotted the left side wheel liner hanging down some. Must have come loose from the debris impact. I could see the leading edge had some signs of having been contacting the pavement, so that explained the noise. I went inside Walmart and came out with a roll of duct tape and taped the leading edge of the liner in place after tucking the edge back under the bumper cover where it belonged. Drove that car that way for thousands of miles until the car got hit in the back and pushed into a car in front. Both rear and front bumper covers were ruined, but the other driver's insurance company only agreed to pay half of the cost of a new front bumper cover because of the tape. The noise in the case of your car could a dragging brake pad. Doubt it is a wheel bearing. Or it could be just a loose piece of plastic. The extra heat comes from the fact the hot air from the radiator is mis-directed and heating the wheel.

Most PPI's are visual. Components are checked by looking for obvious problems but they spend less than two hours, sometimes less, concentrating on the obvious. In order for a shop to do a comprehensive inspection they would have to spend days. Very few people pay for that. I applaud the process you applied in long distance purchasing involving "faith with due diligence" but understand the increased risk without personal inspection. I think you got a good car but part of the process includes sorting out the various issues inherent in a fifteen year old 911 with 100K. Take a look at suspension components while on jack stands. (off load) Check the mini ball joints on the sway bar links Cheap or bad tires. Brakes and bearings. Or be aware that these noises usually get worse before becoming a real problem

Haven't had a chance to check for loose components in the trim, etc (it's been a crazy few days). But - now that I listen more closely, I am wondering if it sounds like a heat shield rattling... maybe the noise is not in the front like i thought. Perhaps it's something as simple as a loose heat shield or exhaust bolt? Doesn't explain the hot left front wheel.... If it is a heat shield, where should I start checking, short of pulling off the rear bumper?

Quotes source post: 11671803

If you suspect or want to eliminate from suspicion heat shields my advice would be you get the car in the air, on a lift. Since you are going to be working very close to the engine and its exhaust you should let the car cool down. Sometimes you can turn on a fan and let it blow air under the car from front to back or back to front to more quickly cool the car down so there is no burn risk. Then from under the car you grasp each heat shield and check for excessive play or looseness. Do the same with the exhaust system. If you find nothing suspicious then you use your hand or a rubber mallet and bang on the converters listening for any noises from inside that could be a loose brick. Do not hit the converters too hard or you could cause a brick to come loose. Not good. For the hot left front wheel, are you sure it is truly hotter than the right front wheel? With the engine fully up to temperature, enough so the radiator fans come on, do both fans sound the same? If you put your hand in front of each radiator duct does the air flow feel the same? If you put your hand where the radiator air gets exhausted is the air flow the same? Does the air feel about the same temperature? Are you sure all the plastic paneling is present and installed correctly? Porsche techs tell me they can always tell when someone not very familiar with these cars has been at the bumper cover. Fasteners are installed in the wrong holes, or some are missing, or the rubber radiator ducting and plastic panels that along with the bumper cover join to form a smooth underbelly of the car are often installed incorrectly. In this case air flow under the car and through the radiator ducts can be wrong and the air from the radiator is hot. If it is misrouted it can result in a warmer running front wheel/hub. A dragging brake pad can likewise cause this. A going bad wheel bearing maybe. Generally a going bad wheel bearing makes itself known by noise, not by running hot. However, if ignored a bad wheel bearing can progress to running warmer. But enough to heat a wheel that is exposed to considerable air flow? Not likely. And if the bearing was bad and running that hot, outright mechanical failure is probably not very far off.

Hi Macster, thanks for the advice. I'll get the car up on a lift as soon as I can. Today, for the first time since buying the car, I had a chance to listen to the car at idle with the engine hot... and it did sound a bit like I had a rattler coming from the rear. It might be a loose heat shield or bad cat, after all. Will try to get under the car this weekend.

Try the mallet banging thing that Macster recommended. I'll bet it's the cat inserts rattling. I have a broken air diverter in the front, and it doesn't make any sound that could be confused as rattling, marbles, etc. Could be other things, including rail guides. But, my money is on the cat, from what you have described. (Note to self... fix that diverter this weekend... I keep forgetting to do it, then the track flag workers want to flag me when they see it flapping around)