input needed: front suspension issue

[co_pa]

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[AnotherM]

Check the stiffening plate. I had a weird sound i couldnt find and it turned out that something had dented the stiffening plate in a way that it was rubbing and echoing all kinds of noises

[vafan13]

I'm thinking sway bar link, especially given it's one of the things you put WD40 on. Maybe pull that link off and see if one of the ball joints is shot. Might be able to tell just by disconnecting it from the bar. If not that, could be one of the arms. if the link seems fine, maybe re-lube *one* arm and see if it goes away again. if not, try the next one.

Also, you're brave for driving one of these in the winter here! I drive my Cobra, but the bumper is way higher and it's way cheaper to fix.

[AnotherM]

Originally Posted by co_pa

we had large gusts of wind and some wild weather this weekend. for a good part of saturday it was raining branches and, in an attempt to dodge them, i ran over some and swerved to miss others - hitting potholes and uneven areas en route. up until that point, the suspension was flawless: not a creak, squeak or squeal.

current set-up:
- 19k miles car
- dinan sways set to stiff in front installed at 13k
- dinan coils installed at 17k
- 12mm spacers
- 408m winters

serious noise started from the driver front as the weekend wore on. took this video today (sorry, idk how to upload vids):
https://youtu.be/QLI0qyUCDYU

it's persistent on uneven roads, louder over sharp bumps and turning.
the first half of video is up/down movement over uneven driveway, turning the wheel sharply left/right the second half.

got the front off the ground today hoping to see something obvious.
no debris, felt around the dust shield, nothing.
sway, tie rod, other stuff looked fine to me as did the shock housing / dinan kit.
spotted *maybe* a potential wearing bushing on the lower control arm - but would that sound come from a bushing?

put it on the ground. same noises.

wondered if a bushing did fail, something needed grease/lubricating or metallic was rubbing, put it back up and added a little wd40 to control arm bushings and sway bar links. voila, the sound disappeared for a long drive... only to come back differently a couple miles from home.

differently = only at low speeds, up/down motion or uneven roads, not as loud.

thanks for making it this far. appreciate input on areas to consider giving attention to first as a dealership visit is likely.

It seriously sounds like something stuck between the rotor and the heat shield. Have you jacked it up and turned the rotor?

Edit: nevermind, i re read tour post and see you checked that thoroughly.

[co_pa]

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[vafan13]

Originally Posted by co_pa

I drive it so little i figure why not. last winter was fine but it wasn't lowered with a lip and, you know, we didn't get a lot of snow.

True. Being a telecommuter I probably drove the Cobra half a dozen times last winter, zero in snow. Good luck with the noise!

[carlinhos]

Bom dia Colin! Li sua postagem no fórum M5post, também estou com um problema de barulho. Descobri que e o pivô do braço reto inferior esquerdo. Esta com folga faz barulho e rodando fica desalinhado OK! Bom ano pra você!

[M5Rick]

Lowering,12mm spacers, stiffer sways all go to put more stress on the lower arms most probably.