Suspension noise

maxsideburn · Jul 24, 2009, 11:41 AM

Since I bought my Ralliart I've always noticed that the front end makes a noise. When I go over bumps, especially a series of small-medium ones quickly I get a rattling/loose sounding noise. Not loud, but like a subtle and quick "klok-klok-klok"

The car FEELS fine so I don't think the struts are blown, it just makes that damned loose sound, just sounds like something is a little loose. I also notice in the morning when I first pull out of my driveway that turning at little to no speed makes a clicking sound, but it doesn't sound like the higher pitched "cracking" sound that a bad CV usually makes.

Any ideas guys?

2dor · Aug 7, 2009, 12:16 AM

The sound comes from the little stones that are in the lower part where the spring is fixed. There mud and little stones from the road gather and when you hit a bump, the spring crash those stones. The solution is this: either you go to a service and rise the front of the car so the front wheels are in air, and you put a water jet on the spring to clean the dirt. This is not a final solution. Or the final solution is to put something on the spring in the lower part where it come fixed, something like a rubber hose. Also you should cut a little from the lower flange where the spring is fixed so there is no space for mud to gather. This operation was made in a Mitsubishi service in Romania, and I payed nothing, as I have warranty for my car.

I hope you understand, as I do not know well the English technical words for the suspension.

Antiapathetic · Aug 20, 2009, 02:22 PM

I had this same problem with my car... It started with just one clunk when Id hit a good bump or crack, and built to a pretty good rattle. I took my car in and ended up needing to replace my entire suspension. When I took out the old strut there was an incredible amount of dirt around the top and bottom of the spring, but no rocks. I'm not sure if dirt around the spring will cause that sound, or if there is something with the assembly when it goes out that will make that sound... Could be a coincidence and the rattle had nothing to do with the strut going out. When I removed my shot strut I pushed in the piston and found that it would no longer re-extend... YIKES.

I suggest the same, hose out your spring and if it continues youll probably need to look into new parts.

thevalleyboy · Sep 24, 2009, 11:32 AM

I just had to replace my front sway bar link ends - check if your are broken also - sounds exactly like what I fixed now the noise is gone. Mine were a rusted mass of broken, dirty crap and I had to break off the sway bar and the mounts. Front Sway Bar Link - Moog Part number K90247

HOWEVER Now that noise was Replaced with the squeak of shot rear bushings - anyone else have the squeaky rear end, and possibly the bushing part numbers, and which ones needed replacement as there are lots of bushing down there with the multilink set up.

Thanks in advance,

maxsideburn · Sep 25, 2009, 07:09 AM

yeah that was my first thought too, sway bar end link, or sway bar end link bushing.

I will jack it up this weekend and see, I really hope it's just an end-link or bushing and not a freakin' strut. I hate changing struts.

boomshakalaka · Nov 12, 2009, 05:12 PM

Have any of you with that squeaking noise from the back determined what it is? I have some sort of squeak coming from my back right strut area but I haven't been able to figure out exactly what's making the noise.

TriangleChoke · Nov 19, 2009, 08:38 AM

I think there are a few threads on the back squeak, apparently everyone has gotten it.

Its pretty funny when you hear it in total silence, like in an underground garage..or early morning...would be nice to fix though