Front right suspension knock on sudden bumps and left turn - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Interceptor777 · 06-02-2022, 09:42 PM

Hey all, just recently my car has developed a knocking sound coming from the front right wheel. This sound has been slowly and progressively getting worse. It happens on sudden bumps or left steering input while driving.

The car has Fortune Auto LC500 coilovers with adjustable end links, all installed by Fortune Auto themselves. I'll be contacting them soon if I can't find the source myself.

Currently, the weather here is the same as a wet sauna so I can't take off the wheel today or tomorrow but I'll do everything I can until then.

I've gotten hands-on with the tie rod and end links, they seem rock solid when I try pulling or pushing on them with my hands (and the wheel turned so I can reach in).

When violently rocking the wheel left and right on the ground, the knocking is audible. I've included a video of this. The same sound does not occur on the front left wheel.

I've checked the shock itself, the center nut up top is solid and the three 12mm nuts are also torqued down. The spring also doesn't have any play (at least while checking by hand) so I don't think shock preload is the issue.

Videos:

Quick visual inspection: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cVyiJDZU4sW7nssE9

Rocking the wheel: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DM6BwysHX9bsGRvP8

Driving slowly and violently turning left and right: https://photos.app.goo.gl/f3JmtTxJuSGmMXjh8

norcalpb · 06-03-2022, 12:09 AM

Check to see if the endlinks are tight. Same with their adjustment collar nuts.

sds · 06-03-2022, 10:53 AM

Bad top hat/strut mount (bearing)

andys_garage · 06-03-2022, 01:36 PM

as mentioned by the others, this is typically caused by either loose connections or worn out bushings. make sure all your bolts are tight and investigate all your components' bushings.

eyeballs · 06-03-2022, 09:46 PM

You really can't be sure something's not loose unless you put a wrench on it.

Interceptor777 · 06-03-2022, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'll post here once I figure it out and fix it.

Is there a specific way to check if the top hat bearing is bad?

Interceptor777 · 06-03-2022, 09:51 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'll post here once I figure it out and fix it.

Is there a specific way to check if the top hat bearing is bad?

Interceptor777 · 06-06-2022, 04:58 PM

So after some checking and torquing everything down, Fortune Auto is sending me a replacement shock insert since the noise didn't disappear. I found out that stiffening the shock reduces the noise, so let's see how it goes after the replacement.

06-02-2022, 09:42 PM	#1
Interceptor777 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Drives: 2022 BRZ, 1999 "touge-spec" Miata Location: MD Posts: 153 Thanks: 33 Thanked 110 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Front right suspension knock on sudden bumps and left turn Hey all, just recently my car has developed a knocking sound coming from the front right wheel. This sound has been slowly and progressively getting worse. It happens on sudden bumps or left steering input while driving. The car has Fortune Auto LC500 coilovers with adjustable end links, all installed by Fortune Auto themselves. I'll be contacting them soon if I can't find the source myself. Currently, the weather here is the same as a wet sauna so I can't take off the wheel today or tomorrow but I'll do everything I can until then. I've gotten hands-on with the tie rod and end links, they seem rock solid when I try pulling or pushing on them with my hands (and the wheel turned so I can reach in). When violently rocking the wheel left and right on the ground, the knocking is audible. I've included a video of this. The same sound does not occur on the front left wheel. I've checked the shock itself, the center nut up top is solid and the three 12mm nuts are also torqued down. The spring also doesn't have any play (at least while checking by hand) so I don't think shock preload is the issue. Videos: Quick visual inspection: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cVyiJDZU4sW7nssE9 Rocking the wheel: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DM6BwysHX9bsGRvP8 Driving slowly and violently turning left and right: https://photos.app.goo.gl/f3JmtTxJuSGmMXjh8

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06-03-2022, 12:09 AM	#2
norcalpb Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ, 2023 Model 3 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,341 Thanks: 1,254 Thanked 899 Times in 589 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Check to see if the endlinks are tight. Same with their adjustment collar nuts.

06-03-2022, 10:53 AM	#3
sds Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Drives: '22 BRZ Limited 6MT Location: MA Posts: 81 Thanks: 8 Thanked 60 Times in 36 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Bad top hat/strut mount (bearing)

06-03-2022, 01:36 PM	#4
andys_garage Member Join Date: May 2022 Drives: 2022 GR86 Premium Track bRed Location: Ohio Posts: 63 Thanks: 16 Thanked 40 Times in 24 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	as mentioned by the others, this is typically caused by either loose connections or worn out bushings. make sure all your bolts are tight and investigate all your components' bushings.

06-03-2022, 09:46 PM	#5
eyeballs Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2021 Drives: '22 BRZ Location: West CO Posts: 153 Thanks: 22 Thanked 60 Times in 47 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	You really can't be sure something's not loose unless you put a wrench on it.

06-03-2022, 09:51 PM	#6
Interceptor777 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Drives: 2022 BRZ, 1999 "touge-spec" Miata Location: MD Posts: 153 Thanks: 33 Thanked 110 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks for the replies. I'll post here once I figure it out and fix it. Is there a specific way to check if the top hat bearing is bad?

06-06-2022, 04:58 PM	#8
Interceptor777 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Drives: 2022 BRZ, 1999 "touge-spec" Miata Location: MD Posts: 153 Thanks: 33 Thanked 110 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	So after some checking and torquing everything down, Fortune Auto is sending me a replacement shock insert since the noise didn't disappear. I found out that stiffening the shock reduces the noise, so let's see how it goes after the replacement.

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