Front end noise | FerrariChat

Front end noise

Discussion in '308/328' started by Denny Weiss, Dec 11, 2008.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Denny Weiss

    Denny Weiss Rookie

    Nov 28, 2008
    15
    Md and Fl
    Full Name:
    Dennis N Weiss
    I would love to get some ideas re this problem from anyone out there. I own an 85 308 and have had it since new.
    In the past two to three years, I notice what sounds like stones rolling around in the front end of the car. After a few miles of driving, the noise is gone. The warmer the weather, the faster the noise goes away. My mechanic thinks it could be the shocks. The car has 29k miles and the shocks are original. Any ideas?
    Thanks much,
    Denny
     
  2. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2003
    43,190
    PNW
    Full Name:
    John
    Could be just about anything from your description. Some more specifics about when it happens might make it easier. Does it only happen when going over bumps, or around corners, or at a certain speed? Could be shocks, bushings, sterring rack, or just about any other front end part. Of course it could really be rocks rolling around inside your front air dam too but I wouldn't expect that noise to go away based on temp.
     
  3. Denny Weiss

    Denny Weiss Rookie

    Nov 28, 2008
    15
    Md and Fl
    Full Name:
    Dennis N Weiss
    Only at start up do I get this noise and while driving over rougher surfaces. Again, When the car warms up, the noise is gone. I did check for rocks!
     
  4. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,810
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Did you try to jack up the car, remove the wheels, look underside, behind front valence, wheel suspension for something obvious?
     
  5. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2003
    43,190
    PNW
    Full Name:
    John
    Sorry, wasn't trying to be smart with the rocks comment, just trying to cover it all. If your mechanic thinks it's the shocks I'd tend to agree with him although I'd look at the A-arm bushings too.
     
  6. ducowti

    ducowti Formula 3

    Jan 27, 2008
    1,557
    NY/SC
    Full Name:
    David
    +1. Get the wheel/end in question up on jacks and grab the wheel, testing for play in any plane. Not sure about the components of the OEM shock system of your car but as Jdub said earlier, could be anything up front; there are bushings, seats, etc that could making noises.
     
  7. Denny Weiss

    Denny Weiss Rookie

    Nov 28, 2008
    15
    Md and Fl
    Full Name:
    Dennis N Weiss
    John,

    I knew you were kidding about the rocks! Thanks for the suggestions. I heard the bushings shrink over the years in the shocks and will expand when they get warm. That might explain the noise when I initially drive the car and the reason for the dissapearance after a few miles.
     
  8. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 28, 2003
    43,190
    PNW
    Full Name:
    John

    Could very well be. Does it sound more like a grinding noise or a rattling noise?
     
  9. Denny Weiss

    Denny Weiss Rookie

    Nov 28, 2008
    15
    Md and Fl
    Full Name:
    Dennis N Weiss
    It is a rattel and goes away when the car warms up.
     

Share This Page