Front suspension noise over bumps
 

For a while now (since January I'd say) I've been getting this thump sound whenever I get on or a second or so after I let off the throttle (when engine braking begins).

More recently, I've been getting a more high-pitched sound at those same times that I think might be caused by my intercooler piping (the elbow off the throttle body is metal and shows signs of rubbing up against the master cylinder).

Possibly culprits for the thump noise include:
- front sway bar bushings (83k miles on stock ones :bt: )
- loose steering rod
- lower control arm bushings (I did drop the lower control arms to pull the tranny but I know I got them back together without any left over parts :P ).

Something that just happened to me recently that made a similar noise:

Broken front stabilizer control link.

Do you have a CAI? Mine that sits on the driver side and down in the bumper rattles some when letting off the throttle really hard and whistles some when i slam back on the throttle.

That engine does suck some air in.

No, I don't have a cold air intake, but I should check the intake to my turbo because I know it isn't held with a brace. I think I might invest in an infrared camera to put under my hood so that I can see what is making the noises haha.

My "front stabilizer control links" i.e. front sway bar endlinks were recently replaced (when I installed tokico HPs) and about two weeks ago when I swapped out Goldline springs for Tein S-techs I checked and they were installed and the bolts torqued down.

Swar bar linkage would be the first thing I check ...

I have new OEM front sway bar bushings in my garage, I'm just not looking forward to replacing them considering their location. When I had my car apart putting in new springs, rotors, pads, brake lines, etc.. I inspected the bushings, and they didn't look damaged so I left them alone :P

The infamous "clunk" of the 3rd gen Proteges. Mine do the same cuz I have AWR endlinks, but the music usually tunes it out for me so I don't pay much attention to it. A little lithium grease gets rid of it for a week or so, but then it comes back as soon as the grease wears out.

I'd say it's the endlinks as well.

Well the infamous clunk is in the rear suspension, and on the MP3/MSP much more so than the Protege5. That being said, I do have the Racing Beat rear sway bar, but I have the autoxracing clunk fix bracket with greasable bushings to remedy that. The endlinks were just tightened, but yeah I'll check them out when I'm looking at other stuff tomorrow after work.

There's FLR-SCCA Solo events all weekend so I want my car to be in tip-top shape :)

chris. front sway bushing. just check. jack up the front and jiggle it.

can you read? lol I have checked. the car was jacked up, I jiggled everything I could, and nothing. I'll take a look at it all again tomorrow and see what I come up with.

i suck at engrish :( i sped red :P

Based upon personal experience and the fact you said you have changed both struts and springs, I would check the top nut on the struts. I don't think anyone has the special tools needed to be able to use a torque wrench on them, I just hit mine with an impact wrench (gently, don't hold the trigger down and let the shaft spin).

Even when these are loose you can't always tell by extending/compressing the struts.

Yeah I'll have to check on them again.. but this is the 5th or 6th time I've had the suspension totally apart and I never had a problem. I am using the tokico-supplied top nuts though, which people have said don't engage as far as the stock nuts. I still have the stock nuts, I'll have to give them a try.

I'm thinkin you might be on to something...

did my tein install today and have no endlinks - you should hear the clunk i have :yelrotflm

:P

but how are the springs?

I just got back inside and um.. yeah so my front sway bar bushings are really, really worn out looking. zomg if it isn't the worst bolt placement in the whole car. To get the piece of the front subframe that the bar is attached to down for more clearance, you'd have to remove:
- the midpipe
- the lower tie bar
- both lower control arms
- endlinks :P