Seat in STU?

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:19 pm

So I've got a noise after getting work done on the car that I'm running out of time to diagnose. If I don't get this fixed by Saturday, is there anyone in STU who would be interested in me co-driving with you? When it rains, it pours!!!

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:08 pm

PhilFausz wrote:

So I've got a noise after getting work done on the car that I'm running out of time to diagnose. If I don't get this fixed by Saturday, is there anyone in STU who would be interested in me co-driving with you? When it rains, it pours!!!

What kind of noise?

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:32 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

What kind of noise?

When turning in a semi-tight left turn at slow speed, it clunks at a steady rythm. The turning circle is roughly 75% close to being locked and the noise is similar to the noise from a front-wheel drive car that has a bad axle, except it's not a click, it's a clunk, something with more meat to it.

I'm going to tighten all bolts down tonight. I'm starting to wonder if the FCA is loose. I'll know more tonight, I just know how busy this week is going to be and trying to see what my chances are for a backup plan.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:41 pm

PhilFausz wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

What kind of noise?

When turning in a semi-tight left turn at slow speed, it clunks at a steady rythm. The turning circle is roughly 75% close to being locked and the noise is similar to the noise from a front-wheel drive car that has a bad axle, except it's not a click, it's a clunk, something with more meat to it.

Phil,
I'm no mech, but you just described exactly what my Mini sounded like when the left lower control arm broke in Greenville last spring. Is that a possibility?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:33 pm

PhilFausz wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

What kind of noise?

When turning in a semi-tight left turn at slow speed, it clunks at a steady rythm. The turning circle is roughly 75% close to being locked and the noise is similar to the noise from a front-wheel drive car that has a bad axle, except it's not a click, it's a clunk, something with more meat to it.

I'm going to tighten all bolts down tonight. I'm starting to wonder if the FCA is loose. I'll know more tonight, I just know how busy this week is going to be and trying to see what my chances are for a backup plan.

Man, the only thing I can think of is the inner fender liner came loose on mine and was hitting the tire before it goes to lock. Almost seems like the same thing, but then again, my noise was a "rub" and not a "clunk". In my case, there's a small 8mm bolt that holds the inner part of the fender liner to metal shell. This particular one is is locate above the brake duct exit and to the inside. I had to add a washer to get this to stay because it had cracked. Check for wear marks on the fender liner. Nothing else makes sense if everything is tight.

let us know what you find out...

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:28 pm

PhilFausz wrote:

So I've got a noise after getting work done on the car that I'm running out of time to diagnose. If I don't get this fixed by Saturday, is there anyone in STU who would be interested in me co-driving with you? When it rains, it pours!!!

What were you working on?

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:05 am

my se-r is held together with bolts, adn huge washers. or a few zipties. we drilled new holes and put either bolts through it or zipties. This comes from old worn out japanese plastics, and general thought that the underside hopefully... wont get much sight.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:56 am

PhilFausz wrote:

So I've got a noise after getting work done on the car that I'm running out of time to diagnose. If I don't get this fixed by Saturday, is there anyone in STU who would be interested in me co-driving with you? When it rains, it pours!!!

Phil,
Inquiring minds want to know; did you ever figure out what’s wrong with your car? :?:

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:22 pm

Gwen Baake wrote:

Inquiring minds want to know; did you ever figure out what’s wrong with your car? :?:

I didn't find anything loose, but I did read on BimmerForums that if the LCA bushing isn't greased, it can thump/bang, much like what I'm experiencing. I got the LCA's replaced and that side kept coming off during installation, so we wiped the grease off to get it on. I don't think we ever re-greased it. Guess I just need to find out what grease to use.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

PhilFausz wrote:

Gwen Baake wrote:

Inquiring minds want to know; did you ever figure out what’s wrong with your car? :?:

I didn't find anything loose, but I did read on BimmerForums that if the LCA bushing isn't greased, it can thump/bang, much like what I'm experiencing. I got the LCA's replaced and that side kept coming off during installation, so we wiped the grease off to get it on. I don't think we ever re-greased it. Guess I just need to find out what grease to use.

Stock bushing or something else? If stock, you don't want to use grease. All I have ever used is dishwashing soap. Plenty slippery to get the thing on but dries out eventually. If you're using stock bushings, I can't see that making the noise.

FWIW I use stock LCA bushings on my car per the advice of several race shops. Others recommend poly or delrin, but I personally agree with the arguments in favor of stock. Monoball would also be a good choice.

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

Right, OE bushings should adhere to the control arm once the lube dries. Thats why the car needs to quickly be put down to the ground and at ride height so they can adhere in the proper position.

aftermarket once can def pop when new. I'm running bimmerworld nylon/delrin ones in the E30 and the popped for a few HPDEs before they loosened up. This design in contrast, requires the control arm to rotate in the bushing.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:03 pm

don't know why I didn't think of this earlier, but when I replaced my front struts to the M3 style, I changed the sway bar links as well. After that I got all sorts of creaks and moans just going over slight bumps. I did nothing more than remove the end links and "worked" the ends to get them loose. Bolted the end links back up and no more creaks. See if that works for you.

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:43 pm

It ended up being the LCAB, it needed to be lubed. I used grease, will use soap as Mike suggested. Either way, haven't heard the noise since.

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

So is it a stock bushing or aftermarket poly/delrin/nylon?

PhilFausz · **Posted:** Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:58 am

DanDurusky wrote:

So is it a stock bushing or aftermarket poly/delrin/nylon?

Stock.

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