Hi guys,

I have a 2005 Rx8 that I AutoX. It has devolped a nasty clicking noise when on the course and even when pulling into a parking space. It happens when turning right or left.

I had pretty much the whole club listening to it Sunday and said to post here first to see if any of you have the same problem...

Some said it might be:
1. Stone caught in there
2. Bushings


Help?

Thanks,
Beth

Hi guys,

I have a 2005 Rx8 that I AutoX. It has devolped a nasty clicking noise when on the course and even when pulling into a parking space. It happens when turning right or left.

I had pretty much the whole club listening to it Sunday and said to post here first to see if any of you have the same problem...

Some said it might be:
1. Stone caught in there
2. Bushings


Help?

Thanks,
Beth

Just to elaborate a bit on Beth's noise, it is coming from the driver side front wheel area as far as I could tell. Others noted the RX8s running at the Peru national also were making this noise as well [ although I did not hear them making it as I was working in the sweep truck while BS was running ].

Any ideas ?

thanks
john

sounds like it might be what's listed in this TSB...except that it says it only applies to 2004 models.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/pdf/02-002-04-1301b.pdf

If you have an aftermarket sway bar installed, the problem could be loose end-link nuts on the sway bar.

I've got the same sound when I turn right. At first I thought it was a rock in the tire, but it started getting louder.

Please keep posting ideas if you have them. I take it in next Thursday to be looked at for the 3rd time..... Only thing they came up with was loose lugnuts... WRONG...
I want as many ideas as possible for them to look for...

since you autocross, it may just be that you have squeezed out all the lube in the swaybar bushings. You probably just need to regrease them.

huh. i had the same noise last year which was observed during an autox school. i tightened the lugs at the school and that didn't help. i inspected the brakes and added high temp grease around the pads. it only went away when i changed wheels from my 17x8.5" ET 40 5zigen fn-01r's to 18x9.5" ET 45 enkei rp-f1's. :dunno:

i'd wager it's exactly what's listed in the TSB. wish i'd seen that last summer.

Is it happening with each wheel rotation, or does it happen when you turn the steering wheel or move the suspension?

In one case, it will be related to brakes, bearings or wheel fit (probably) in the other it will be suspension, bushings, or sway bar end link (my bet, if you've changed the bar or ever had it off).

Is it happening with each wheel rotation, or does it happen when you turn the steering wheel or move the suspension?

In one case, it will be related to brakes, bearings or wheel fit (probably) in the other it will be suspension, bushings, or sway bar end link (my bet, if you've changed the bar or ever had it off).

It makes the noise on the course in the turns, and even when pulling in to a parking spot going very slow....

I have not done anything to the car at all..

Go easy on my descriptions, I'm just a girl ... thats my excuse =)

ditto in my case. i'd only done wheels and tires when i had the clicking noise.

wheel hub bearing? :dunno:

It makes the noise on the course in the turns, and even when pulling in to a parking spot going very slow....

I have not done anything to the car at all..

Go easy on my descriptions, I'm just a girl ... thats my excuse =)

Your CV joints are bad....heh....

I would also tend to go with a endlink/sway theory...perhaps time for lube...

Just to elaborate a bit on Beth's noise, it is coming from the driver side front wheel area as far as I could tell. Others noted the RX8s running at the Peru national also were making this noise as well [ although I did not hear them making it as I was working in the sweep truck while BS was running ].

Any ideas ?

thanks
john

I did not notice any sounds from the RX8's at Peru. However, the winning RX8 at Peru did have an endlink pop off mid run, so some of the course workers could have been hearing that...

On my last car, my endlinks with my aftermarket sway also made a clicking sound whether it was going slow or fast. I ignored it and it never caused me a problem.

I had a clicking noise pop up at my first autocross in the 8. Does the noise happen when the engine is running or when the car is turning. My noise sounded like lifter tick in a piston engine.

It ended up that one of the spark plug wires was almost falling off and was arcing to the plug. Pushed it all the way back on and the noise went away.

We hear it when making turns at any speed.

I had the clicking noise referred to in the TSB once. Never had it again. A number of times, though, after spins we'd get junk up in between the dust shields and rotors. Sometimes that would create a clicking noise.

I had a clicking noise pop up at my first autocross in the 8. Does the noise happen when the engine is running or when the car is turning. My noise sounded like lifter tick in a piston engine.

It ended up that one of the spark plug wires was almost falling off and was arcing to the plug. Pushed it all the way back on and the noise went away.


LOL, forgot that I had the exact same problem. Make sure the spark plug wires are fully seated down onto the plugs. Turning may be enough to move a semi-loose one around and cause the ignition to arc from the wire end to the plug (that's what makes the noise in that case)

I checked my swaybar endlink tightness, and I have found that they work themselves loose over time. I had a ticking sound and by tightning the bolts to spec solved this.

If you have an aftermarket sway bar installed, the problem could be loose end-link nuts on the sway bar.

I had this problem occur to me when I put on the RB sways + end links. Just check if the front (or rear) if the end links are loose, even if you have stock or not.

good job auto-xing :wiggle:

You can test the sway bar link theory very easily. Pull into a driveway that has a little bump to it and if you here a clunk that is probably it. Tightening the swaybar links requires a wrench (15mm maybe?) and an allen wrench to hold the bolt still. Tightening all four shouldn't take more than 15 minutes and then you can get rid of that variable. I had the swaybar link on my car loosen following an autocross and it made a noticeable clunk.

The other possibility would be failure of the swaybar bushing bracket. Those would also be easily inspected.

Took her in to be looked at finally and the noise was the break clips..... I guess when they put new break pads on they never greased them and installed them right:banghead:

Took 4 dealerships and a year to figure that out......

sounds like it might be what's listed in this TSB...except that it says it only applies to 2004 models.

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/pdf/02-002-04-1301b.pdf

If you have an aftermarket sway bar installed, the problem could be loose end-link nuts on the sway bar.

I had this issue on my 2004. You might want to have them look into it even though you have a 2005.

I still have a hard time understanding how a wheel with cone seats and opposing cone lugnuts moves on the secured disc/hub when torqued to 80 ft-lbs :dunno: