so my car has been having this problem for about one month now. The front end does this weird popping/clunking noice when i make a U turn or just turnning the steering wheel from about a quarter before full lock till full lock, in both directions. i did a search and found a couple things that could be failing. i checked the end links, all the bushings on front suspension, checked the strut mount top and everything is solid. can somone give some advise pleasssse!


mods on the car

tein flex coilover, not lowered all the way i have about one finger gap front and back

18x9.5 rpf1s running 275/35/18s i have been running this setup for about a year and half now and the noice recently just started happening so i dont think its because of the tire being too big or anything

got exhaust and intake but that has nothign to do with suspension

 

Maybe ball joint? Or Cv Joint?

 

checked that i had the car on the lift, checked c.v and ball joints r fine

 

front anti sway bar? it happens also at a stand still?

 

If it's not end links or ball joints it may be the sway bar bushings. I've noticed mine a bit compressed of late.

 

checked the front sway bar bushing also. they are fine, and it happens only when the car is moving

 

Check to see if your lugnuts are all tightened...

 

Well, the only time I have heard that was when the CV joints went out on one of my front wheel drive car... It was a CLUNK everytime I turn the wheel. I replaced them on each side it it was fine...

Well during the process one of my friends pulled the joint apart (by acident) on the new part. On that side of the car, there is still a clunk if i turn hard...

I am not sure if the rx8 has cv joints because it is a rear wheel drive, but a joint/barring could be going out... Hope you figure it out... Nothing worse than driving a nice car and there is smoke or a noise coming from it,

 

lugnuts are tighten down also...:*(

 

108 ft/lb tight lugs?

 

err noone knows wut else it might be?

 

motor mounts? tranny mount? diff mount? strut bar?

 

did you get the exhaust right before the sound started? have you checked the brakes? anyone else drive the car without you just before the sound started?

 

i think i have a similar thing not very obvious though so i never paid regard to it but its like a pop right? mine is very very quiet though

 

How many miles are on the car? Have you checked the ball joints while they are pre-loaded or not? Are the tie rods in goods shape and the ball joint on the tie rod? Any visible leaks of any kind? Do the bellows boots check out, are they intact?

 

the car currently has 63k checked al the ball joints when they were not pre loaded. tie rods r solid no visible leaks

 

dont mean to sound like a jerk, but you missed something on the lift.

What youre describing is a CV joint thats toasted. Recheck the boots. Sounds as though you have a torn boot that lost all the grease.

 

Yeah, torn CV boots are nothing but a pain... When you hear that the boot is torn, it sounds like a simple repair and could not be what is causing all of the noise. I tore mine up in truckie, CA going camping. Tearible bumpy, rocky road and nothing but dust and dirt... BAD NEWS FOR ME.

Look for grease in the wheel well and around the boots. There are repair kits, but more trouble than not(if you catch it early enough which in your case you did not) and would be better to replace the whole joint from the wheel to the trans. Repair is like 300 to 400 (maybe more at dealer) and probably <200 if you have to tools to do it.

 

I can guaranty that it is not a CV joint. Your car is REAR WHEEL DRIVE. If you can, get someone else's opinion on making sure it is coming from the front end.

Raise the car back up towards stock height and see if the sound is still there. Something has got to be worn on lose in there (front or back).

 

Does the noise appear when on the lift and the suspension is unloaded,I had a similar noise which only happened when the suspension was loaded ie: when on the ground,and after 3 or 4 times on a hoist I notice the front bush on the lower control arm was worn,try moving the wheel by holding it at 3 and 9 oclock as if your checking for movement in the steering rack,mine was tight and couldnt find any play in it until I lubed it with WD40.
PS. If its the CV joint,your not driving an RX8.

 

Thread revival; I think my car may be suffering something similar. By sound and feel I have isolated it to the front passenger side. This pop sound is typically accompanied with a bit of a creaking/groaning sound.

My car's suspension is entirely stock @ over 68k miles. I have yet to take a good close look at everything, but I wanted to know if the OP managed to fix his problem. If so, what exactly was it and how did you fix it?

 

I would check your endlink it may be loose or even broken

 

Without lifting the car, those were the first things I tugged at. I couldn't really tell if anything might have been broken as it all felt solid. When I get the car on jack stands, I'll probably take them off for a better look.

 

I have this same damn problem and cant figure it out. I checked the endlinks, bushings, sway bar, and rack and pinion. they all look good.. I looked at the ball joints and they look good as well. This is really starting to bug me

 

When was the last time you greased your sway bar bushings?