This happens when I drive up or down an incline at an angle, e.g. pulling into or out of a steep driveway one wheel at a time (as opposed to straight in or out). I hear a pop-pop-pop from the front end while I'm on the incline, and then a final pop after I straighten the steering and start driving straight. I haven't noticed any such noise when hitting bumps or elevation changes in a straight line, and only very rarely hear it while turning on level ground. Aside from aging dampers (>83k miles), I can't detect any other suspension-related quirks.

I plan on checking a bunch of things in the front suspension, but obviously would like to focus my efforts. Is it reasonable to suspect this is likely sway bar related (bushings or endlinks)?

 

I had a similar pop after replacing the LCAs. One side's rear most bolt was not fully tightened.

Sway bar moving around in a broken bushing could do it also. Check if either wheel is loose in the left to right or up-down movement.

 

Finally got around to pulling wheels and checking what I could. Everything seems tight as a drum. Any further advice before I throw bushings and endlinks at it?

 

I've been experiencing the exact same thing for a while now. Nothing seems loose. Hear it from both front and rear suspension. I am leaning towards blaming this on old sway bar bushings, but have been too lazy to deal with it. Let me know what ends up fixing the problem for you.

 

Mine started doing the same thing after I upgraded the sway bar and end links. I replaced the end links with a different brand a few years later to see if I could get it to stop to no avail. I can't find anything else wrong in the suspension, so I keep coming back to aftermarket end links being the culprits.

 

I've noticed that some endlink studs/bolts are significantly smaller in diameter than the mounting holes on some swaybars. If you don't crank the nut down (possibly in excess of the torque limits of the tools or the size of the fastener) you can get movement of the fastener in relation to the bar.

Don't know if that might be related but I doubt it's completely out of the question.

 

I agree with NotAPreppie

I have had this problem. the hill really loads up the bar, and it will slip. Also, if aftermarket sway, the bar can bind in the bushings then pop loose.

 

Guess it was the bushings. I replaced them with brand new OE bushings and the noise is gone.

Can't imagine how, especially as the old ones seemed okay when I pulled them. Shrug life...

 

Could have been just a matter of loosening and retorquing fasteners.

 

Yeah, that's the only thing that makes sense IMO.

 

I keep meaning to figure out a way to mount my GoPro under the car to film what is happening.

I know my front left bushing is FUBAR'd, and I have another set of poly ones, but I wonder if it makes sense to modify a set of OE ones to fit?

I have already been through the disassembling, re-lubing, re-torquing process several times, so it isn't that on my car at least.


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Yes, agree

 

I have some suspension noise as well and found this link on the driver side. left end was attached to the control arm. the right end attached to some under frame. behind the frame has a electronic plug or something.

I have looked up the rx8 suspension pdf and nothing comes up.

Please help. trying to find this part online.