R33 Front Suspension Noise, How To Diagnose

[defiance]

Hey everyone,

Have a 97 R33 GTS full on povo spec, have a really irriating noise coming from front right suspension when I travel over uneven road surfaces in the road like manhole covers or uneven surfaces, doesn't make any noise on big bumps like speed bumps which I have a lot of where I live. I'm having trouble sussing out what is making the noise, from other research I have done I have found the upper arms are common to wear out, but I've already replaced the top outer just on the upright/j arm or what ever its called, and don't want to buy a arm as well and find that doesn't fix anything, I've had the prybar in there and can't feel any massive play where the upper arm bolts on to the body or any other bush. I'm beginning to think it could be the shock absorber, the inner boot is pretty destroyed, also wondered if all the speed bumps near my house could have caused some wear there.

Also replaced the tie rods recently as they had splits and had play.

Cheers if you got any ideas!

[Plattsy]

take it to pedders bloke. they did mine last week. and didnt even charge me the 14 bucks!

they will check everything including the brakes. better to have someone (sort of) qualified tell you than a keyboard ninja!

[defiance]

Should have said, I'm in NZ not Australia.

[zoomzoom]

Ive had the $14 (I think) pedders inspection done in the past, and I have to say you get what you pay for. A very brief inspection, and consequently they missed many things. That was one experience at one shop, but keep in mind how much labour time theyre going to allocate to the job at any store.

Im not sure on the specific front suspension on your car, since mine in a 4WD it has some different components. Is there a control arm with ball joints on either end with the castor rod connected to that arm? Those ball joints wear and become loose in the socket over time. The castor bushing itself may have play in it.

The upper control arm bushings can crack and move laterally on the bolt resulting in metal on metal contact, that should be noticeable with a prybar though.

[GTSBoy]

OP,

If you can't find a decent chassis and suspension shop yourself, find a good crash repairer and ask who they use to fix the problem cars that they just can't get to drive straight. There are always such cars, and there is always at least one ace suspension shop that they get sent to.