4200 strange noise - maybe suspension?

[maser_4200]

Hi,

Am having a spot of bother with the 4200 MY05 (Gransport geometry with springs replaced about 4 years ago, when lowered to spec, then checked a year later once settled to be correct height / geometry). Has Skyhook. Around 38k miles.

It is clicking (click more than creak) - multiple clicks that is - under light braking. Often a single click when moving off. Also hearing it at around 20-30 mph intermittently - clicking / chatter. Seems to happen in dry conditions on decent roads, after the car has warmed up. Still hear it even if I knock it into neutral and coast / brake.

So far, the only noise we could find was the new Mintex brake pads with forum discs (these pads from brakes international are not correct by the way - wear sensors not usable at front, and they move around in calipers at back as they are a poor fit). This was found on an MOT style suspension tester.

Sighed deeply, and bought Maserati OEM front and rear pads. Also replaced the rear ARB bushings and the rear shock bushings (lower I think). This did improve things for a while, but the noise is back... Apparently rear droplinks and the front) look OK. Not sure when the front ARB bushings were done (if at all). But no play or obvious noise from anything. Except when it appears when driving. It sounds link maybe rear driver side (or maybe directly underneath) when driving, but hard to localise. Tried to record it, but all you hear is a faint thump over the exhaust.

Any ideas please?

 

[alfatwo]

The front ARB drop links have plain spherical bearings with a cheapo rubber nodder to try and keep the dirt out which they don't...There easily replaced though from you local bearing supplier

There always giving trouble... but you'll need to remove them and put them in a vice to check for play

Regarding the brake pads being a loose fit...there's anti rattle shims and clips to stop this happening...

Dave

 

[maser_4200]

The front ARB drop links have plain spherical bearings with a cheapo rubber nodder to try and keep the dirt out which they don't...There easily replaced though from you local bearing supplier

There always giving trouble... but you'll need to remove them and put them in a vice to check for play

Regarding the brake pads being a loose fit...there's anti rattle shims and clips to stop this happening...

Dave

Thanks - might just order the front ARB bushings and also the droplinks. Would the droplinks cause this nasty clicking (sounds like metal on metal)?

 

[GeoffCapes]

ARB will rattle over any bump (no matter how small).

If it were the drop links the front would wallow when you go round corners.

To check wishbones, jack the front up and give the wheels a wiggle to see if there is any play.

My money is on the ARB.

 

[alfatwo]

Thanks - might just order the front ARB bushings and also the droplinks. Would the droplinks cause this nasty clicking (sounds like metal on metal)?

Yes, although the seemingly loud clacking metal to metal sound you hear.. its only a minor problem...nothing's going to fall off...If its not driving you nuts why not get it sorted at your next service!

Dave

 

[DPS20K]

Just another suggestion for you. If it happens as you apply throttle and lift off again, especially in 1st and 2nd, it could be the drive shaft splines clicking in the hubs. Mine was doing this so Emblem took them apart, greased them and reassembled - problem solved.

 

[conaero]

Sounds like the handbrake to me, broken up and floating around in the drums.

 

[maser_4200]

Sounds like the handbrake to me, broken up and floating around in the drums.

Good thought. But I also replaced the handbrake cable and the shoes (pattern shoes from Europsares). Older shoes were apparently not too bad (but the handbrake cable was awful - apparently they wear quite quickly due to routing, and then rust).

 

[maser_4200]

Just another suggestion for you. If it happens as you apply throttle and lift off again, especially in 1st and 2nd, it could be the drive shaft splines clicking in the hubs. Mine was doing this so Emblem took them apart, greased them and reassembled - problem solved.

Another good thought! I thought it could be this (was either your post or another I had seen). However, I'm still getting if I knock to neutral (F1 box) and coast / brake to halt.

And a new thing: clicks / creaks when I get out of the car (engine off) and even when I get back in 10 mins later. So I'm thinking unlikely to be driveshaft splines..?

 

[maser_4200]

Yes, although the seemingly loud clacking metal to metal sound you hear.. its only a minor problem...nothing's going to fall off...If its not driving you nuts why not get it sorted at your next service!

Dave

Well, what I am doing next is ordering rear doplinks, front droplinks, and front ARB bushes. Think I'll also order front wishbone bushings (I think these have bushings?) and keep in reserve in case noise remains (as would require an alignment).

 

[ncslee]

Hi

Had a similar noise to this a while back try checking the front bottom shock absorber bushes & also the front bottom ball joints. This is quite easy if you jack the front wheel of the floor you will be able to feel lift in the wheel if you lever it up or just grab the wheel at each side & lift it up by hand.

You can get the bushes for the shockers from super performance, which fit quite well & no issues with them yet.

Lee

 

[maser_4200]

Hi

Had a similar noise to this a while back try checking the front bottom shock absorber bushes & also the front bottom ball joints. This is quite easy if you jack the front wheel of the floor you will be able to feel lift in the wheel if you lever it up or just grab the wheel at each side & lift it up by hand.

You can get the bushes for the shockers from super performance, which fit quite well & no issues with them yet.

Lee

Yep, good idea. Replaced the rear shock bushings, so makes sense to do the front also. Will add to the list Looks like lower arms are pretty expensive, so hope it's not them.

 

[conaero]

Hi

Had a similar noise to this a while back try checking the front bottom shock absorber bushes & also the front bottom ball joints. This is quite easy if you jack the front wheel of the floor you will be able to feel lift in the wheel if you lever it up or just grab the wheel at each side & lift it up by hand.

You can get the bushes for the shockers from super performance, which fit quite well & no issues with them yet.

Lee

My brothers car had the same when he bought it, I jacked it up and dribbled EP90 oil and it went away and has never returned.

Its been over a year, probably nearer 2 years.

 

[maser_4200]

My brothers car had the same when he bought it, I jacked it up and dribbled EP90 oil and it went away and has never returned.

Its been over a year, probably nearer 2 years.

Might be worth a shot - could localise the issue... Cheers.

 

[maser_4200]

Did more detective work with mechanic...

Looks like the noise (which is now easily repeatable by bouncing the car) is coming from the lower rear driver side arm ball joint... expensive I think for the arm, and will need to be tracked afterwards. Tried spraying some grease into the ball joint under dust cover, but doesn't seem to have got in enough to make any difference. Plenty of creaking / clicking now from it. Assume still safe to drive until I can source an arm.

Not sure whether to go ahead and change droplinks front and rear and front ARB bushings - probably not?

 

[mchristyuk]

My 3200 did this when I first got it. Took me ages to track down exactly..managed to find it in the end by getting the wife to bounce the back of the car whilst I held each arm in turn to see which one I could "feel" was creaking.

Ultimately in my case it was the upper arm ball joint that had gone south.

I did the same as you and greased the joint and it made it go quiet for a couple hundred miles... then it became really worn and the handling became "interesting".

So my advice is get the arm changed as quickly as you can if it's making a noise now... mine was noisey because it had dried out and rusted up in the ball joint itself. Once the rust had been removed by the grease and oil.. so had all the stuff stopping it from moving around!

Eurospares have the pattern arms on special so it's not as painful as it once was to get this sorted..

Mark

 

[maser_4200]

My 3200 did this when I first got it. Took me ages to track down exactly..managed to find it in the end by getting the wife to bounce the back of the car whilst I held each arm in turn to see which one I could "feel" was creaking.

Ultimately in my case it was the upper arm ball joint that had gone south.

I did the same as you and greased the joint and it made it go quiet for a couple hundred miles... then it became really worn and the handling became "interesting".

So my advice is get the arm changed as quickly as you can if it's making a noise now... mine was noisey because it had dried out and rusted up in the ball joint itself. Once the rust had been removed by the grease and oil.. so had all the stuff stopping it from moving around!

Eurospares have the pattern arms on special so it's not as painful as it once was to get this sorted..

Mark

Thanks - I have been going back through the service history and I am on the third (!) left / passenger side rear arm, and second right / driver side arm (the one that appears to have the issue). That's pretty bad at 38k miles total... both were replaced at 22k miles, the left again at 28k. How can it be gone again 10k later?!

Looks like the arm is now GBP 1,100 when they were around 400-500 each before. Is the Eurospares pattern part OK?

How can these arms be so rubbish?

I've also had one front arm replaced, and bushings on the other side front. They are as bad if not worse than my old Alfas...

 

[mchristyuk]

They're rubbish because they're made by the FIAT empire!

The arms are still £395 but you have to get the right part number..

http://www.eurospares.co.uk/parts/maserati/4200-spyder-2003/all/rear-suspension-wishbones-20687/198503

Mark

 

[maser_4200]

They're rubbish because they're made by the FIAT empire!

The arms are still £395 but you have to get the right part number..

http://www.eurospares.co.uk/parts/maserati/4200-spyder-2003/all/rear-suspension-wishbones-20687/198503

Mark

Hi Mark,

Thanks! However, that's the pattern part. The other is used, and the new genuine is the eye watering 1.1k (which they certainly did not cost before)...

This is the part that was replaced before: http://www.eurospares.co.uk/search?partNumber=198027 I have Xenon (if that is relevant to lower arm)?

Cheers

 

[Zep]

The Xenon position sensor works from the left rear lower arm so no issue for the RHS. In any case it is just a bracket that can be swapped from the old arm to the new, the extra cost is just our friends at Maserati doing what they do best...