Noise from front when pulling away fitting after strut brace

J

JSz4

Member
I fitted a E46 strut brace a few days ago (https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114169) and since fitting the front of the car is making a creaking/groaning noise as I pull away. I removed the bar, leaving the strut brace mounts in place and the noise stopped. Has anyone else experienced this?
 
I’d check these four first:

- was it torqued to spec?
- was it fitted on perfectly level ground?
- did you clean the points of contact and threads well?
-are the oem braces torqued to spec?
 
Are you sure its not touching the Disa valve and the engine is vibrating through the brace? Mine did and had to tweak the bar to clear.
 
MJJamieson said:
Are you sure its not touching the Disa valve and the engine is vibrating through the brace? Mine did and had to tweak the bar to clear.
Click to expand...

I didn't notice it close to touching anywhere but will check tomorrow, was yours an M3 E46 brace too?

It is torqued to spec and fitted on level ground, I cleaned contact points but will double check threads and check OEM brace torque, thanks
 
I have an E46 M3 brace and no issues with S54 engine.

Did you remove or cut down the camber pins?
 
srhutch said:
I have an E46 M3 brace and no issues with S54 engine.

Did you remove or cut down the camber pins?
Click to expand...

I removed the pins in order to fit the brace as the mounts wouldn't sit flush otherwise, will this have any detrimental effect?
 
If it stops when you remove the centre section of the brace then the source will either be the contact points + four nuts of the brace itself, or something in the suspension/front axle assembly that is now being more stressed because of the torque being transmitted across the chassis.

Common sense would say check the brace first, but it’s aluminium-on-aluminium, which you wouldn’t think would creak. So I’d also check all the usual suspension bits for play - top mounts, control arm bushes, ARB mounts, drop links, ball joints, springs etc.
 
JSz4 said:
srhutch said:
I have an E46 M3 brace and no issues with S54 engine.

Did you remove or cut down the camber pins?
Click to expand...

I removed the pins in order to fit the brace as the mounts wouldn't sit flush otherwise, will this have any detrimental effect?
Click to expand...

No that is fine.
 
From the picture it looks like it is touching the engine plastic bits. If not it could be close enough to hit when the engine moves under acceleration.
 
JSz4 said:
I fitted a E46 strut brace a few days ago (https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=114169) and since fitting the front of the car is making a creaking/groaning noise as I pull away. I removed the bar, leaving the strut brace mounts in place and the noise stopped. Has anyone else experienced this?
Click to expand...
I'd check you had around 15mm of space to any engine component. The engine lifts and twists under load (either accel or decel). Also as the OP mentioned, undo the bolts and re-do on a known, level, entirely flat surface with all unnecessary load taken out of the car (ie any luggage items).
 
It will be rubbing on the DISA valve area, mine did and caused a creak. Was just clear when the car was stationary but when driven the engine moves on its mounts. Take it off, put it upside down on something soft and take a rounded lump hammer to the inside, few hits gets it to the perfect curve and did not damage mine :thumbsup:
 

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It's been over a year so the OP could well be in the looney bin by now, driven insane by the constant groaning from the front of his car.
 
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