[amr]

Just purchased the car a few days ago and the first time I drove it over a RR crossing was this weekend. I heard a terrible rattle that seemed to be coming from under the front passenger seat. It seems like a clunking (i.e. metal on metal or metal on plastic). I'm wondering if something is loose with the passenger seat or perhaps a panel is loose in the undercarriage. Any help of where to look would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mowlas]

Just purchased the car a few days ago and the first time I drove it over a RR crossing was this weekend. I heard a terrible rattle that seemed to be coming from under the front passenger seat. It seems like a clunking (i.e. metal on metal or metal on plastic). I'm wondering if something is loose with the passenger seat or perhaps a panel is loose in the undercarriage. Any help of where to look would be appreciated. Thanks.

It could be so many things. It always helps to put your car year, model and transmission as part of your signature (see mine on this post) as the experts can often chime in with a better shortlist given understanding of age and model.

Was it a one-off or is the clunking repeating regularly now?

First thoughts from your description are either:
- if a one-off, it can be the suspension coils which can rotate and then make a clunking sound as they make a full rotation and the top of the spring finds its normal position - this is completely normal and you may hear this every month or so
- if repeated noise, it could be your front bushings are worn and need to be replaced (they make a mechanical clunking noise). This is not cheap but will be covered by warranty if your car is still in manufacturers warranty period
- have you checked your wheel linings are still firmly in place or loose?

Sure others will chime in but please tell us your transmission and year! :cheers:

 

[JoshH]

Your ECU is stored in a pocket beneath the carpeting. It is all metal with no padding, if someone had been in there and didn't secure the ECU, that could be the noise...

 

[amr]

Your ECU is stored in a pocket beneath the carpeting. It is all metal with no padding, if someone had been in there and didn't secure the ECU, that could be the noise...

I don't think it's the ECU. The noise repeats every time the suspension is compressed (particularly the right front corner). I went over a RR track again very very slowly one wheel at a time and it only happens with the right front wheel. You can actually hear a clunk as soon as the suspension compresses... almost like either the sway bar is not attached or the spring is out of its perch. If I go fast, the noise resonates. For example, if I go super slow and roll one wheel over the RR track, I hear one "toc" as the spring compresses. If I go fast over multiple tracks or a bumpy road, I hear "toc toc toc toc toc...."

The noise is so obvious that I'm sure if I got the car on a lift I would probably see something!

It's a mystery because the car drives perfectly straight and also brakes straight, so I'm not sure what's going on.

 

[Maserati tech]

AMR,I would concentrate on the strut assembly.I had to replace a fair amount of them for that kind of an issue The vehicle is 6 years old and it is highly possible.Also check the control arms along with the ball joints they have also been known to cause that.Feel free to call if I can be of any help.Neil 847-924-3550

 

[amr]

AMR,I would concentrate on the strut assembly.I had to replace a fair amount of them for that kind of an issue The vehicle is 6 years old and it is highly possible.Also check the control arms along with the ball joints they have also been known to cause that.Feel free to call if I can be of any help.Neil 847-924-3550

Neil, thank you so much for taking my call and for the detailed explanation. As agreed, I'll take the car into my local dealer and get it on the lift to see what's going on and I'll call you to let you know what they said.

We need someone like you in the Dallas area! Good luck with your new shop and I'm sure you'll do well. Take care.

 

[mowlas]

Could be your front right bushing. How many miles has your car done, how old is it?

 

[Sunshine]

I had one incident with the same kind of noise coming from the front and the right side of the car in front of the passenger. The rattle was from a broken belt, a belt connecting the engine to a water tank if I recall correctly. Without it the engine would heat up. It's easy to see and not difficult to change.

Edited: Oh you said under the seat, not in front of if, never mind...

 

[Victory12]

It's the upper control arm bushing. The vibration and rattle travels through the chassis making you think it'd coming from under the seats

Eddie Rodriguez

 

[amr]

Thanks all for your feedback. I did take the car into a local service station for a state inspection since I just purchased it and I asked them to put it on the lift to take a look. We manually checked the control arms as well as ball joints and everything seemed tight so there was nothing obvious. However, that does not mean there's nothing wrong. I talked with the owner of a very reputable Ferrari/Maserati independent in the Dallas area that I've known for years and I'm taking it in this week anyway to get it check out. They are a highly recommended FD installer anyway and I'll take my car there to install the springs so I'll see what they say this week. Thanks again.

 

[amr]

Just got back from the shop and it's the upper control arm bushing.... very loose and looks like it had been loose for a while and someone installed shims to quieten it down.

We'll replace the bushings when I do the FD springs.

Any idea what the cost of all the control arm bushings would be? Is there a bushing kit out there?

Thanks.

 

[mowlas]

As I is suspected - sorry to hear.

Was your car bought under warranty from a Maserati dealer? If so it may be covered under the warranty. Otherwise it will be quite expensive and you will need a front wheel alignment,

 

[amr]

As I is suspected - sorry to hear.

Was your car bought under warranty from a Maserati dealer? If so it may be covered under the warranty. Otherwise it will be quite expensive and you will need a front wheel alignment,

Unfortunately it was not purchased under warranty so I will have to deal with it. It appears the bushings themselves are not that expensive (i.e. I can get all eight for $600) but I'm guessing the labor will be quite high.

 

[mowlas]

Not sure but I think you are right that labour costs will be the larger part of the bill. I had mine sorted under warranty but I do remember the technician talking about the considerable work done to get these replaced. Would you consider trying a recommended independent?

However it is not stratospherically expensive and there is an upside if you get both left and right bushings replaced - the steering feel should be tighter, sharper and more responsive giving a new car feel to the driving experience.

Hope all gets sorted as painlessly as possible.

 

[friendgr]

These bushings need replacing at some km/miles or it is bad luck?

 

[amr]

Not sure but I think you are right that labour costs will be the larger part of the bill. I had mine sorted under warranty but I do remember the technician talking about the considerable work done to get these replaced. Would you consider trying a recommended independent?

However it is not stratospherically expensive and there is an upside if you get both left and right bushings replaced - the steering feel should be tighter, sharper and more responsive giving a new car feel to the driving experience.

Hope all gets sorted as painlessly as possible.

The bushings themselves are $55 each for new OEM Maserati parts and there are 8 in the front so parts are not that expensive. The labor is the issue, but I'm getting the FD springs installed anyway and will have them done at the same time. It won't wash out the additional labor but it will be much less expensive than doing it on its own. The front shocks were replaced in July this year along with their bushings so I'm actually considering replacing the rear shocks and the rear control arm bushings as well. The job will be a bit more costly but I will essentially have a brand new suspension afterwards. Alternatively, for the additional cost of the rear shocks, I may opt for the coil-over package and get it done at once. I'm still thinking about it!

 

[amr]

Update....

Sorry for bringing this thread back to life but I got some new information that may help me to get this issue figured out....

I've taken the car to two independents now and both spent a significant amount of time pulling and prying on the suspension and both could not conclusively say that anything was obviously wrong. It was assumed that it is the upper C/A bushings but not confirmed.

I was going to replace the front bushings on the hope that it would resolve the issue.

This morning while pulling out of the garage, I had the window down and heard the clank as I pressed the brakes. I repeated it a few times and without failure, every time I hit the brakes I hear the a noise (right front). I had my wife drive the car up and down the driveway and hit the brakes and I see the right front caliper moving every time she applies the brakes.

I know this is not normal but I'm wondering what would be causing this.

FWIW, neither shop pulled the wheel off during their diagnosis so perhaps I should do that tonight but I'm wondering what I need to look for. Otherwise, I may take it to a brake shop.

 

[Scotta98]

I'd have it towed to someone who knows what they are doing. IMHO, you can put up with suspension issues and take your time to work it out but when the brakes are involved, there is no room to maneuver.

 

[laquatttro]

hey guys,

i have the same sound problems on the right side too, just after i changed my brake disks, and ball joint, maybe its the caliper, but today i got to the french dealer and the guy told me withount inspecting it, (just told to brake hard while i was a parking) he saw the whole wheel mooving, so he says its the suspension arm and in that case, we have to change the upper and the lower + a 3rd arm that is related (all thses parts has to be ordered specialy for each car. in the us i see you can only change the bushing?? is he bullshitting me ?
sorry for bad words but they are very rude here
thanks

 

[amr]

hey guys,

i have the same sound problems on the right side too, just after i changed my brake disks, and ball joint, maybe its the caliper, but today i got to the french dealer and the guy told me withount inspecting it, (just told to brake hard while i was a parking) he saw the whole wheel mooving, so he says its the suspension arm and in that case, we have to change the upper and the lower + a 3rd arm that is related (all thses parts has to be ordered specialy for each car. in the us i see you can only change the bushing?? is he bullshitting me ?
sorry for bad words but they are very rude here
thanks

Here is what I have learned....

There are two bushings in each of the front control arms (2 upper and 2 lower x 2 sides) for a total of 8 bushings. Maserati has recently gone to a two-pc bushing from the one piece. They are sold in kits for the left side and right side at roughly $370 per kit (contains 4 bushings).

The problem is when you just replace the bushings, it does not solve the issue because often when the bushings are loose, they cause the ball joint to also loosen. You cannot replace just the ball joint because it is only sold with the control arm so you have to buy the control arm and this also comes with the bushings already pressed in. This is what Maserati calls a Suspension Kit.

I was recently quoted $4,500 to replace all four front control arms by a local dealer, but thankfully my problem was taken care of in full by Maserati North America Details

I know my post does not help you much, but it at least describes the components. Perhaps you could start with just replacing the bushings (i.e. both sides) and see what happens.

Here is a copy of just one kit (i.e. one side)