So I have recently replaced the front suspension control arm bushings (4) and in the process broke the driver's side CV boot but had it replaced with no problems.

Only a couple of days after getting the CV replaced I noticed some noise coming from the passenger side. It sounds like its coming from somewhere close to that front wheel. At first it sounded to me a lot like metal clanging against metal - a thick "THUD" with a bright metallic sound. It vibrated throughout the car whenever I went over any bump (or any sort of unevenness on the road going 35mph+) so I figured it had to be two pretty big pieces of metal hitting.

I got under the car and decided to replace the front control arm rear bushing nuts and bolts (one was bent and they needed to be replaced). I replaced with same size nuts and bolts with washers and lock washer, figuring the sound was made by the bolt clanging up against the front suspension. But the sound stayed.

I looked at the control arms and thought maybe when replacing the bushing I didn't push it in far enough and the control arm was clanging against the suspension on the passenger side, but when I looked at the driver's side it was the same distance but no sound.

I just have recently noticed that it almost sounds like a spring - every time I accelerate somewhat moderate-aggressively it sounds like a spring decompressing in the front pass. side and creaking. Same sound when I brake somewhat rough.

To recap:

- Sounded first like 2 big pieces of metal hitting each other
- Replaced control arm nuts & bults, no change
- Only on Passenger front side, sounds like near the wheel or wheel well
- Moderate-aggressive accel. from stop makes sound like creaking, or spring decompressing
- Moderate-aggressive braking makes sound like creaking, or spring compressing.

Is it possible that the front pass. spring needs to be replaced? Or is it something else?

sounds like it is bottoming out. might be a broken spring.

For those in the future that may have this problem:

Front end links. I had loosened them when I was working on the front suspension, and didn't tighten them enough. My advice if you ever work on your front suspension: use a cheater bar to tighten everything.

ON THAT TOPIC, I do need to replace my end links pretty soon. The boot on the joint is starting to look pretty worn. Although there are no real effects yet, I am aware that the OEM end links are weak and a weak link in the chain of this swede brick. So when I do replace (sometime before the end of the year) I will be putting on the IPD stronger endlinks (also supposed to give a little more control over the vehicle)