Noise from front axle/fcab clearance issue

[Gdubs22]

Hello fellow Z4 owners. I have a 2004 Z4 2.5i and I’ve been experiencing this noise coming from my front suspension for quite a while now. I included a video of what is sounds like for reference. It gets louder and more noticeable when the car is warm and it is hot outside. On colder days I don’t hear it at all. It sounds like something is loose on the front axle and is knocking against something else. Anyway, in attempt to eliminate the noise, I recently replaced my old droplinks with new lemforder ones and replaced sway bar bushings with new powerflex. After this there was a slight improvement, but the noise is still there. Struts, springs, top mounts, tierods, and engine mounts have all also recently been replaced. SOOO, a few days ago I got back underneath the car to re torque the bolts on the front subframe brace and noticed something strange. On the front left control arm bushing, there is about 1/4 in of clearance between the metal bushing bracket and the subframe brace, but on the front right, the bushing bracket looks like it is slammed right up against the brace.(pictures included)

Is this normal? If not, could it be making this noise? Has anyone else experienced this, or have any ideas what could be making this noise?

I know this is long so thanks for taking the time to read this.

Video of noise:

[Clearancediver]

Hard to see what you describe, but the brackets should torque down flush/tight to the frame/body of the car.

[grannyknot]

The aluminum reinforcement plate looks too close to the lollipop, maybe it got pushed up by a curb or speed bump. Just remove it bang it back down.

It could just the light but it looks like in the lower photo of the lollipop that the rubber bushing isn't all the way in, looks like it has worked it's way forward.

[Steeler]

Originally Posted by Gdubs22

On the front left control arm bushing, there is about 1/4 in of clearance between the metal bushing bracket and the subframe brace, but on the front right, the bushing bracket looks like it is slammed right up against the brace.(pictures included)

Is this normal? If not, could it be making this noise? Has anyone else experienced this, or have any ideas what could be making this noise?

I know this is long so thanks for taking the time to read this.

Video of noise:

There is a sleeve inserted into the frame that centre's the lollipop. As GK noted the bracket has to be torqued flush to the frame.

[Gdubs22]

Originally Posted by Steeler

There is a sleeve inserted into the frame that centre's the lollipop. As GK noted the bracket has to be torqued flush to the frame.

Just to clarify, you think that bracket has just come loose and I should re torque it?

[Steeler]

Originally Posted by Gdubs22

Just to clarify, you think that bracket has just come loose and I should re torque it?

Yes.

[Gdubs22]

Originally Posted by Steeler

Yes.

Thank You, I will try that. Do you know the torque spec for those bracket bolts?

[Steeler]

Originally Posted by Gdubs22

Thank You, I will try that. Do you know the torque spec for those bracket bolts?

Probably in TIS but here ya go.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67881

[Gdubs22]

Originally Posted by Steeler

Probably in TIS but here ya go.

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67881

Appreciate it

[MarinerZ4C]

Gdubbs22, did loosening and re-tightening the bolts to torque spec fix your issue ?

I came across this thread looking for opinions on whether replacing only FCA bushings would affect front alignment. Your photos suggested to me that the lollipop in the second photo might have been tightened without being nestled hard up against the frame. That can happen if the two centering sleeves that Steeler referred to aren't fully inside the enlarged diameter portion of each of the lollipop holes.