As soon as it hits 50k something had to break!

[MilTownSHO]

This is on the 98:

What it sound like is a strut mount, but here is why I don't think it is..

Sound is coming from the driver side rear, but you only really hear it (and you have NO problem hearing it.) when you are taking tight turns, especially going up or down and incline.

If you hit a real hard bump in the road you'll hear it, but my experience with strut mounts has always been that it's a constant sound over almost any bump in the road.

It almost sounds like something being cracked and then it goes back to how it was and cracks again on the next hard turn.

Any ideas on what to look for?

 

[Mr. SHO]

Broken endlink? That would be fairly obvious when you poke you head under the car.

 

[godspunk32]

Or a worn swaybar bushing...

JR

 

[SHOZ123]

Bad wheel beqaring?

 

[MilTownSHO]

Broken endlink? That would be fairly obvious when you poke you head under the car.

That's what I'm thinking, have not had time to check yet. Would it physically be broken in half? Can you buy just one or do you have to get a set?

How hard are those to replace? Don't recall ever doing one on a V8 SHO.

 

[MilTownSHO]

Bad wheel beqaring?

Wouldn't that be a constant swooshing noise?

 

[SHOZ123]

Maybe, the noise change when the load changes is what makes me think of a bearing. Easy enough to find out. Easy enough to change. Not too expensive either.

 

[Mr. SHO]

That's what I'm thinking, have not had time to check yet. Would it physically be broken in half? Can you buy just one or do you have to get a set?

How hard are those to replace? Don't recall ever doing one on a V8 SHO.

The back links are a piece of cake. They usually break on the bottom end, near the nut. They are exposed to the elements there, and even in warmer/drier climates (away from salt,) they have a tendency to weaken after several years of use and corrosion.

What you will see when you peek up under the car is one or more of the endlink bushings missing. Usually the lowest bushing, along with the nut and the last 1" or so of the endlink shaft will be gone. That broken end of the endlink is what makes the noise as it hits the sway bar.

To fix it, first buy a new pair endlinks. The Moog Heavy Duty rear endlinks are quite good. They are a nice beefy upgrade to the crappy and weak Ford links, and the Moog links utilize TPR bushings rather than natural rubber. RockAuto.com is the best source, IMO. If you don't have time to special order the Moog parts, you can pick up Energy Suspension "universal" style endlinks at most parts stores (AutoZone, for one.) The Energy Suspension links utilize polyurethane bushings, which should be lubed with silicone grease or anti-seize--otherwise they will begin to squeak in short time. Get links that closely approximate the length of the stock links. Usually the largest Energy Suspension links on the shelf are the ones you need.

Jack up both sides of the back of the car and support with jackstands in the rocker notches. Remove the old endlinks with an impact wrench if you have one. Some people hack the old links up with a cutoff saw to simplify removal, but I've never found that necessary. Installation of the new links is pretty self-explanatory. If the new links have polyurethane or TPR bushings, tighten the bolt so that the bushings just begin to bulge a little bit, and then one more full turn (give or take.) With natural rubber, you will want to go tighter than that to eliminate "slop".