Help diagnosing front end pops with video!

[vortex2450]

Hey,

I just installed Ingalls adjustable strut mounts on my 92' MTX.

Before I installed the mounts the only front end noise was the sound of the rubber strut boots moving. No clunks or pops of any sort.

Now I have a variety of lovely sounding "pops". I want to get this car aligned ASAP but I'm concerned these "pops" could be the result of an issue that would only put my car out of alignment in a short time.

Here's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZkiwIa8I-8

These are mostly present when turning and more evident at slower speeds. When I turn either way (but more so to the right) I can hear "pops" and feel them in the car but not in the wheel. They aren't major "clunks" per say but rather annoying "pops" and through the motion of turning the wheel from full left to full right there is usually about 8-10 small "pop" sounds.

Recently replaced items include:
-Steering rack w/ tie rods.
-Swaybar bushings
-Endlinks
-Strut mounts w/ strut bearings.
-Pass side LCA


When I installed the mounts I followed the instructions to the letter. In order of appearance from the beginning of the strut rod the parts where:

-Lower urethane bushing
-Bottom Camber plate
-Strut mount
-Upper Camber plate
-upper urethane bushing
-Strut rod nut

The instructions mentioned a "spacer" for 92' and newer Taurii and said it was included but I had no such thing in either package so no "spacer" was installed.

I didn't tighten the strut rod nuts until they were on the car and once tightened there is about 1-9/16" worth of thread exposed on each rod. I rotated each adjustment plate into the middle with the rod towards the back of the car and then tightened the mount down using the new nuts/lock-washers/washers to about 30 lb ft.


My initial thoughts are both ball joints are bad as the new one wasn't but $25 and the boots was torn from the metal plate that is on the back side of the rotor. But I cannot get any play from the wheels when they are up in the air.

There was also a lot of weight ( aprox. 250lbs) put onto the strut control arm when I used a 2x4" to leverage the ball joint as low as possible to put the knuckle back on. Maybe I broke the mounts on the subframe? I looked at the receivers and they didn't budge though.


Another thought is that I realigned the sub frame and maybe I didn't TQ the bolts back in enough? How much does it take? I tightened them down with a 1/2" rachet and a 2ft breaker bar until I couldn't turn them anymore with out bracing my feet on something which is a considerable amount of torque.

Lastly, searching around I saw mention of the steering rack being loose and causing such an issue with out feeling it in the wheel. . I never messed with the rack when doing the mounts but I'm not ruling it out.

Any one else have some input?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[intimdatr]

Mine did this, I discovered it to be the top of springs where they were found to be sticking out the edge of the spring mount and rubbing on the Strut tower of the body. If you take the wheel off and look up where the struts mounts to the car and look for where the spring is rubbing on the tower you should be able to see a ring of shinny metal where th issues is arising. At least this was the issue with my car. Hope this helps.


i'll see if i can get pictures of where rubbing was on my car to explain better.

 

[vortex2450]

Mine did this, I discovered it to be the top of springs where they were found to be sticking out the edge of the spring mount and rubbing on the Strut tower of the body. If you take the wheel off and look up where the struts mounts to the car and look for where the spring is rubbing on the tower you should be able to see a ring of shinny metal where th issues is arising. At least this was the issue with my car. Hope this helps.


i'll see if i can get pictures of where rubbing was on my car to explain better.

I completely understand.

This could be the issue, without the "spacers" the spring sits 3/8" higher and could potentially rub and hit the strut tower.

There were these big "washer" looking guys the sat on each side of the stock mount and squeezed it together, I didn't re install these, maybe that's a problem?


SHOsource didn't include any "spacers" with my mounts. I'll shoot them an email.

-Josh

 

[intimdatr]

I honestly dont any know anything about the spacers, ,mine went away when i switched to Moog springs with NOS shocks. Have to look to someone else for answers to that but if i had to guess the spacers would help while also increasing the pre-load on the system for better handling.

 

[vortex2450]

I honestly dont any know anything about the spacers, ,mine went away when i switched to Moog springs with NOS shocks. Have to look to someone else for answers to that but if i had to guess the spacers would help while also increasing the pre-load on the system for better handling.

The instructions mentioned them specifically and said they were included but they weren't. Kevinspann told me they are a 5-6" rubber thing so I don't think the washers I have are what I need.

On another note, perhaps the struts are orientated wrong and they should be spun towards the front of the car i nthe mount


Anyone else have an idea?

-Josh

 

[Racer X]

Am I the only one who noticed the substantial subframe movement as the wheels were turned left and right?

 

[vortex2450]

Am I the only one who noticed the substantial subframe movement as the wheels were turned left and right?

No, I know it's bad, and not supposed to happen, kevinspann also pointed it out. Gonna invest in new Gen3 SF bushing but I don't believe those are the issue as those bushing existed before and enver made such noise.. , but i've been wrong before..

-Josh

 

[pejohnson]

I just replace mine and had similar issues. I would install the spacer. Mine was more of a rubbing sound rather than a popping sound. When I drilled out the spot welds on the top of the strut tower, one of my pilot bits broke off and hung up down in the strut top. I thought it just fell out but what happened was the bit was rubbing the top of the strut. It sounded more like metal grinding as you can imagine.

 

[vortex2450]

I just replace mine and had similar issues. I would install the spacer. Mine was more of a rubbing sound rather than a popping sound. When I drilled out the spot welds on the top of the strut tower, one of my pilot bits broke off and hung up down in the strut top. I thought it just fell out but what happened was the bit was rubbing the top of the strut. It sounded more like metal grinding as you can imagine.

Rubbing is an everyday sound with these boots, I fixed that with silicone spray on occasion. The spacers didn't come with the mounts I bought and weren't on the car before hand so I'm basically SOL.

Thanks for the input though.


-Josh

 

[vortex2450]

update!

Problem turn out to be that I ordered the 86-89 mount and not the 90-95 mount but I have the 90-95 spring seat, so I need to find the 86-89 spring seat and I should be set. SHOSource is offering to send me a pair if I cover shipping which is more than generous but they are in CA and I'm in NC, this is my DD so haste is my priority I am looking to find a set at a parts store.

Autozone shows the same part for all Taurii 86-95 but Advance has two different Moog seats part #K8997 and K8999, the boot I want should be shorter correct?

Anyone wanna help me here? If I can find the spring seats I need I can known this out this weekend.

Thanks,
josh