Pop/Clunk....Bad Strut Mounts/Bearings??

[Electricat]

I have a popping and clunking when my front suspension loads/unloads that I have been unable to diagnose.....within the past 2 years, I have replaced the entire front suspension plus wheel bearings, except for the strut mounts and bearings. The strut rod cups in the subframe are not loose, and subframe bolts have been retorqued.

(I have Moog control arms, Moog springs, Moog tie rods, Monroe struts, adjustable strut rods, TRW sway bar links, ALSFB's, and all bushings are TPR or poly).

Since the mounts and bearings are the only original parts, they are the obvious suspect, but I don't have the money or time to just replace them on a guess. So my question is....what would be the symptoms of either or both of these parts going bad?? Any other thoughts?? Is a certain amount of clunkiness just a part of having the stiff springs and TPR??

 

[jedhead]

How are your subframe bolts and bushings. Are they tight?

Bob

 

[Electricat]

How are your subframe bolts and bushings. Are they tight?

Bob

Bushings are aluminum, bolts were replaced when they were installed a year or so ago. They are torqued to 90ft-lbs, I rechecked them a couple weeks ago.

 

[NJSHO]

Check here: http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=56514
and here http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=56503

 

[BlackandBlue]

Check out all of the recent threads on broken subframes. I would guess that is your issue since we had very similar situations.
Eric

 

[Electricat]

Check out all of the recent threads on broken subframes. I would guess that is your issue since we had very similar situations.
Eric

Wow.....I think you might be right!! When I installed my new strut rods and bushings, the cups were not noticably loose, so I assumed that this was not my problem.....however, reading through the threads and looking at sdpatt's pics, it seems that an apparently tight cup can actually be loose enough to clunk.

I have also had small shifts in alignment a couple times after hitting large cracks while cornering...I at first though this was the subframe shifting, but was puzzled when I checked it and it was still aligned properly. Seems like this can also be a symptom of loose strut rod cups.

So next time I go to my parent's, I'll have to fire up the welder and have a go at the cups, hopefully this will be the solution!!