Right Wheel Clunking

[rfiltz]

Posted this on Delphi and it seems most think it is the tie-rod weld or something. Just want to see if it's the same over here! (worried about my tie-rods breaking now)

I get a clunking noise from the right front wheel area, mainly when I'm turning and it gets loaded (like turning and hitting a rise). Kind of, but doesn't really sound like a CV joint. I've heard that these cars can have bad welds on the tie rods? Could it also be a strut mount or something?

Just changed my snow tires off. When I had the wheel up, I could kind of twist the wheel a little horizontally, but not vertically. Also the half-shaft had a little play in it, but not that much. Would that bushing cause the horizontal play?

 

[sdpatt]

That sounds like your tie rod end is worn and has play. There should be no play in the tie rod end when you wiggle the wheel front-to-back. There is no weld in the rod end, just a ball and socket link that wears as the grease is lost through the worn rubber seal. The Moog rod ends are greaseable and easy to install, but you must have the toe-in reset afterward.

 

[rfiltz]

I think the weld they were talking about was on the subframe mount for the tie-rod end? Something about Ford needing a spacer for the rubber bushings. Some guys re-welded it and some found some large washers to cover the gap. Haven't looked at the end yet. How do you access it? Through the wheel-well behind the splash guard, or from under the front bumper?

 

[93nighthawk]

It is definitely the tie rod. It hapened to my car. Where it connects to the subframe in front the weld rust. The local Ford shop rewelded it in and put a new tie rod in. They welded from under the bumper & behind the splash guard. Of coarse they did have a lift that made it easier. About $180 for all of it. That what you get in the snow belt, rust, rust, & more rust, ugh.

Eric