Subframe / suspension issues

[RJ-92]

Well my car like to make noise in the front.

Here's a little background. MOds; Konis, Eibachs, Alum SFBs. New or recently replaced; all strut bushings/brearings, sway bar links, inner/outer tie-rod ends Pretty much everything but strut rod bushings and swaybar bushings in the front.

The best way I can explain what is going on is if anyone who had shot SFB (stock) the way the car makes noise clukns and groans while turning or bumps. I had shot stock SFBs and it is now acting exactly the same as it did them. When I turn rather sharply, >45* (at all speeds , but seems almost worse at low speed) the car clunks a bit as it would if the subframe was moving around. It won't do it with the front wheels in the air. Only under weight. It is really prevelant in parking lost or if transitioning from a left to right turn or vice-versa.

If the SF is shifting it is its not the bushings. The are aluminum and are torqued to 92 ft/lbs. I also checked every nut and bolt in the front suspension for proper torque. Everything's tight.

My theory is that the retaining nuts for the sub-frame bolts are loose. I know the cars were recalled for this and the recall was performed (albeit in GA). But that's the only explanation I can come up with. Is it possible the nuts came loose and are causing the SF to shift around? How would I check these. Any ideas what else it could be also? Its starting to drive me nutz!

<small>[ October 28, 2003, 05:40 PM: Message edited by: RJ-92 ]</small>

 

[94mtx]

rj-92,
not sure if this will help, but it just happened to me so its worth a shot. check your axles, the passenger side on mine came out a bit, well the cv joint side just outboard of the bearing support, so i could see about .5" of the spines, if that is your issue its a quick fix, just undo the lower control arm bolt, undo the swaybar endlink, and the castle nut on the tierod and seperate it all and push the axle back on untill it clicks. hope that helps. it occured because of a catalytic converter that was angled wierdly and when i lowered the subframe to change out my sfbs the ypipe went up and contacted the axle and seperated it. but that was a freak occurance due to bad install from my muffler guy.


jon

 

[Mr Anonymous]

How are your ball joints? You don't mention them. Also check the Konis, one might be moving around in the housing.

If you want to check the SFB nuts, all you really have to do is jack up the subframe in front, recheck the front tq's, and repeat for the rear. If you're able to tq to spec then the nuts have to be OK or you'd feel looseness when trying to retorque them.

 

[DHMag]

low speed, sharp turn clunking sounds like inner tie rod to me. my experience was during a low speed hard turn, just as id let up a little on the wheel, the front end would clunk and you could feel slight sideways movement of the car. ended up being inner tie rod. you say its been replaced....but id still check into it.

 

[RJ-92]

Well, Its not the inner tie-rods. They were replaced with brand new Moog units 8k ago. It did the same thing with the old ones which was why I changed them in thefirst place. The old ones were still pretty good actually. I thought it might be the Konis too. I made sure they were snug on all 4s. 2 of them I was able to move the bolt a little but they certainly weren't sliding around in the housings. When the car clunks I really can't feel anything in the steering wheel but can sometimes feel a little popping in the floor with my feet. I guess the ball joints could maybe use a replacement. but I doubt their that bad. They felt pretty strong 10 k ago when I swapped knuckles. And I just checked them by pulling on th etires @ 12 o'clock and 6'clock when I rotated my tires 2k ago.

I'm running out of ideas. But ball joint replacement sounds like its next on the list though.

 

[RJ-92]

BTW. It does it occasionally over bumps or while initial braking too. Not always just turning.

 

[SHO_Driver]

A bad balljoint would likely cause vibration at highway speeds. Does your steering wheel shake?

 

[Chris Benvie]

check your strut rod bushings, did you do the subframe recall on both side or did you just slab those alum babies up in there...

 

[LOUDSHO92]

It might be your axles. Mine would make noises at low speeds. It might be time to have them replaced. Also check the top nut on the koins if this is loose it might make the sounds you are talking about.

 

[gdsqdcr]

How would you check the axles to see if they are bad? What would you look for?
My car is making similiar noises, and the mechanics are unable to find the problem.
Anthony

 

[DHMag]

sway bar endlinks ?

 

[RJ-92]

SHO_Driver:
A bad balljoint would likely cause vibration at highway speeds. Does your steering wheel shake?

> 70 Mph, yes. Anyhtihng slower than that and its OK.

The recall was performed on the car in 99, as stated above. All nuts and bolts are to tq spec. No the Strut rod bushings were not replaced, I'm sure they are due, but doubt they are the sole cause of the thumping.

 

[fordfreak]

its totaly subframe bolts if it hapends durring a turn inital breaking and going over bumps and it feels like its right under your front floor boards then do the plate nut recall cuz FORD won't. make sure you get those bolts TIGHT if you cant get them off its the plate nut and therein lies your problem

 

[gdsqdcr]

Mine was making the noise.
I had the subframe bushings replaced, (aluminum) and had the recall done at the same time.
Noise is still there.

Someone suggested that possibly the bolt that holds my motormounts in may be busted.

Anthony