Suspension Rumble

[GEORGE 1992]

Hey Guys, Got this 92 recently. Came with susp rumble especially around town,up and down driveways etc. Changed front sub bushings,still there. Changed front struts,still there(turns out both struts and bushing on right front was bad). I just picked up the two piece rear sub frame bushings, being that every thing else looks good. The dealer stated that the rear sub bushings,contrary to local shops do go bad. I hope that this solves it.
Anybody else experience this clunking noise?

 

[SHOtimer]

Yes, they do and when they go bad they make noise. That dealer 'person' is an idiot. Also, check your endlinks they go bad and make clunking noises as you described. They are what connects your swaybar to your strut. Also, the strut rod bushing sleve can come apart from the subframe and cause a clunk - rewelding this to the subframe will fix it. That is all I can think of, it is probably one of those 3 things..

Doug

 

[GEORGE 1992]

Hey thanks for the info. Just called the shop, rear sub bushings fell apart when being removed,so new are in. The tech states that the sound is more up front now. I expained what you thought it was,the sleeve bushing separating from the sub frame.Actually had to expalin it twice. He is going to put it up in the air and check it out. I sure hope that this is the end of this saga. Will keep you posted.Also, endlinks were checked ,one was changed out.

 

[SHOtimer]

Endlinks are cheap enough that you will want to replace them as a pair. You don't have to, but the new one will be worn out faster with the old one on the other side. The clunk is upfront eh? Swaybar bushings could also be suspect, they tend to clunk when aged, how upfront does he mean? Is your suspension origianl at 200+k miles? If your strut rod bushings were worn bad enough they could clunk also......

Doug

 

[GEORGE 1992]

When under the car,everything seems good, but that is in the air on a lift with the suspension hanging. We will see.

 

[GEORGE 1992]

suspension clunk still there

Well, Got the SHO back from the shop. New Struts(front),links, left front strut mount plate , front and rear sub frame bushings. With the car on the lift, we can not see anything wrong. All bushings in good shape, nothing loose,even with a prybar. Rack is secure. Can not replicate the noise on the lift or on the ground by bouncing the car. Take the car for a ride, hit a small bump,manhole cover driveway apron and it sounds like something is going to fall out! It still sounds like bad struts, clunk,clunk. And on both sides, it is also coming from the rear,but I do not want to tackle that untill I get the front straightened out. Their advice was to drive the car , check it once in a while,and maybe it willl get so bad it can be seen. Any help is much appreciated! Maybe try a Ford Dealer?

 

[GEORGE 1992]

Susp problem

If anybody has an Idea on this it would be much appreciated. See above thread,please

 

[SHO Mojo]

Well...

...wish I could help, George, but my 1991 is currently doing something very similar. When you say "sounds like something will fall out", are you implying it is REALLY loud?

I just replaced left/right tie rod ends, control arms/ball joints and sway bar end links in front, and I have a similar noise, mainly when only one wheel (either one) hits an irregularity. I'd say it's a sway bar issue, but I've got brand new end links, and the bushings on the bar/subframe are TPR and in good shape.

I'm stumped, too, so I'll be following your thread!

 

[GEORGE 1992]

Same thing. It is not really loud,and alot less since all work done, but it is a very noticable clunk. (Shop owner states it's like something is going to fall out) Wouldn't you think we could find it? And yes, one wheel at a time, manhole cover etc...
Hopefully someone has been through this and will catch it. Thank you for the kind words and let's keep them rolling.

Oh by the way, The shop tells me they disconnected the sway bar links,drove the car and same clunk. They were baffled. I am so disgusted over it that I have just let the wife drive it around town, you know kids to school and what not. I will begin to drive it again, maybe pop in on the dealer and see what they say.