Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

Ever since I picked up my 1996, I have had this clunking noise from the front end. I looked under the car and my mechanic did too and we saw nothing obviously wrong with the sway bar bushings, sway bar end links, tie rod end links or ball joints. The noises do not go away when braking so I don't think it is the calipers. The clunking was initially faint and only on bumpy roads and most noticeable at low speeds. The clunking has gotten worse with time. Keep in mind that the car is very clean as it is low mileage and from down south. I looked at the strut area under the hood and the nuts seemed tight and the rubber was in great condition. I seriously doubt the strut mounts are corroded. Also, I pushed down on the front quarter panels and didn't hear a noise and the car responded firmly without bouncing so I think the struts are OK. One question I have about the struts is with regards to the dust cover. Should it be pushed all the way up to the spring retainer with the bottom floating or should it be completely floating and sitting on top of the strut frame?

As the noise has gotten worse it is starting to sound more like a rattling sound with some squeaking thrown in for good measure. One interesting thing to note is that the squeaking comes in when the car is warmed up. And when the clunking was faint I would swear that I didn't hear it when the car was cold but only after it had warmed up. I now hear the clunking all the time but the squeaking definitely starts when warm. I even hear a squeak on the outside of the car when I shut the door. I can also make is squeak if I whack the top of one of the front tires. But again, only when warm. I was just outside spraying the sway bar bushings with silicone and I noticed that the squeaking went away when the hood was open. I backed out the rubber bumpers and sprayed silicone on the latch and it sounds like the squeak is gone. I am not sure where the squeaking was coming from but I am guessing it is where the latch grabs the loop on the hood. What is the best thing to lubricate this with?

The rattling really sounds like something bouncing inside an enclosure and banging against the inside wall versus two things banging into each other. That makes me think it has something to do with the steering rack.

Any and all suggestions on the source of the rattle are welcome and appreciated. I can live with the noise if I know what it is and I know it isn't a safety issue.

I did some research on this forum and on the web and found these as possible causes:

1. Sway bar bushings
2. Sway bar end links
3. Ball joints
4. Tie rod end links
5. Inner tie rods
6. Control arm bushing
7. Bad strut
8. Strut mount
9. Loose sway bar bolts (unclear as to whether this refers to bushing bracket bolts or endlink bolts)
10. Sway bar shifting to one side and contacting the control arm
11. Steering rack needs lash adjustment
12. Power steering relief valves
13. Steering u-joint
14. Loose bolts securing the front suspension subframe to the car

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

it would not be a bad idea to replace the bushings for the suspension (end links, sway bar, etc.) Even if you don't replace them you should take them out and clean them, then reinstall them (I use lithium grease). New bushings will improve the ride and handling of your vehicle though. I only have replaced the rear sway bar bushings on my SVX (you could see daylight through them!) and it was extremely noticeable.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

If possible, get the car up (run up blocks work good) and have someone make the noise happen by bouncing car or whatever to make the noise and get all over and under the car till you can locate the area of the noise, go from there.
good luck
M7

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

I'm new here and don't know if this is the right place but, My SVX door hinges make a popping sound when you open and close them. Just wanted to know if that's a common problem with the hinges?

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

Lube them with spray white lithium grease, took care of mine.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

I had an annoying clunk from the front end over bumps, mainly at lower speeds (parking lot type thing). I had thought it was my caliper slides being worn because riding the brakes seemed to help. However, after installing my coilovers the noise was gone completely. It was probably an internal part of the front strut's valving that was sticking. In any case, my car now rides like a luxo-sports car. Stiff and quiet.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

Did you replace the strut at the same time? Did you ever try to test the strut by having someone sit in the car while you rocked the front corners of the car up and down?

It really sounds like the steering rack to me. I have been wondering if it is related to this TSB:

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/suba...-09-01_tsb.pdf

On a non-related note, does anyone have a good test to see if your tires are rubbing the wheel wells? Would the sound be a nasty grinding noise or a simple squonk noise? I get a squonk that sound like rubber rubbing on metal but I think it is actually the over-seized jack I have in the trunk which is surrounded by styrofoam and just sitting between the spare tire and the wall of the recess. I would think a tire rubbing on the wheel well would make a much worse noise but I wanted to test it out for sure. I was thinking some driveway chalk on the tire and see if it get rubbed off.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

Do they pop once or a few times as you open the door?

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

I too, had unnerving rattle-clunking sounds in the front, especially when driving across washboard surfaces at low speed, on both of our 92s when 1st purchased (1st at 147k, 2nd one at 128k..) In both cases, replacing the front strut mounts/bearing corrected the noise. On my daughter's 92, those parts have been in use for 60k+ miles without further issue.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

What was wrong with your mounts? The impression I get from reading past posts is that they corrode. If so, that probably isn't the issue in my case as this car is from the south and had no corrosion as of yet.

But do you have a definitive test to see if it is the mounts?

I did notice something new tonight. It could be my imagination but if seemed like the rattling was much quieter when the car was accelerating and was loudest when the car was coasting.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

Hi,
Before replacement, the front mounts looked perfect. I couldn't get them to rattle when car was static. Due to the high mileage, I decided to replace all struts and mounts as a pm-the noise went away totally. Then we bought the silver 92 with the exact same noise. Replaced front mounts, problem went away.The removed mounts showed the bearing had developed play. As far as corrosion-the rear mounts are known to rust through and the top hat collapses. When purchased, both of our 92s had serious corrosion in the rear mounts.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

Am I to assume that there is no way to test or inspect the mount bearing without removing the whole assembly?

Any idea why the mount bearings would develop play? I could see the struts themselves wearing out or failing with mileage/age but the mounts shouldn't "age" other than through corrosion.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

I didn't really test anything. I assumed the noise was the calipers and had panned to rebuild them sometime in the future. Installing coilovers was a separate venture that happened to fix the clunking. An interesting observation: I drove the car for a few days without the rear sear/interior and could see the rear strut mounts. Any time the car went over a bump they were bouncing up and down wildly.

As for the rubbing... With as low as my car is now I can get the fronts to rub in hard corners. It's a nasty noise, hard to mistake for anything else.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

The door hinges pop a couple of times opening or closing the doors.

Re: Clunking -> Rattling -> Squeaking
 

Does anyone have a technique for testing or inspecting the front strut mounts?