Clanking-springy sound

[htyei]

I let my mom borrow the car for a couple of days, and now I hear this clanking-springy sound.
I started really noticeing this morning and its gotten progressively louder.

At first I thought it was a loose dust shield(I changed my oil today), but its not.

The sound is only heard when going over less than perfect terrain. And loudness varies depending on the bumps on the road.(rough road = much more cacaphony)

What could it be?

My mom swears she used 91grade gas, and had no bottom outs or accidents.

She is very prone to pressing the power and brake a lot, because she's not used to the power of the svx.

[svx_commuter]

Check out the front sway bar and where the link end attaches to the strut and bar. Maybe it's loose. Could it also be the brake shoes rattling around? A slight press on the brake would clear it up.

[htyei]

Ok, its a clanking sound under neath my driverside wheel.
I put it on ramps, and it looks like either the tie rod or stablilizer link is just sitting there loose.

What are the effects of having this thing loose? Should I be driving around with it or will it exacerbate the problem?

I'll be going outside with my service manual to make sure exactly what it is thats loose. Hopefully, Ill get a friend over tonight and take some digicam pics.

[htyei]

So far it looks like my front stabilizer busing is missing.
What could have made it disappear?
Looks easy to replace myself, but I could be wrong.
Do i need to jack up my car or are ramps fine?
What damage could other components have sustained with this missing part?
And again, How could it have disappeared?

[svx_commuter]

There is a clamp that holds the bushing. I belive it's a 12mm head and one of those ratcheting box wrenches will speed the removal along. I have always taken off both wheels to mess with the bushings. I think you should be able to do on the ramps as long as the wheels are level.

Other than the noise I think it will be hard to damage something. I would not drive real hard and take it easy over the bumps.

It may have fell out because the clamp was loose or the rubber decayed and fell out or the bar slid to one side and the rubber pulled out. My bar always seems to slide toward the driver side of the car. IS your bar rusted under the bushing?

[htyei]

SO this is a pretty much DIY thing right? Losing the bushing just affects noise comfort and perhaps ride stability? It won't change my alignment/geometry of my suspesion?

If I do it myself, it should be as good asbefore I lose the bushing?

UPDATE: I wish dealers would stock a set of complete svx replacement parts, wishful thinking. I'll have to wait for the parts to come in. 17-10+ days.


I guess I can drive the svx around with no mechanical problems?
(I'd try not to, but everyone one of our cars is down for some mechanical problem)

[solarsvx]

htyea im hacing hte same noise on my 92 svx its been dricing me nuts cant figure it out. it only does it whene im hiting small bumps making a clinky sound hard to describe,,

i checked the bushing shocks, sway bars springs all seem in good shape im thinking its a bad cv jointe .. thats broken internally and hasent broke the boot yet im all out of options,

u can here and feel it if u put your foot on the dead peddle fell it through that and a brick road its obvous then,.. hasent afect the handling or any part of the car so i just been ignoring it,

[svx_commuter]

Originally posted by htyei
SO this is a pretty much DIY thing right? Losing the bushing just affects noise comfort and perhaps ride stability? It won't change my alignment/geometry of my suspesion?

If I do it myself, it should be as good asbefore I lose the bushing?

UPDATE: I wish dealers would stock a set of complete svx replacement parts, wishful thinking. I'll have to wait for the parts to come in. 17-10+ days.


I guess I can drive the svx around with no mechanical problems?
(I'd try not to, but everyone one of our cars is down for some mechanical problem)

It will not corner as well and yes you can DIY. No effect on alignment. Howver you may scrap up the bar some inside the clamp and maybe scar the clamp.