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  #1  
Old 03-30-2005, 04:04 PM
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***Banging front suspension***

My '96 has been off the road for a while. Partially because I didn't want it becoming a salt lick on the Philly area roads, but mostly because of a banging in the front right hand suspension.

Car is up on jack stands and I have checked:

BRAKE cALIPER
BRAKE HOUSING
STRUT BOLTS
SWAY BAR / BUSHING
ALL ATTACH POINTS FOR THE SUSPENSION

Could I be missing something obvious? Maybe a lower ball joint (looks ok, but who can tell with the strut fully extended?)

All I know is that every bump I hit sounds like the right hand suspension is about to fall off.

Heeeeelllllppppp!!!
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  #2  
Old 03-30-2005, 04:32 PM
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check your struts to make sure they are not bad... one time drove a car and the rear shock feels like it was coming apart so i lift the car and notice that i had some sore of a nut that hold the inner insert of the strut and the outside housing, a have not check the one on the svx. but that may be it...
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  #3  
Old 03-30-2005, 04:36 PM
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The attaching bolts and upper attaching nut are all tight. Unless it's internal, it may not be the strut.

Just checked torque on all the things I listed, nothing moved more that 1/16 of a turn. Took it out for a run 'round the block......same noise.
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  #4  
Old 03-30-2005, 04:40 PM
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I have the same problem from time to time but mine mysteriously goes away after hitting the "right pothole" My guess would be bushing.
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  #5  
Old 03-30-2005, 05:19 PM
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in the strut there is a plastic cover that protect the insert, that metal bar that goes up or down with the movement. well beneath the plastic you will see a round cap, so the insert is not goint to move from left to right it will allow just to go up or down check that cap. sorry but i don't know the terms.... but that is what wears out....
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Old 03-30-2005, 05:49 PM
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I'll get a look at that strut cap tomorrow. Just took her out for a few runs up and down the highway, the problem seems to be gone, but I KNOW her name isn't Christine!
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  #7  
Old 03-30-2005, 08:04 PM
RojoRocket RojoRocket is offline
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Ball Joint???? Stabilizer Link?????

Glenn
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Last edited by RojoRocket; 03-30-2005 at 08:07 PM.
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  #8  
Old 03-30-2005, 08:23 PM
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I'm thinking lower balljoint, but, unless there is catastrophic failure, there's no quick way to tell.

Somewhere, with all of my retorquing, the banging on dips and bumps has stopped. I expect it'll be back at the worst possible moment.
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Old 03-30-2005, 08:30 PM
RojoRocket RojoRocket is offline
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Mine hasn't! Done both BJ's and Stabilizer Links, as well as swaybar bushings and pad clips on the caliper bracket. I'm suspecting a loose piston in the brake caliper(recently purchased rebuilt) but I will prevail!!

Glenn
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1993 25th Anniversary Edition #63 of 301. R.I.P. Rojo 7/24/2008 She saved my life!
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  #10  
Old 03-30-2005, 08:51 PM
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Significant Technical Input
Quote:
Originally Posted by RojoRocket
Mine hasn't! Done both BJ's and Stabilizer Links, as well as swaybar bushings and pad clips on the caliper bracket. I'm suspecting a loose piston in the brake caliper(recently purchased rebuilt) but I will prevail!!

Glenn
Sorry, impossible. If the piston were loose enough to make noise it would be gushing fluid. Loose pads, missing/defective hardware, etc. could be the source. I've determined my noise is just rack rattle. Quick check for brake rattle: does it make noise when the brakes are applied?

BTW - Checking the lower ball joint on strut suspension is done with the strut fully extended. Any other way would have spring pressure against the joint.
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Old 03-30-2005, 09:03 PM
RojoRocket RojoRocket is offline
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Beav,
Thanks for that info! Only reason I suspect the caliper is that it does decrease markedly when I apply the brakes! I thought the caliper would leak as well if one of the piston "rings " were absent, but I'm going through a process of elimination. I last month replaced the tired original struts with Koni inserts and new bump-stops, and the upper mounts looked great, as it's been a Callifornia car it's entire life. I've had a shop tell me it was the ball joint, but I replaced them within the last 6 months. I've used a rubber mallet and dead-blow hammers to try to get any noise. The noise will either be a rattle when passing over rough/broken textures in the blacktop, or a distinct knock when the left front suspension is deflected abruptly, as in bump or hole. I've even replaced the slide pins!!!

Glenn
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1993 25th Anniversary Edition #63 of 301. R.I.P. Rojo 7/24/2008 She saved my life!
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1998 5-Spd Legacy GT Wagon in Glacier White: NUBURU
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  #12  
Old 03-30-2005, 09:46 PM
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I had a strange knocking noise that I couldn’t exactly pinpoint. It ended up being the brake lines that run under the driver side foot/wheel well area. After putting a spacer between them and the body my mysterious knocking disappeared. Although this does not really sound like the noise you are describing, it may help.
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  #13  
Old 03-31-2005, 10:27 AM
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When The Ball Joint Is Bad, You Will Hear A Clicking Noise When Laying On One Corner Of The Car (on The Affected Area). Park The Car And Push Up And Down On Top Of The Car Right Where The Area Of The Tire. That Will Couse The Ball Joint To Click If It Is Bad. Or Lift The Car Up And Try To Move The Tire Pushing The Upper Part And The Lower Part And If It Feels Loose Than That It The Ball Joint. Tha Is Also That It Is Also Most Commont Way To Check Your Bearings.
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  #14  
Old 03-31-2005, 10:29 AM
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How Did It Started?????['
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