bad strut mounts? how do i know?

PCx188 · 08-21-2006, 05:20 PM

my front wheel well has some wierd clicking noise that comes and goes away every now and then. somebody told me bad strut mounts. the clicks are usually heard when the brakes are applied while facing down hill or easing uphill onto a driveway. anyone have any idea what my problem is?

Luni · 08-21-2006, 05:37 PM

Sounds like its your sway bar endlink or something in the sway bar.

Youd have to pull the struts and check the mounts. Theyre easy as sin to pull, but if you pull them and put them back on you will need an alignment.

C3LZ0 · 08-21-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luni

Sounds like its your sway bar endlink or something in the sway bar.

Youd have to pull the struts and check the mounts. Theyre easy as sin to pull, but if you pull them and put them back on you will need an alignment.

I think he is right. I heard the same noise usually when i pull up into my driveway and apply the brakes. I got new struts in the front and i still hear the noise so i am guessing it is the swaybar thingy.

Luni · 08-22-2006, 03:01 PM

If you have a 91/92 you have really weak thin front sway bar endlinks. Theyre long too. And they get bent easy. What could be happening when the wheel turns the sway bar loads to the side to allow for movement, and vice versa when you turn the other way. If its bent or the mounting tab is bent on the strut housing itself, or even a bolt is minutely lose, it could be moving outside its normal path and clanking on something. Also theres torsional stress on them even when the suspension moves. Sway bars dont just keep your body from rolling, they also evenly distribute force between the 2 shocks so the WHOLE suspesion takes the force. I think your endlinks or mounting tabs are bent.

PCx188 · 08-22-2006, 04:15 PM

ok, i'll have it checked out this week. btw, i have a 95 n/a. does it make any difference? also, am i going to die or lose my front wheel doing 85 on the highway if i keep driving the car the way it is? what's the danger factor here?

Luni · 08-22-2006, 04:54 PM

nah, you dont even need a sway bar.

You might lose the sway bar itself, but if an endlink is bad or something it wouldnt cause anything else to come down.

I highly doubt it will even fall off anyway.

Just lift the front end up off the ground (use a jack and jackstands, remove both front wheels, and youll see the endlink and swaybar down there. Wiggle the sway bar, try turning the steering whell and seeing where it goes. play with the suspension.

Keep in mind you could have a bad balljoint/tie rod end or wheel bearing too.

PCx188 · 08-23-2006, 09:26 AM

damn so many things. hahahaha.

thanks a lot. i'll check it out.

08-21-2006, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
PCx188 NYC hardtop Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 512 Thanks: 14 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	bad strut mounts? how do i know? my front wheel well has some wierd clicking noise that comes and goes away every now and then. somebody told me bad strut mounts. the clicks are usually heard when the brakes are applied while facing down hill or easing uphill onto a driveway. anyone have any idea what my problem is?

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08-21-2006, 05:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,739 Thanks: 7 Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	Sounds like its your sway bar endlink or something in the sway bar. Youd have to pull the struts and check the mounts. Theyre easy as sin to pull, but if you pull them and put them back on you will need an alignment.

08-22-2006, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,739 Thanks: 7 Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	If you have a 91/92 you have really weak thin front sway bar endlinks. Theyre long too. And they get bent easy. What could be happening when the wheel turns the sway bar loads to the side to allow for movement, and vice versa when you turn the other way. If its bent or the mounting tab is bent on the strut housing itself, or even a bolt is minutely lose, it could be moving outside its normal path and clanking on something. Also theres torsional stress on them even when the suspension moves. Sway bars dont just keep your body from rolling, they also evenly distribute force between the 2 shocks so the WHOLE suspesion takes the force. I think your endlinks or mounting tabs are bent.

08-22-2006, 04:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
PCx188 NYC hardtop Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 512 Thanks: 14 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	ok, i'll have it checked out this week. btw, i have a 95 n/a. does it make any difference? also, am i going to die or lose my front wheel doing 85 on the highway if i keep driving the car the way it is? what's the danger factor here?

08-22-2006, 04:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,739 Thanks: 7 Thanked 95 Times in 81 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	nah, you dont even need a sway bar. You might lose the sway bar itself, but if an endlink is bad or something it wouldnt cause anything else to come down. I highly doubt it will even fall off anyway. Just lift the front end up off the ground (use a jack and jackstands, remove both front wheels, and youll see the endlink and swaybar down there. Wiggle the sway bar, try turning the steering whell and seeing where it goes. play with the suspension. Keep in mind you could have a bad balljoint/tie rod end or wheel bearing too.

08-23-2006, 09:26 AM	#7 (permalink)
PCx188 NYC hardtop Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 512 Thanks: 14 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	damn so many things. hahahaha. thanks a lot. i'll check it out.