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 sdw |
I need help too! |
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Posts: 546 (06/17/2008 08:32 PM) |
I need some help to find a clunk in the front end of my car. I need someone to shake my car while I try to find out where the sound is coming from. Not a job
requiring a lot of technical expertise but I have to have a second pair of hands. I will travel anywhere, prefer to do this on Thursday but will do it Saturday
if I have to.
let me know Thanks
Sean "Now the proud owner of a daily driver" Weijand
 Budget Blue '89 XR7 |
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5LCougar |
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Posts: 2488 (06/17/2008 09:04 PM) |
When is it doing it? Over bumps? When Applying the brakes? Or???
Can the sound be recreated just pushing the car up and down by hand? You did the shocks already?? How are the Sway bar endlinks?? How are the Balljoints? How are the door pins? (trust me)
"Turning seems to be a lost form."
"you shouldn't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly" |
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sdw |
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Posts: 547 (06/17/2008 10:04 PM) |
Yes you can make it clunk by giving the car a good shake.
The shocks have already been changed, sway bar endlinks and ball joints are okay (at least they look okay to my untrained eye). Drivers side door pins could be changed but I don't hear the sound coming from there when I give the car a shake. Seems more like it is coming from underneath.
Sean "Now the proud owner of a daily driver" Weijand
Budget Blue '89 XR7 |
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SuperCB |
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Posts: 691 (06/18/2008 10:45 AM) |
Sean, if you are near or in Gloucester, I can lend you a quick hand.
Chris B 
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5LCougar |
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Posts: 2490 (06/18/2008 06:02 PM) |
I would jack the car up, and check out the ball joints.. Remember a Pry bar comes in handy
Strut Rod bushings Engine mounts?? Sway bar hitting something? And When the door hinge went on my '91.. It only made a noise when braking, and you could feel it in the dead pedal and Brake pedal.. and the odd time in the seat of your ass.. Swore it was suspension.. Untill one day i had the door open when trying to figure it out, and the noise just wasn't there... Not saying it is the issue, just something to look at..
"Turning seems to be a lost form."
"you shouldn't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly" |
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sdw |
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Posts: 549 (06/18/2008 09:59 PM) |
It turns out tomorrow (Thursday) is my birthday so I have to come home after work. So it is looking like Saturday. I will get under the car with a pry bar al
la Kevin's advise first. if I can't find anything I will let you guys know and then I will seriously beg for some help.
tks
Sean "Now the proud owner of a daily driver" Weijand
Budget Blue '89 XR7 |
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vtgecgrs |
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Posts: 1212 (06/20/2008 08:58 PM) |
Sean check the stabilizer bushings in the lower control arms see it the front tires will roll backwards by pushing on the tire tread with the wheels straight.
I have had this on several parts cars. I can move the 89 cougar 2-3 inches right now and the bushing is non existant. It will be less obvious with a partial
bushing but the wheel should not rotate or at least my 94 doesn't.
John |
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sdw |
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Posts: 550 (06/20/2008 09:54 PM) |
John:
That is the exact reason I ended up with this bird. The Cougar's front passenger wheel would move at least 2 inches backwards. It was brutal under braking. When I looked at the expense for that coupled with my rust / inept body work and new mufflers the new 'bird made sense. The 'birds stablizers are in good shape so we'll see what the pry bar reveals. If i can't figure it out i'll put Kevin on car shaking duty!!
Sean "Now the proud owner of a daily driver" Weijand
Budget Blue '89 XR7 |
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5LCougar |
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Posts: 2499 (06/21/2008 06:57 AM) |
I'm thinking john is think Sturt Rod bushings.. ?? The one `rod' that is at liek a 45 Degree angle that goes from the front of the subframe to the
lower control arm...
"Turning seems to be a lost form."
"you shouldn't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly" |
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sdw |
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Posts: 552 (06/21/2008 08:18 AM) |
I think the official name is the "Strut Tension Rod". On the Cougar when i braked the car would wander all over the road as the tire was moving back
and forth. Not much fun.
Sean "Now the proud owner of a daily driver" Weijand
Budget Blue '89 XR7 |
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vtgecgrs |
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Posts: 1213 (06/21/2008 06:14 PM) |
Terminalogy changes with every model and even from year to year it seems. in 67 it was stabilizer rod and in 94 the official name is "front suspension
lower arm strut"( see page 04-01-2 of 94 manaul) they go through the lower control arm from the frame on a 45 degree angle as Kevin described. They are 30
each and pretty easy to change morst car that I see have them cracking and a bit loose. I have also seen the sway bar with worn bushings cause noise ( the
proper name for that item is "front stabilizer bar" in the manual instead of sway bar)
John |
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sdw |
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Posts: 553 (06/21/2008 07:11 PM) |
Well I tried t post a pic but can't figure it out so here's a link to a screen shot of my 93-94 Manual (I know i own a 91).
http://www3.telus.net/seanscougarproject/images/tension_strut_rod.jpg This part is where the bushings disintegrated.
Sean "Now the proud owner of a daily driver" Weijand
Budget Blue '89 XR7 |
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vtgecgrs |
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Posts: 1214 (06/21/2008 07:16 PM) |
Item 5 is the item I am refering to and it goes through the control arm. Pretty typical creator of the noise described. But with the age of our cars why not
replace all the bushings and control arms and lower ball joints. It'll take a day with the right tools and your car will handle like new again and you can
get moog upper control arms for $70-90.00/pair on e-bay.
John |
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sdw |
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Posts: 554 (06/21/2008 10:37 PM) |
I think that is definitely solid advice.
Time to save a few $$ and then go at it. Given the shape of the 'bird it is well worth it.
Sean "Now the proud owner of a daily driver" Weijand
Budget Blue '89 XR7 |
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vtgecgrs |
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Posts: 1215 (06/21/2008 10:45 PM) |
is your car lowered? if so does it have the proper shorter end links?
John |
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