Popping/Looseness in Front End While Cruising

97CobraNow · July 14th, 2009, 05:32 AM

lol it was over 100 degrees out today. I put in the sway bar bushings and end link kit. the car sits lower up front now. the end linkes are made for the car being lowered 1 3/4 in or more. the problem is still there however. it seemed to be unaffected.... I still need to put in the urethane steering rack bushings. the stock ones look okay though and i tightened them up. had no affect. i hate this problem.

97CobraNow · July 16th, 2009, 01:44 AM

Strut Mount ? on bumpy roads the strut is putting more pressure on the plate so it doesnt do the problem. on smooth road the strut is popping in/on the mount ? what do u think ?

1rnkpny · July 16th, 2009, 03:06 AM

If it was a mount, typically you would hear it more on rougher roads, because it is pounding it. And it would be louder. Rougher roads normally causes more violent piston movement in the strut and/or shock.

97CobraNow · July 16th, 2009, 08:34 PM

inner tie rods ? control arms ? trans mount ?

1rnkpny · July 16th, 2009, 09:33 PM

You said you had the front end checked, right?

97CobraNow · July 18th, 2009, 03:50 PM

I just checked the whole front suspension. everything was really tight. control arm bushings looked good. strut mount looked good. ball joints looked good. outter tie rods good. now, the inner tie rods, if i grab the tie rod with my hand, and try to jerk it, should it move ? I grabbed the driver side inner tie rod with my hand and i could jerk it back n forth.... looks like i need new motor mounts too... trans mount looked good.

1rnkpny · July 19th, 2009, 06:02 PM

When you wiggle the tire side to side, you'd be able to feel something is loose. To properly do it, it's a 2 man job. 1 to wiggle, and 1 to feel for looseness.

97CobraNow · July 19th, 2009, 09:20 PM

Ok so me and my dad went in the garage. i locked the steering wheel with the front end in the air. I had him wiggle at 12 oclock and 6 oclock to check ball joints, both sides were good. then i had him wiggle 3 oclock and 9 oclock. both sides would move in sync and you would here a clunking at the steering shaft. seemed normal. I then had him hold the steering wheel tight against the lock so it would no move, and i wiggled, what i felt seemed normal. both sides would barreellyyy move together, just the slack in the steering, like driveshaft slack "slap." i then went under the car while he was holding the steering wheel and grabbed the inner tie rods with my hands and jerked them around. the passenger side was solid, the driver side would pop and move in its socket slightly. I watched the outter tie rod ball joints and they looked good. but the driver side inner tie rod is definately not solid. I think replacing the inner tie rods will relieve my problem. what do you think ??

97CobraNow · July 19th, 2009, 09:21 PM

should i replace both outter tie rods when i replace both inners ?

HorsepoweR · July 19th, 2009, 09:42 PM

Just a question, does it sound like metal clunking together for you?

1rnkpny · July 19th, 2009, 10:09 PM

Personally, I don't think that is your noise. But if they are worn then replace them. Typically I don't replace the outers if they are tight when I replace inners (only if customer requested). But then that is your call. If you have the extra cash, get em, if not, don't. BTW don't buy the cheap stuff. They are cheap for a reason. Make sure you align it after. You may get it close, but even close can wear your tires down.

1rnkpny · July 19th, 2009, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by HorsepoweR

Just a question, does it sound like metal clunking together for you?

He was mentioning it to be a popping noise. pop.....pop....pop.pop........pop. On smooth roads. Doesn't hear it on bumpy ones.

97CobraNow · July 20th, 2009, 02:49 PM

they best way i can describe the sound is like a looseness like a ball joint loose in its socket

97CobraNow · July 20th, 2009, 02:50 PM

I think im goin to replace them and go from there. so hard to diagnose...

johnnyt03gt · July 21st, 2009, 06:03 AM

i have rhe some problem it the top strut mount mine had a half inch of slack did the same shit i took it to a tire shop they hit it with an impact problem solved

97CobraNow · July 22nd, 2009, 02:20 AM

oh really ? yeah i checked my strut mounts they were fine i hit them with my 450 ft/lb impact gun and they were tight. If the inner tie rods dont do the trick then it has to be something with the struts which is what 1rnkpny first suspected was the problem...

97CobraNow · July 24th, 2009, 04:36 PM

so i installed the new inner tie rods. the problem is still there like normal. its gotta be the strut or strut mount ? somethin to do with the strut ?

1rnkpny · August 5th, 2009, 11:01 PM

I've already stated what it would most likely be. So, let me know when the noise is gone.

97CobraNow · August 9th, 2009, 09:12 PM

I think your right. I only spent $100 dollars so far. So now its time for the expensive stuff. New struts, shocks, and cc plates. Eibach strut and shock kit made for my lowering springs or Bilstein HD ?

1rnkpny · August 9th, 2009, 10:11 PM

Eibach is a great product. Bilsteins are good, same as Tokico.

July 16th, 2009, 03:06 AM	#103
1rnkpny Hardcore Enthusiast 2007 MUSTANG Slower than a F-16 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,073	If it was a mount, typically you would hear it more on rougher roads, because it is pounding it. And it would be louder. Rougher roads normally causes more violent piston movement in the strut and/or shock. __________________ MUSIC BREAKS THE SILENCE

July 16th, 2009, 09:33 PM	#105
1rnkpny Hardcore Enthusiast 2007 MUSTANG Slower than a F-16 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,073	You said you had the front end checked, right? __________________ MUSIC BREAKS THE SILENCE

July 19th, 2009, 06:02 PM	#107
1rnkpny Hardcore Enthusiast 2007 MUSTANG Slower than a F-16 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,073	When you wiggle the tire side to side, you'd be able to feel something is loose. To properly do it, it's a 2 man job. 1 to wiggle, and 1 to feel for looseness. __________________ MUSIC BREAKS THE SILENCE

July 19th, 2009, 09:42 PM	#110
HorsepoweR Regular 1996 Cobra N/A Yet Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: McHenry, iLLinois Posts: 269	Just a question, does it sound like metal clunking together for you? __________________ .:.Mods In Garage.:. Found On Road Dominating MM Fantasy Football - SVT SNAKES - 7-3 Xbox360 Tag - SVT JUGGALO

July 19th, 2009, 10:09 PM	#111
1rnkpny Hardcore Enthusiast 2007 MUSTANG Slower than a F-16 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,073	Personally, I don't think that is your noise. But if they are worn then replace them. Typically I don't replace the outers if they are tight when I replace inners (only if customer requested). But then that is your call. If you have the extra cash, get em, if not, don't. BTW don't buy the cheap stuff. They are cheap for a reason. Make sure you align it after. You may get it close, but even close can wear your tires down. __________________ MUSIC BREAKS THE SILENCE

July 14th, 2009, 05:32 AM	#101
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	lol it was over 100 degrees out today. I put in the sway bar bushings and end link kit. the car sits lower up front now. the end linkes are made for the car being lowered 1 3/4 in or more. the problem is still there however. it seemed to be unaffected.... I still need to put in the urethane steering rack bushings. the stock ones look okay though and i tightened them up. had no affect. i hate this problem.

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July 16th, 2009, 01:44 AM	#102
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	Strut Mount ? on bumpy roads the strut is putting more pressure on the plate so it doesnt do the problem. on smooth road the strut is popping in/on the mount ? what do u think ?

July 16th, 2009, 08:34 PM	#104
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	inner tie rods ? control arms ? trans mount ?

July 18th, 2009, 03:50 PM	#106
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	I just checked the whole front suspension. everything was really tight. control arm bushings looked good. strut mount looked good. ball joints looked good. outter tie rods good. now, the inner tie rods, if i grab the tie rod with my hand, and try to jerk it, should it move ? I grabbed the driver side inner tie rod with my hand and i could jerk it back n forth.... looks like i need new motor mounts too... trans mount looked good.

July 19th, 2009, 09:20 PM	#108
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	Ok so me and my dad went in the garage. i locked the steering wheel with the front end in the air. I had him wiggle at 12 oclock and 6 oclock to check ball joints, both sides were good. then i had him wiggle 3 oclock and 9 oclock. both sides would move in sync and you would here a clunking at the steering shaft. seemed normal. I then had him hold the steering wheel tight against the lock so it would no move, and i wiggled, what i felt seemed normal. both sides would barreellyyy move together, just the slack in the steering, like driveshaft slack "slap." i then went under the car while he was holding the steering wheel and grabbed the inner tie rods with my hands and jerked them around. the passenger side was solid, the driver side would pop and move in its socket slightly. I watched the outter tie rod ball joints and they looked good. but the driver side inner tie rod is definately not solid. I think replacing the inner tie rods will relieve my problem. what do you think ??

July 19th, 2009, 09:21 PM	#109
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	should i replace both outter tie rods when i replace both inners ?

July 20th, 2009, 02:49 PM	#113
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	they best way i can describe the sound is like a looseness like a ball joint loose in its socket

July 20th, 2009, 02:50 PM	#114
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	I think im goin to replace them and go from there. so hard to diagnose...

July 21st, 2009, 06:03 AM	#115
johnnyt03gt Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 26	i have rhe some problem it the top strut mount mine had a half inch of slack did the same shit i took it to a tire shop they hit it with an impact problem solved __________________ my fat cow 03 GT k&n cai, eibach sport line springs, MMT bump steer kit j&m rear LCA's kyb shocks / struts steeda tri-ax shifter frpp 4:10 gears, trick flow plenum,

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July 22nd, 2009, 02:20 AM	#116
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	oh really ? yeah i checked my strut mounts they were fine i hit them with my 450 ft/lb impact gun and they were tight. If the inner tie rods dont do the trick then it has to be something with the struts which is what 1rnkpny first suspected was the problem...

July 24th, 2009, 04:36 PM	#117
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	so i installed the new inner tie rods. the problem is still there like normal. its gotta be the strut or strut mount ? somethin to do with the strut ?

August 5th, 2009, 11:01 PM	#118
1rnkpny Hardcore Enthusiast 2007 MUSTANG Slower than a F-16 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,073	I've already stated what it would most likely be. So, let me know when the noise is gone. __________________ MUSIC BREAKS THE SILENCE

August 9th, 2009, 09:12 PM	#119
97CobraNow Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 84	I think your right. I only spent $100 dollars so far. So now its time for the expensive stuff. New struts, shocks, and cc plates. Eibach strut and shock kit made for my lowering springs or Bilstein HD ?

August 9th, 2009, 10:11 PM	#120
1rnkpny Hardcore Enthusiast 2007 MUSTANG Slower than a F-16 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 1,073	Eibach is a great product. Bilsteins are good, same as Tokico. __________________ MUSIC BREAKS THE SILENCE