tech help suspension noise

[jimparts4@gmail.com]

I have a 1985 2 dr tercel. great car, I love it. 211,000 miles runs great. this is my current problem. left side clunking when going over bumps or dips in the road at speed. thought it was the c v axle. i replaced it. same problem. so i pushed the front end up and down and felt the stud at the top of the strut was moving. the nut above the strut mount was loose so i tightened it. still same . could the strut mount [bearing ] being worn cause this clunk-knocking noise ? thanks . if you know what this might be . please reply . jim NAPA auto parts forest grove or.

[ARCHINSTL]

It usually happens on the right side for ? reason, but dunno why not on the left side - occasionally the bolts holding the strut to the knuckle loosen and permit clunks.
Also check the sway bar-to-control arm fastening.
Ditto the control arm-to-body bolt.
Ditto the steering rack and its thingies going to the knuckle.
Welcome to the Club - Sedans Welcome as well!
Tom M.

[dlb]

hey jim. yes, it certainly sounds like you have an issue with your strut but i don't think that's the cause of your clunk. i had similar symptoms and it wound up being an inner tie rod. check for play in the steering by locking the steering and jacking up the front end and trying to turn the wheels to the left and right. if there's any play at all, look and try to see if it's at the outer tie rod where it connects to the hub, or at the inner tie rod in the ball and socket joint that sits inside the accordion boot.

if the tie rods check out, to check the strut mount you have to remove the strut (3 nuts at the top, 2 nuts and bolts at the hub) and then use spring compressors to remove the strut mount. once you have it off you can try spinning it and if it wobbles around a bunch like mine did, it's hooped.

[danzo]

This might help - I had some front end shaking a few months back and it turned out to a chain-reaction situation. I took a 500 mile trip with a pretty severe shake at highway speed that seemed to smooth out a bit above 75mph. Once home I realized one of the front strut mounts had cracked rubber, essentially dividing the mount in two. Little connection between the strut and the chassis.

I thought I had found the prob but the shake persisted even after I replaced the strut mount. Then I noticed one of the tires had the dreaded "tread shift"; the tread was s-shaped. Stupid me, I should have noticed it sooner. Anyway, I slapped on a good tire and most of the shake went away. The ball joint had some play in it so I spent the long green ($15) and 20 minutes replacing it. Bam - smooth as glass. The bad tire had caused the vibration, which ruined the strut mount and the ball joint. No more used skins for me.

[Petros]

Welcome to the list!

The upper strut mount can cause that kind of noise, autozone sells a replacement for about $45. You will need a spring compressor to replace it, available for free rental also at autozone. As noted above, jack the car up and put it on a jack stand and than try and shake or jiggle all the suspension connections. It may take a large pry bar to get connections to move, check all the bolts in the suspension to make sure they are tight.

If you still can not find it, and you do not need to drive the car for a few days, you might just pull the whole front strut out (only takes about 15-20 min.), and you can check the condition of the upper mount, the ball joint, the tie rode ends and all the suspension bushings. If any are worn order them, it may take a few days to get them, and put it all back.

None of this is difficult work, and if done carefully it will not affect the front end alignment. We can guild you through the repairs if necessary.

[Lil Beast]

mark the treading of the tie rods with liquid paper before breaking loose that will keep your alignment!
When shaking wheel left to right loose means tie-rod, un and down loose means ball joint, push down on bumper and release more than 3 bounces change struts(I do at 2 bounce), grab sway bar yank it if loose bushings, grab on the strut yank it if noise or loose top tower bushing or loose bolts, definitly smething with strut assembly anyway! This is pretty much what I do for quick estimate when friends ask me to do jobs. Usually at party's, hate it I'm there to have fun not work! that's why I came with this 2 min check up. Never failed me yet! Quick and easy way to snatch a beer or 2 of someone!

Forgot to add if wheel shakes all over(left,right,up,down,diagonal) could the bearings too or both tie rod and/or ball joints and/or bearings!