clacking struts

Originally Posted by titaniumskull

I noticed mine since day one has a slight clunk sound when going over speed bumps at an angle and not straight on. I have had ford E150 and E250 vans make the same sounds when the bushings were worn.

I have the suspicions that it was the sway bar bushings since the beginning.
Next time it is on the lift for service, ask them to check the sway bar assembly bushings.

both dealers have gone over it, they say everything is tight.
I think it's in the strut or it's mount.

Should just replace the end links my self if that's the prob....

[Mod King]

The strut mount would not make this noise unless the bolts holding them in under the hood or on the strut/knuckle are loose. Given that the dealer said everything is tight, it's the endlinks.

I would recommend having a professional replace them for you if you are not proficient with suspension. It's not hard to replace, but it is tricky since you need it torque correctly and need to know how they come off as the bolt will just spin due to the ball joint at the sway bar.

Buy the part and take it to a shop or a friend that knows what they are doing unless you have experience with endlinks.

[Danno]

Originally Posted by karhupoiika

Should just replace the end links my self if that's the prob....

Just curious on how much of your driving is on paved and how much on gravel roads?

[Danno]

Originally Posted by got twins

The strut mount would not make this noise unless the bolts holding them in under the hood or on the strut/knuckle are loose. Given that the dealer said everything is tight, it's the endlinks.

I would recommend having a professional replace them for you if you are not proficient with suspension. It's not hard to replace, but it is tricky since you need it torque correctly and need to know how they come off as the bolt will just spin due to the ball joint at the sway bar.

But the part and take it to a shop or a friend that knows what they are doing unless you have experience with endlinks.

Agreed that such a simple part can be such a bear to remove. I ended up borrowing an angle grinder and removing the OEM links that way as the bolts just kept spinning on the one side of my son's Pontiac G5. The aftermarket links have a nut that you can put a box wrench on to keep them from spinning. Also, their location makes it difficult to get enough torque on the nuts with the ususal hand tools. An air wrench would have been handy.

[titaniumskull]

Originally Posted by Danno

Agreed that such a simple part can be such a bear to remove. I ended up borrowing an angle grinder and removing the OEM links that way as the bolts just kept spinning on the one side of my son's Pontiac G5. The aftermarket links have a nut that you can put a box wrench on to keep them from spinning. Also, their location makes it difficult to get enough torque on the nuts with the ususal hand tools. An air wrench would have been handy.

Most GM ball links have a hex hole in the middle of the ball stud. I had to do the sway bar links on a van 1-2 months ago, PB blaster to loosen the rust and a allen wrench to hold the stud and a ratchet box wrench to loosen the nut.

[Mod King]

We aren't that lucky....lol.

For us, you need to fit a narrow wrench into the opposite side of the endlink where the rubber covers the ball joint. There is a metal bolt on the side that is round with 2 flat spots to secure the wrench.

As indicated, the toughest part is getting a 1/2" drive rachet in there to apply enough torque to secure it properly, so it's best to have it on a lift so you have more leverage from underneath the car, or use a power/air ratchet while it's on jacks.

It's still not something I recommend a novice to do....after all, it's the suspension and your life depends on it.

[Danno]

Originally Posted by titaniumskull

Most GM ball links have a hex hole in the middle of the ball stud. I had to do the sway bar links on a van 1-2 months ago, PB blaster to loosen the rust and a allen wrench to hold the stud and a ratchet box wrench to loosen the nut.

I was looking for that hex hole but no luck on the OEM end links. The aftermarket links had the nut and the hex hole.

Originally Posted by Danno

Just curious on how much of your driving is on paved and how much on gravel roads?

my car is 98% highway, just when I go to the dump once a week its a short gravel road

but if they say every things tight how can i get them to replace them??
The noise makes the car sound like a12 year old **** box.
Specifically what links are they? Sway?
I also get a vibration that seems to come n go on the highway steering wheel doesn't shake its in my calves,top of dash I can see dash vibrating a bit same with gauges hood and a pillar.
I have had all the tires etc checked. I think I can hear a weird noise when I start and stop the car like a little shake and squeak just as it starts to crank over or just as engine stops spinning.
I wonder if it's all related..