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[Help] Front suspensions problem.

Discussion in 'Suspension / Steering' started by fenrirjk, Jun 9, 2011.

  1. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    Hello everybody,

    Sorry for my english, I'm french.

    I hope I'm posting in the right section.

    I have a problem with my front suspensions and I hope you can help me.

    There is 3 symptoms:
    1) A clacking noise at the front left head of the damper, I can hear it when the car is stopped or moving slowly, when I turn the steering wheel. I can hear one noise each time I turn it in one direction.

    2) A metallic squeak when the car support big charge on the front right (sharp turn to the left, or when driving to fast on a "speed reducer"). I can hear it more easily when the weather is wet, than dry.

    3) The car "pulls" in one direction or the other when the road is not flat, i.e. when there is "hollows" on the road or bumps.

    What I changed without difference (I hope the terms are corrects):
    - 4 shock absorbers,
    - front shock absorbers heads,
    - tie rods,
    - sway bar links,
    - sway bar silent blocs,
    - lower balls.

    What do you think (in case you understood everything :p)

    For the squeaks, and maybe the "pulls" in the steering wheel, I was thinking of the front arm's silent blocs.

    I hope you can help me.

    Thanks in advance, and see you later.

    Bye.
     
  2. Seank90

    Seank90 Well-Known Member Donated!

    have fun changing your steering rack... i had the exact same symptoms...
     
  3. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    The 3 of them ? clacking, squeak and pulls ?
     
  4. Seank90

    Seank90 Well-Known Member Donated!

    yup....
     
  5. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    Thank you very much for the report Seank,

    Thus I don't really get how the steering rack can make my front suspension's head clacking and the suspension squeaking when taking sharp curve or hard bumps.
     
  6. Seank90

    Seank90 Well-Known Member Donated!

    i thought the same thing until it happened too me... i had done the whole suspension from top to bottom and it still clanked on the left side and the steering would pull from left to right randomly and it didnt feel like it was any good on the road at all after all them mods... but i did the rack and it was perfect after... until my rack started leaking but thats a different story....

    check it out to be sure... jack up the two front wheels and shake them from left to right and see if there is any feel of banging or play...

    just call me sean! :thumbsup:
     
  7. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    Thank you very much Sean.

    What do you think about the squeaks ? is it related ?
    Maybe squeak is not the right word, I looked over google translation, it says it's creaking

    did you have any creaking also ?
     
  8. Seank90

    Seank90 Well-Known Member Donated!

    the squeaking can be anything from a worn u joint whenm you urn the steering to a bushing which is on its way out! it can be your top mount too when you turn! :thumbsup:
     
  9. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    but why would it be more noticable when it's humid air than it has been dry for several days ? (I'm not 100% sure about it)

    and it's not only when I just turn, it also appears when I go too fast on a speed reducer or whatever (I don't know the name), see:
    [​IMG]

    The top mount is new (it's the black thing on top with a trangle plate and 3 holes for screws, right ?).
    [​IMG]
     
  10. jwagner162

    jwagner162 Well-Known Member Donated!

    - a bad steering rack will "wander". it will follow any contours in the roads, sway to one side or the other over bumps, and will have a tendency to pull to one side or the other when you have rain ect.

    -to check you should lift the front of the car. have someone hold the wheel, then try to "pry" the wheels back and fourth (to simulate turning). if you have movement at the wheels and not the steering wheel, there is an issue with the rack.

    -some of the issues you have could also point to worn cv joints/drive axles. but if you car is "wandering" a rack issue is likley.

    -welcome BTW. :D
     
  11. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    Thank you everybody for your help.

    Seems my rack has to be changed.

    Do you know if it's dangerous to drive it this way (I already drove it for a long time like that).
    could it really break ?
     
  12. jwagner162

    jwagner162 Well-Known Member Donated!

    maybe, maybe not. depends on the issue.

    -probably not likley to break if its been an on going issue, but i think a steering issue like this could be considered dangerous due to lack of control.
     
  13. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    Ok, I'll change it ASAP.
     
  14. Jamezzy

    Jamezzy Well-Known Member Donated!

    Very good info here. I have the same problem. I'm gonna be needing a rack replacement as well :ack2
     
  15. fenrirjk

    fenrirjk Member

    I'm glad it's also helping other forumers.
     

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