Control arm questions.

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Thu May 30, 2013 11:57 pm

Hey all, I've got 2 issues with my control arm

1. Ever since I replaced my hub and bearing, I think I over torqued the lower control arm bushing. IIRC it's torque value is like 12 ft/lbs. I couldn't find a deep enough socket to use the torque wrench, so I just estimated with a open end wrench. After driving around for the first time since the hub and bearing replacement, I noticed that when I hit a big enough bump I heard a deep popping/knocking sound. I googled suggestions and found I may have over-tightened my lower control arm bushing. I took the car back to the shop and made sure the strut was torqued and tried leaving the LCA a little less tight. It did help with the knocking sound, but now it still knocks when I take a slope at an angle and my car raises a leg off the ground. Should I try loosening the LCA even more?

2. While I was working around that area, I noticed my upper control arm boot had leaked all the grease out onto the frame of the car and the boot was loose. Could this also be what the knocking is coming from? I was told to just replace the boot and lube it up with more grease before anything bad really happened.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Fri May 31, 2013 12:12 am

Just a heads-up, Thane, we don't have 'upper control arms'. Technically, our 'lower control arms' are just our 'control arms'. Are you talking about your axle leaking? That could cause a clicking or knock noise under certain load conditions.

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Fri May 31, 2013 2:36 pm

I meant tie rod the whole time.. I guess that's what happens when you stay up past your bed time

I think it's the boot on the rack and pinion unit now after some googling. I'll try to post a picture later.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Fri May 31, 2013 3:03 pm

try moving the tie rod by hand, get any movement?

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Fri May 31, 2013 3:13 pm

Hmm funny. I tightened my tie rod on with an impact gun.

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Fri May 31, 2013 9:26 pm

you did what

there isn't any play in the tie rod.. I couldn't get any pictures since it's been pouring rain the past 2 days. I'll snap some tomorrow hopefully when I get it into the garage.

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Sat Jun 01, 2013 11:11 pm

So I was under the car doing an oil change today when I took my picture:

While I was waiting for the oil to drain I decided to clean up a little bit under the car. That's when I made my way around to the other side to see the same thing:

Is it normal for these to be caked in grease like that?

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:08 am

Looks like the rack is starting to go. Do you notice any play in the steering wheel, and/or are you low on P/S fluid?

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 12:20 pm

Not much play in the steering wheel but I have had to refill the p/s reservoir twice in the past 8 months. So much for that BFMIC, it's time for more maintenance

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:01 pm

Yeah it might be time for a new rack. Bfmic can wait since its not needed at all on a stock turbo car anyway. You're never gonna heat soak the stocker enough to justify needing a bfmic other than looks

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:39 pm

sidepipe87 wrote:Bfmic can wait since its not needed at all on a stock turbo car anyway. You're never gonna heat soak the stocker enough to justify needing a bfmic other than looks

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 8:32 pm

2004, it should be ATF+4, not the clear/light brown fluid that is leaking out of the bellows.

You may want to flush your PS system when you swap in a new/used rack.

ATF+4 is the better of all PS fluids, unless you opt to use Redline PS fluid.

Both are synthetic.

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:34 pm

Taking note on flushing the fluid.. I've been using ATF+4 to refill. If the fluid leaking out isn't p/s fluid, then I've gotta find where all my p/s fluid is dissapearing to

there was some fluid running down the side of my BOV pipe (isn't that the cold side pipe?) and some on the bottom of my tranny as well. It was a mess under there

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:40 pm

most likely oil. do you have a catch can?

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:54 pm

I thought the same but a second opinion in the shop today agreed it wasn't oil. The catch can sits pretty low in the engine bay. Too low to get to where all the fluids were. I've been keeping a close eye on my oil level and it hasn't moved a hair. I've actually been burning less oil than usual, and I ain't complaining

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:57 pm

I was suspecting oil was running down through the intake, throttle body, and getting on your BOV

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:13 pm

I'll check around that area tomorrow. I only cleaned up the bottom of the engine and the top is spotless. Thank you for the suggestions

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 1:10 am

Ordered the new steering rack. Should be here some time next week. In the mean time, anyone know of a good source to get torque specs from? I called most dealers I like in Las Vegas who all said they "can't give that information over the phone" and none of them knew why..

I gave the grummy dealership here in Great Falls a try, and of course none of them knew what I was talking about.. I tried googling and came up with all different types of results. One said for the tie rod end to steering knuckle, 12 ft lbs, another source said 75, another source said 55.... So which is it!?

I need the torque specs for the steering rack and all the steering knuckle connections to double check my torque ratings from when I did my hub and bearing replacement.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:56 am

*Link Removed*

Use that ^. It'll help a lot on stuff like torque specs.

-Tie Rod Adjusting Jam Nut 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
-Tie Rod End Steering Knuckle Nut 55 N·m (40 ft. lbs.)

So yes, 55 N·m, but 40 ft. lbs.

Sorry, cannot openly link to Copyrighted material....

iThane · Post by **iThane** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 12:50 pm

Thank you for those torque specs

Can you PM a link to Copy-written material?

Edit*

Never mind, I just googled "Dodge Neon srt 4 service manual" and found a PDF