SRT suspension problems- I give up (update 2-25-09)

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:46 am

Okay, everyone please feel free to direct this

to the correct thread for this question. Is there a "standard" number of miles that stock SRT shocks should last? My car hit 11K yesterday and I've been having a lot of noise from the rear when I travel over uneven roads (the only way that I can describe the noise is a "thump-thump-thump" when I hit bumps). The car doesn't bounce up and down when you push on the rear quarter panels and the ride is pretty much the same as when the car was purchased. I had over 32K miles on the original shocks for my '02 SXT and didn't have this problem. Help!

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:38 am

Check the tops in the rear. Make sure they are tight. I would doubt it would be the Struts and more or less something came loose in the strut tops or rear suspension.

My SRT has 30,500 miles with stock struts on H&R Sport Springs. no noise.

-Devil- · Post by **-Devil-** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:46 am

if when you push down on the back of it and it doesn't 'bounce' .. i would say it is not as likely to be the strut .. check the top of the struts (as mentioned) and also check the other bushings and peices in the suspension for something that may be cracked or loose ...

if your exhaust is loose or has a damaged hanger it can make that sound as well ...

or hell, even forgetting to tighten down the spare tire completly can make the sound ...

could even be a bad or damaged tire ...

as for normal milage ... i got almost 50k from my stock struts on an 01 that was lowered.

glasswars · Post by **glasswars** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:48 am

Definitntely shouldn't have to replace them at 11K.. but do it anyway so you're not stock anymore!

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:55 am

Freakin' 11K miles.. Do you only drive to bingo on Sundays or something? I've put 8K miles on my car since August.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:19 am

Well, I put around 500 miles on the car driving it from IA to IN when I bought it last May (car had 87 on it at delivery if I remember correctly). Since then, it is pretty much to and from work (two jobs). I did make a trip to OH last summer for the TSN meet and then up to Brooklyn, MI last October for the SRT Track Experience so there's some added miles there. Driving to and from Carlisle will definitely bring it up. I've made a conscious effort to cut back on my driving due to gas prices and the fact that the SRT is a limited edition vehicle (I had over 32K miles on my '02 SXT in a little over a year).

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'll post up what I find.

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:58 am

Ya that sounds like the rear mounts. Mine have been replaced twice and the car has less then 70k. Ive seen alot of posts on SRTforums complaining about that

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:37 pm

jfldajdfljad, due to the high gas prices. That's golden, hahahaha....

I doubt it's the struts, sounds like they're fine. Hell at the rate you put km's on they should be. Definately jack up the rear and see if you can isolate the clunking. I've heard of rear upper strut mounts possibly being an issue on SRT's, but that's only what I've heard as hearsay.

FTWNeon · Post by **FTWNeon** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:20 pm

Here's an idea as well
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=9606

SlvrACR · Post by **SlvrACR** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:38 pm

Yep thats what I had to do. Havent replaced them since.

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:14 pm

i have this same problem.. both front and rear are getting clunky.. i just replaced one of the rear struts, because it seized completely.. but i really dont think its the struts.. it really seems like its just the mounts.. think filling them with urethane like in your guide, will fix my problem? i was also looking into a prothane full bushing set for my car.. as the bushings seems like they are on thier way out.. which may accont for the clunking over uneven, and poorly paved roads.

SGT BRAD · Post by **SGT BRAD** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:16 pm

i think it's the mounts. i've got a similar sound over speed bumps. it's always been there. i think an easy fix is a set of the ksport coilovers with pillowball mounts. apparently the pillowballs solve the clunking issue.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:55 pm

New mounts have been ordered and will be installed at my next oil change (12K). My poor mechanic rode in the trunk while I drove

so that he could isolate the noise.

If anyone in Central Indiana needs a good Dodge mechanic, I'll wholeheartedly recommend mine.

underway · Post by **underway** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 9:10 am

he rode in the trunk lmao....now thats a good mechanic...or a dirty one lol

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Sat May 05, 2007 2:39 am

My SRT had sat on a dealer's lot from August 2005 until May 2006 and the parts got rusty.

02055103 Mount/insulator assembly, rear strut -
Replace Left (B)
308 W94 1.00
1 5272458AB MOUNT
1 5272459AB MOUNT
2 4626757 SEAT-SPRING SEAT
2 5272248AB STOP/BMPR
FC: 68
Part#: 5272458AB

Repeated for right side. This did the trick.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:04 am

Now both the front and rear are making the same noise. I'm really disappointed that the rear has starting doing this so soon after the parts were replaced but I imagine that the front ones should have been changed at the same time. Unfortunately, they weren't making any noises then. Mechanic couldn't hear anything when I took the car in to have the headliner replaced (puddles everywhere so the suspension was wet) and said to bring it back when we have dry weather at next oil change. Fat chance since winter is now here!

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:55 am

Bushings were replaced a few months ago but that didn't solve the problem so my mechanic rode in the trunk again on Friday. Yes, the rear is making the same noises as April of last year even with the trunk completely empty (no spare). Same parts will be replaced under warranty but he also ordered new rear struts and shocks. He is asking that everyone who has had this problem have their service managers alert Chrysler so that a permanent fix can be developed (and a TSB issued).

Front will have to be rechecked at a later date- noise not noticeable at present.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:05 am

Unless more than 50% of the production cars are having the same problem, don't expect a TSB from chrysler. There is an equation they use to see if a TSB is even necessary, so I doubt it will happen.

It took many many failures for chrysler to do a TSB on the avenger/eclipse/galant lower ball joint, and even then many dealerships refused to replace them. It's all about money in the end for manufacturers, and replacing a few bad parts on a low number of vehicles isn't enough for them to do a massive scale recall.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:09 am

^^Oh, okay- just passing along a request from my frustrated Dodge mechanic.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:20 am

I hear ya, just thought I would let you know how large car manufacturers work on the inside.

I would think he would have more of a voice within the company than a select number of car enthusiasts on a car forum. It's a grim reality I know, but this is the way companies work.\

It's just like fight club, where he talks about cars catching of fire and the company uses an equation to calculate if a recall is cheaper than lawsuits.

As long as you still have a warranty I wouldn't even worry about it. But for the unfortunate guys that have no warranty, you just have to bite the bullet and take one for the team.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:27 am

Yeah, he wasn't happy when I reminded him that I'll be coming back for this fix for a long time (I purchased the 7/70 Maximum Care Service Contract with a $0 deductible but I'm still on the 3/36 warranty since there are only 23K miles on the car).

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:20 pm

Mileage: 24,048
Cause: wear
Isolators, rear spring-Replace Right

1 5290182AA Strut-rear suspension
2 4656944AA Cover-suspension
2 5290185AA Spring-rear coil
2 5272248AB Stop/BMPR
1 5290183AA Seat-spring seat
1 5272458AB Mount
1 5272459AB Mount
2 6505116AA Nut

Isolators, rear spring- Replace Left

Strut, rear suspension tension- Replace right

Strut, rear suspension tension- Replace left

Spring, Rear- replace

Bushing, rear suspension tension strut- Replace both

Well, let's see how long this lasts... the ride on the way home from the dealership was much better.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:42 am

You won't believe this- same noise within a month of new parts being installed. I think that I now have two choices:

1) Turn up the CD player and live with it;
2) Invoke the Lemon Law and make Chrysler buy the car back.

I wish that I could afford coilovers- maybe this would make the noise go away. At any rate, I am pretty ticked at this point.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:01 pm

02100603 Bushing, lower control arm- Replace
Left (B)
1 4656012AF BUSHING- CONTROL ARM

This was for the squeaking noise in the front suspension. The right bushing was deemed to be okay for now. Everything in the rear suspension that has been replaced (except for shocks and struts) is on order again.

This is certainly costing Chrysler an arm and a leg for warranty items and labor.

krc21 · Post by **krc21** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:38 pm

its the top hats but you know what is wierd. After i replaced my struts and springs it was great for about a month then i had the wierd clunking noise your talking about.. i just deal with it and now i dont have it at all anymore.. it took about another month of listening to it and it went away.. i think it is just the top hat settling itself or something.. i dont know...

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 3:03 am

Well, without a TSB, this is how my dealership chooses to "fix" the problem. Hey, my warranty covers all of it so the only thing that I'm out of is the inconvenience of having to drive in for repairs.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:36 pm

just gimmie the car lol

sucks to hear you're problems though gramps hope everything works out!

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:33 am

New devlopment- I was told today that I need new tires (at less than 30K)! I was asked about alignment (just had that done before Carlisle) and it was suggested that the wear might be due to suspension problems, especially on the rear tires.

King Crab · Post by **King Crab** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:06 pm

I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but..... The Goodyear Eagles that came on my baby when I purchased her new, only lasted for 28k. Just so you know, I rotated those tires every 3k along with the oil changes. I was shocked when they turned to crap after such a short period of time.

Sorry to hear of all your suspension problems. Although it was very fortuitous that you got the extended warranty from the get go.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:35 am

^^Yeah, the extended warranty was worth the money (Chrysler has already spent more on my car than what the warranty cost me

). Since I don't have much mechanical savvy, I thought it prudent to buy some piece of mind, what with the esoterics of an SRT-4.