Front End Trouble

dansou5 · Post by **dansou5** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:19 am

So i have been hearing this really nasty clunking noise after i hit any bump. Its not when im turning or when i accelerate or declerate, it is only when i hit the slightest bump in the road. It seems that i can feel it in the drivers side more then the passanger side.

So I went to the mechanic and he said that the inner tie rod is a little lose. Wouldn't make a noise when i turn if it was turning if it was a inner tie rod.

He also said it could be worn sway bar bushings that would have to be replaced.

So what do you guys think about this problem.

Edit : And i forgot to mention that i just intalled new tires, and KYB Struts. Was making the noise before that though.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:33 pm

I have the same issue, but it's not the inner tie rod it's a worn rack. Try checking that.

dansou5 · Post by **dansou5** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:39 pm

How would i go around checking that?

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:01 pm

How to check your front end
Raise vehicle as described below ---

Ball joints - Lift vehicle front end off ground with the subframe or chassis behind wheels. The using a prybar (or equivelant) and pry up on bottom of tire while watching the ball joint (Pivot point on lower control arm/ mounting point for knuckle/spindle) If it moves you have bad ball joint.

Tie rod ends (inner and outer) - with vehicle lifted as above shake tire front and rear and see if any play is felt. If so then look at outer tie rod and if you can see it move it is real bad if you can feel it shift not rotate it is bad. Inners are more fun look for the opposite tire not moving and outer tie rod being tight and feel with you hand through the boot and see if you can feel it shift in and out. If so bad.

Control arm bushings - While shaking the tire observe mounting point of lower control arm and check bushings for movvement (It is designed to rotate with control arm but if control arm is not going up and down and moving elsewise then bingo you have a problem.). If any are bad change them. Also look for severe wear and cracking and deformation.

Sway bar end links and bushings - Most of the time our design if broken its bad. If not it is good. Obviously if missing a bushing and moving it is bad too. Any play in the bushings is bad, try moving the bar.

Wheel Bearing - Shake wheel top and bottom for play. If some you have a problem.

Springs & Struts - Make sure they are not broken or the struts leaking, if so bad.

if no problems found so far you are NOT done yet
Check other side sometime you have transmitted noise
Still no then continue below

Lower vehicle ----

Now have someone preferably light shake the steering wheel while observing on the front suspesion.....
This will load the vehicle suspension more truthfully

Tie rod ends -- any play as described above BAD.

Control arm bushings -- Any movement other than roatating the control arm up and down BAD.

Strut mounts -- Turn wheel back and forth lock to lock and see if you feel any popping from the upper mount by placing hand on top nut and rubbber mount area. If so you have a problem. Now jounce (bounce) the vehicle and check the same way. Same as before clicking shifting binding feeling bad.

Hopefully at this point you have found you issue/s and can correct.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 9:36 pm

Grab the rack behind where the inner tie rods are and move it back and forth perpendicular to the rack/tie rods. If it makes the noise, it's a worn bushing in the rack. Only the drivers side on mine actually makes noise, the passenger side is alright.

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:37 pm

fixitmattman wrote:Grab the rack behind where the inner tie rods are and move it back and forth perpendicular to the rack/tie rods. If it makes the noise, it's a worn bushing in the rack. Only the drivers side on mine actually makes noise, the passenger side is alright.

Good addition!

Should see it on ground back and forth although may be a bit hidden....

dansou5 · Post by **dansou5** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:06 am

Update: So i just decided to go with the cheapest fix, so i went for the sway bar first. They said that the bushings were worn and making the noise. They happened to be right.

I just took the entire sway bar out, and no noise

But overall driving without the sway bar is really noticeable. So with the people w/o a sway bar, definitely think about buying one, they really do make a world of difference.

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:50 pm

Get a set of Urethane bushings and end links. Then you will be done with it.

Back too.....

gilly02le · Post by **gilly02le** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:36 pm

No front sway-bar??? thats definatly Not Safe... No neon comes without a front bar, only rears were varied from year to year.
get some polyurethane bushings and say goodbye to having to replace them ever again.

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 2:18 am

Yuhuh, a lot of neons came without a front sway bar

infil · Post by **infil** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:18 am

dunno botu 2gns' but 1gns' came w/o em alot, its not unsafe but definately limits the cars ability to handle hehe.

jj71787 · Post by **jj71787** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:57 pm

i have the same problem when i hit any bump u hear a rattling noise do you think i need to replace my inner tie rod?

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:45 pm

Do the inspection as those noises can be sway bar bushings, ball joints, outer or inner tie rods, etc.....

Must look into each car spearately.

jj71787 · Post by **jj71787** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:54 pm

im going to do that thanks
also do u know any websites that sell parts i need a passenger side spindle

FTWNeon · Post by **FTWNeon** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:05 am

I think I've got the same problem and many above. I'm gonna do the inspection and see what I can find out.

Panhead · Post by **Panhead** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:58 pm

i got the same shit and it annoys the piss out of me. although, the noise comes from the rack. so ill just wait until i really have to replace it.

FTWNeon · Post by **FTWNeon** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 9:52 pm

Well I just replaced the outer driver side tie rod and that seems to have taken of alot of the noise that I had before that was driving me insane. Alignment is way out whack and the car handles really weird but I'll take care of that soon.

I may go ahead and do the passenger side tomorrow for the heck of it.

jj71787 · Post by **jj71787** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:11 pm

my car needs a wheel alignment too the steering wheel shakes when i hit highway speeds
also need a spindle the passenger side tire squeaks like crazy gotta put the music on just to tune it out

Bluerocketsneeks · Post by **Bluerocketsneeks** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 5:57 pm

mine has a rattle.. like something is loose... especially over bump and most of the time while driveing.... nothing is loose... except i noticed behind the passager front wheel.. theres a bar with a rubber loop... looks like a mount of some sort.. the rubber is really loose and you and sway it side to side... anyone know anything about that?