Help with strange cracking sound..

0Mopar1 · Post by **0Mopar1** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:04 pm

After getting the control arms put in (brand new arms, ball joints, bushings), everything seemed great. On the way home today, another noise developed. It's definitely coming from the driver's side only. I can't tell where, though. It's happening while turning the wheels back and forth. My steering is not sloppy in any way. In fact, it's improved since having all this work done. I took it for a suspension and steering eval at Sears again and they couldn't pinpoint the noise either. The tech said he could hear a bit of a bump noise but nothing like the audible cracking noise that I hear.

What I think is happening is that it's making this noise while resting on the ground but when it's on a lift and weight is taken off of the suspension, it's no longer making the noise. It makes a similar, but not exactly the same, noise when I hit bumps. I have a video of the noise. You will hear it. It's a loud cracking noise. I'm wondering if it may be the strut. Toward the end of the video, I focus on the bolt at the top of the strut tower so you can see it move. I'm not sure how much it's supposed to move, though. Have a look and let me know what you think. It never ends!

Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSsnWPPivPs

OB · Post by OB » Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:20 am

The mounting nut on the top of the strut should be TIGHT. There should be no play there whatsoever.

Fix that and test drive it again. If it's not related, then jack the front of the car up and turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine off. This can partially isolate the gear as being part of the problem. If it still makes the sound, try to track it down. You can probably have someone turn the wheel while you listen and feel for where the sound comes from. Report back here if you can't pinpoint it.

0Mopar1 · Post by **0Mopar1** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:46 pm

I replaced the struts, rack, and sway arm links and the noise is still there. I now believe it may be coming from the rear control arm bushing (stock bushings came with the control arms). It's occuring when the suspension flexes so I'm going to remove the control arms, remove the stock bushings, and replace them with the set of prothanes I've had for a year now. Pain in the arse and $1600 later, the noise hasn't gone away. I'm glad the other stuff still NEEDED to be replaced, but it could have waited. Live and learn, I guess. I'll let you know what happens after I replace the bushings.

Thanks for the help!

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:41 pm

CV joint going bad?

0Mopar1 · Post by **0Mopar1** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:07 pm

See, that's what I thought too but the sound isn't very inicative of a bad CV joint. It's more of a creaking/moaning and it occurs when launching, braking, and going over dips (not so much bumps) in the road. I guess if the bushings don't solve the problem, CV joint is where I'll go next.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:10 pm

yeah, find an empty parking lot or a place with plenty of room. Put the car in reverse and turn the wheel all the way to one side and then do it again to the other. If it is silent or you get a few pops your cv joint should be fine. If you get a steady pop (rhythmic like) then your CV joint may be the issue.

0Mopar1 · Post by **0Mopar1** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:13 pm

It's definitely not rhythmic. In fact, it's primarily doing it when coming back from right to left. It's almost as if the lower part of the bushing (that sits against the subframe) is moving against the subframe when the control arm flexes. Like metal on metal. I can't see it move though. If you can imagine that sort of noise, then maybe it will give you a fresh idea. I'm going to change out the bushings this weekend and see what comes of it. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm always open to other suggestions, though!

Thanks!

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:13 pm

You said you changed the sway bar end links, but did you do the bushings in the crossmember/subframe?

If not, try lubing them to see what happens. You can try spraying WD40 on each component one at a time to attempt to track the noise. It won't cure it for very long, but it may tell you by process of elimination, what the source is. The WD40 isn't going to hurt anything, as far as rubber components go. It will evaporate long before it would take to hurt anything, if it could deteriorate anything. The stuff is non toxic, so it can't harm too much.

excon · Post by **excon** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:41 am

I get a creaky sound when i go through dips. I think one of my 4 struts have gone. It sounds like you have something strut related...