Hey guys, alright for some time now my car makes this popping/knocking noise from the front. It happens when im turning and going over bumps or when im straightening the wheel out. Happens mostly when im on bumpy roads and its seems like the tension builds up and then it makes the popping/knocking sound. I took it to a mechanic and he said axles and ball joints were gone. So i got both of those replaced, seemed to help for a bit but now i got the same problem

If anyone has had this problem please let me know of a solution, my car is lowered with tokico springs and struts. Someone told me its my struts are making the noise, but i dont see that being the problem.

Thanks for the help

 

wheel bearing maybe? Not to sure but it is a common problem and it happens when turning the wheel etc...look into it.

 

Usually at slow speeds & turns, it's your swaybar end links.
If you haven't changed those, than that's your problem!

 

Doesnt the wheel bearing making a clicking noise when turning if something is wrong? because this is not a clickin noise, this happens on and off

 

Geo T, swaybar and links, what exactly is that?....sorry im a noobie but it would help if you could break it down for me

 

If it's related directly to turning the wheel over rough terrain, or when straightening the wheel back out, it seems to me to be strut mount bearings. Bearing doesn't move, so the spring winds up and finally gives, hence the 'pop'.

 

It is directly related pmohr, that strut mount brearings seems like it would be the problem, because i only had this problem after gettin the car lowered, is it a big deal???? and roughly how much do u think it would cost to fix?

 

Per side, it's one $15 bearing (P/N L3035-151227) (http://63.89.49.212/parts/online_cat...-800-293-9910), two bolts and three nuts to remove strut assy from vehicle, one nut to remove mount and then replace bearing.

New struts and springs, or just springs? If new struts, did you reuse the old mounts? Also, check to make sure springs were installed correctly and aren't binding up because of that.

 

i have a feeling the guys who did the installation reused the old mounts. So i guess that is my problem, i dont know whether the springs were installed correctly, is there a simple way to check, or does everything have to come off?

By the way, thanks for all the input guys, its helping me out tons, considering no mechanics can figure out the problem or make me fix stuff that doesnt need fixing

 

when the strut bearings went bad on my 97, when i opened the hood, i could see that the nut on the strut shaft was not dead center in the rubber mount. I grabbed the fender and shook the car sideways and i could see the nut move. on a good bearing, the nut should be dead center and not move.

 

i had the exact problem and all i did was replace the endlinks on my front sway bar as suggested by geo t

 

I have a similar issue, but my noise takes place under load it seems-such as when moving off from rest. Once the car is moving the noise does not occur, even with rapid left and right transitions. I haven't had time to really check it out yet tho.

 

The problem is in the upper perch. I guarantee you that whoever installed your lowing springs didn't clock the upper perch correctly. The word OUT, which is stamped on top of the upper perch needs to face outwards and be in line with the sturts lower mounting flange. The spring needs to sit evenly in the upper rubber perch and the strut bearing should have been regreased or replaced. Most of the 4th gens I see with suspension related issues after a spring install are always clocked wrong. Everybody seems to miss the upper perch position and it's very important to get that correct or the spring will never sit evenly on the strut. A new or regreased strut bearing is also important to allow the spring and strut assembly to rotate freely on the strut mount. If any of those components are not 100% correct, your suspension will make noises. Make sure the mount is also in good shape by inspecting the inner rubber bushing.

 

thanks for the help guys, when i visit my hometown of toronto i will get the stuff you guys suggested checked out, appreciate all the input, saved me time and money, THANKS!!!!!