Front Suspension - Again
 

99 Automatic stock setup. New Tokico blues with new strut mounts and bearings within last 6 months. Still feels and sounds awful, especially small bumps and potholes at slower speeds. When i've backed up and then switch into drive to go forward or vice versa suspension clunks LOUDLY when it engages to go in the opposite direction even though car is stationary and brakes are applied. Not bad at highway speeds. No vibrations or feeling of looseness. But bumps are still bumpy and loud. Im suspicious of my Autozone strut mounts because I've had them seperate (rubber separates from metal) in the past. My Tokicos made the back end feel and sound great and I'd like to get the same up front. Ideas? Thanks all.

The clunk when you change gears might be an engine mount, being it's happening while the brake is applied. How is the rest of the front end? Sway bar links, control arm ball joints and bushings? How many miles are on the car? What size tires are you running and in what condition are they? What are you inflating your tires to (cold)?

The Tokico Blues should give you a really nice smooth compliant ride.

I don't mean to hijack your thread but the Tokico blues, where did you guys purchase them? Also, are they cheaper than the dealer price?

if you hear the clunking noise when u brake..try this.
drive slowly..slow enuff to have a friend walk beside the car and observe the front wheels..apply the brakes and have the friend watch out for forward and backward movement of ur front wheels..if so,then u have bad radius bushings in ur control arms. just get some new ones..the entire control arm assembly..check ebay

107k on stock tires in good condition. I haven't had any abnormal wear on these tires which is what I saw on my old max and was fixed when I replaced my control arms and ball joints on my 3rd gen. I'm was thinking strut mount bc of my previous problems and because I could imagine that the top of the strut inside the mount (if broken) has a chance to move. I could see that the strut would be pushed forward and backwards in accordance with the car being in forward or reverse. If tires CANT turn (brakes applied) when I shift from reverse to forward, first thing that would happen is the strut would move at the top through that slack in the mount and slam in the other direction.

It's very easy to see if the strut mount has failed. Just open the hood and look at the center nut. Have somebody rock the car back and forth, in grear, go from D to R. See if there is any movement in the mount.

Same here, its killing me. Reverse/forward , click sound.

Changed bushings, link kit, sway bar bushing. Got 25 000 miles on my tokico, guess its not that.

Things left to check : lower ball joint and tie rod ball joint.

Axle assembly seems ok??? : they dont make sound when I'm turning.

can you folks direct where sway bar bushing is located. is this it? thanks.

http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/o...BarEndLink.jpg

That's the end links but there are a couple more where the swaybar bolts to the frame of the car.