front suspension knocking

calbrat · 11-08-2003, 09:07 AM

Lately I have been hearing some "knocking" noise up front on sharp slow turns, typically over uneven pavement. I have a Weltmeister sway bar installed up there. Visual inspections show nothing loose, cracked or falling apart. I removed everything from the front, spare tire, socket set, pretty much everything. Headlights, washer fluid system, gas tank, etc. all snug and not loose. No rubbing of tires, brakes ok... In fact noise happens when braking and not braking...
Am I just hearing the noises of a 30 year old car or should I suspect something else?

skline · skline's Garage

I would suspect ball joints or tie rods. Check both.

philinjax · 11-08-2003, 12:56 PM

As skline says, plus, check shock top mounts and the insert retaining nuts (the big nuts) on the strut housing. If either one of these are loose, you are going to get a click or knock on all the over-the-road bumps.
Phil

Tidybuoy · 11-09-2003, 07:47 AM

Some time ago, I had a knocking noise which got progressively worse. It ended up being the strut tube cap had come loose. It's difficult to tell when the car is parked but you might be able to hear the noise when bouncing the car up & down.

A few turns with a pipe wrench solved it.

Vern

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Mine was the upper strut cover....came loose and needed a spot weld.

M. Hendrix · 11-09-2003, 01:10 PM

Mine was a small can of Pledge that had found it's way underneath the driver's side light bucket.

M

woodman · 11-09-2003, 03:42 PM

or was it that empty 40 rolling around?

M. Hendrix · 11-09-2003, 03:58 PM

Rolling down the street smoking indo, sipping on gin... and juice... laid back.. with my mind on my money, and my mon..

Was that a redlight?

M

woodman · 11-09-2003, 04:18 PM

M - Have you heard the version of that song by the Gourds? Folkish sounding, real cool.

M. Hendrix · 11-09-2003, 04:22 PM

Yeah, it's great.

I live on the edge of the hood, so I have neighbors that prefer both versions..

M

Acox914 · 11-09-2003, 04:45 PM

I thought it was....

Drivin down the street in my pinto, no back seat and no front window, pedal to the metal and still goin slow.....

LOL

M. Hendrix · 11-09-2003, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Acox914
I thought it was....

Drivin down the street in my pinto, no back seat and no front window, pedal to the metal and still goin slow.....

LOL

ROFL! I like it!

M

Toast · 11-10-2003, 12:30 PM

Do these things have CV joints? If so, i would suspect that. Or else berings or bushings.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

914s do, but only in the back. They tend to roar more than click--I think it's mainly FWD car CV joints that click. They have more work to do, as they have to cope with the joint twisting much further when the front wheels turn.

Another thing to check--wheel bolts. Are they tight and torqued correctly?? (Don't ask how I know that...)

--DD