Thread: Suspension advice - what is dangerous?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 24
  1. #1 Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Hello everyone. I have an 02 GP with 145K on it. It is my work car. I am relatively good with general mechanical stuff on cars but I am clueless on suspension items. My car was loose going down the highway last year so I got a 4-wheel alignment and changed the sway bar. It travels straight now but still makes some loud clunking noises when turning left and right. I took it to the local shop (prior to changing the sway bar/alignment) and I have attached their estimate. On a side note, the sway bar wasn't an OEM item and wasn’t a 100% fit. Any tips for trying to figure out if I have some safety items that need changed.... i.e. my car wheel is going to fall off if I don't fix it? I don't care about the ride that much. The noises really don’t bother me either. I am pretty handy and have a Chilton’s manual...I just need some guidance on what's important.

    Thank you in advance!

    Mike
    Suspension advice - what is dangerous? Attached Images
    Reply With Quote  
     

  2. #2 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    new jersey
    Posts
    39,921
    Thanks (Received)
    63
    Likes (Received)
    166
    Dislikes (Received)
    5
    your sway bar is fine, they are just thieves.

    if the clunking comes form the front, change your lca's. they cost 100 bucks on line shipped to your door. and are easy to change.

    the rear bars listed can be a real pita to change cause the bolts tend to rust up solid in the mounts.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
    Reply With Quote  
     

  3. #3 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    GrandPrix Junkie SgtMarshal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kemmerer, Wyoming
    Posts
    4,701
    Thanks (Received)
    10
    Likes (Received)
    25
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    it's hard to find good help these days. a trustworthy mechanic is like finding gold at the end of the rainbow. changing the engine and transmission mounts would probably be a good idea in addition to the lower control arms. the engine mount is on the passenger side and transmission mount is on the driver side, and changing them isn't too hard, you should be able to do it. there is a good guide on doing it in the "how-to" section.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  4. #4 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Lower control arm...... different than tie rod?? Or same?
    Reply With Quote  
     

  5. #5 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    GrandPrix Junkie SgtMarshal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kemmerer, Wyoming
    Posts
    4,701
    Thanks (Received)
    10
    Likes (Received)
    25
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by michael redmon View Post
    Lower control arm...... different than tie rod?? Or same?
    Different
    Reply With Quote  
     

  6. #6 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    GrandPrix Junkie SgtMarshal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kemmerer, Wyoming
    Posts
    4,701
    Thanks (Received)
    10
    Likes (Received)
    25
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Your tie rods would have to have been in good shape for the alignment to be done properly
    Reply With Quote  
     

  7. #7 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Sorry guys, came back to delete question about LCA v tie rod. Thanks K's again, I will be doing this soon.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  8. #8 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    W Spfld
    Posts
    26,815
    Thanks (Received)
    53
    Likes (Received)
    90
    Dislikes (Received)
    1
    You may want to look underneath first at the ends of the sway bars. The fronts are very prone to cracking and endlinks do rust off/break. I'd look in there and ensure which parts you need. If you have questions, take pictures and we can ID the parts.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
    Reply With Quote  
     

  9. #9 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    I live here. stealthee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    SWPA
    Posts
    8,782
    Thanks (Received)
    1
    Likes (Received)
    2
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Clunking while turning I'd look at the intermediate steering shaft.


    2011 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS - DD mode
    1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT - Many mods to come
    Reply With Quote  
     

  10. #10 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    i got the LCA's at partsgeek for $105 delivered to my door. thanks guys. I might do the motor mounts after the LCA's
    Reply With Quote  
     

  11. #11 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Changed them out today. Not too bad but I had to buy a 18mm wrench (socket didnt work) and a Torx 55. Other than that, it was a pretty smooth job. Seems better when I drive.

    Thanks you guys!
    Reply With Quote  
     

  12. #12 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    GT Level Member WickedGoat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    208
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    I know I am late to the party but I just looked at that estimate, and DAMMMM! Glad you dove in yourself and saved some money.
    2014 Chevy Impala LTZ Limited -- Silver/Black, Grand Prix replacement
    2004 Pontiac GTO -- my garage queen
    2004 GMC Yukon SLT -- wife's daily driver
    Reply With Quote  
     

  13. #13 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    In addition to the LCA's I did the motor mounts today. Really easy. Still clunking. I have whittled it down to intermediate steering shaft or Struts. I need to do some google searching and get to work on one of the two.

    Thanks again guys!
    Reply With Quote  
     

  14. #14 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Dalton, GA
    Posts
    68
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Most likely struts my 99 sebring does that when i go over a bumpy road
    Reply With Quote  
     

  15. #15 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Whats weird is that I can push down on my front end and it doesnt bounce all over the place. They appear to be ok. The car has 148K, I suppose I should do it anyways. I just drove the damn car around a parking lot trying to figure out the clunking noise and if there was any rhyme or reason and I am at a loss. Seems to appear more when turning right. I dont hear it over 15mph. Maybe I should just ignore it.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  16. #16 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    I live here. stealthee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    SWPA
    Posts
    8,782
    Thanks (Received)
    1
    Likes (Received)
    2
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Again, popping while turning I would check the intermediate steering shaft.


    2011 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS - DD mode
    1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT - Many mods to come
    Reply With Quote  
     

  17. #17 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Well, I avoided the Intermediate Steering Shaft because I read it is a PIA to get out. I drove the car around just now with the intent of zeroing on the cause of the knock/creak/noise. It is coming from right side strut....I think. If in a constant left turn and I then turn wheel to the right it makes a clunk with the change of force on the right front tire. It also makes the clunk at the beginning of a right turn. It makes no noises while parked and I turn the wheel. The struts seem to pass the bounce test and it doesn't creak when pushed up and down. I can duplicate the clunk noise. Reminds of when your wheel bearing is going out and you can duplicate the growl as you put pressure on/off the bad bearing side. I can duplicate the clunk/creak noise now. It also will clunk/creak upon hard accelleration and also hard decel. I ordered 4 quick struts from Completestruts.com for $230 for all 4. Free shipping, no tax, $15 off coupon. Struts are probably crap but they have to be better than the original struts on the car that has 148K miles on them. The strut mount on the right looks alright but I am no expert.

    Thoughts?

    Thanks for listening and I will let you know if the noise goes away after I get and install the struts.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  18. #18 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    WI,US
    Posts
    3
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    I would take a look at your outer tie rods as well.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  19. #19 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Outer tie rod is new from when I did my sway bar last year.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  20. #20 Re: Suspension advice - what is dangerous? 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    canal winchester, ohio
    Posts
    147
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Could the clunking be from my CV Axle? Umm.....I changed the front struts and still have the clunk. I also checked cradle bolts, and rechecked sway bar bushings.
    Reply With Quote  
     

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Advice on suspension ungrades
    By dbane in forum General Tech Discussion
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 01-08-2014, 02:14 PM
  2. 04+ suspension
    By RFlippy in forum General Grand Prix Discussion
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 10-15-2013, 06:59 AM
  3. Energy Suspension Suspension Parts
    By GeddyLee in forum Brakes/Suspension/Chassis
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-09-2009, 10:25 PM
  4. Suspension
    By b00stinGTX in forum Brakes/Suspension/Chassis
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 02-10-2009, 08:30 AM
Bookmarks
Bookmarks
Posting Permissions
  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •