Suspension Brakes 1st Gen Most liked posts in thread: What else to do during front CA bushing replacement?

  1. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

    May 6, 2009
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    #2 k-huevo, Jan 7, 2010
    Wiggle the ball joints while disconnected, they should offer some resistance. If they feel dry, gritty, have lateral or vertical movement, or feel just plain sloppy, its time to replace. Inspect each dust boot for tears or surface cracking.

    If you would like to have road & engine noise reduced in the cabin, now is the time to pull the header & heat shields and apply thermal and acoustical barriers to the firewall and forward exhaust channel. Check the seal around the steering column, clean the PS fan with compressed air, clean and straighten the AC heat exchanger fins, and inspect the coolant hose fittings at the firewall inlets.
     
  2. xalfa

    xalfa New Member

    Nov 24, 2009
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    #3 xalfa, Jan 7, 2010
    Gracias, Sr. Huevo. I like me some good engine noise, so no plans to try and reduce it. Will definitely have them inspect the ball joints and blow out the PS fan.
     
  3. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

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    #4 Dr Obnxs, Jan 7, 2010
    Keith beat me to the punch...

    ball joints. They're cheap and easy to swap with the sub frame down and the control arms off.

    Matt
     
  4. xalfa

    xalfa New Member

    Nov 24, 2009
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    #5 xalfa, Jan 21, 2010
    Ok, finally got this done. Ball joints were in good shape. Put in PF CA bushings (pre-pressed from WMW), PF front swaybar bushings, and TSW endlinks. Feels like a new car! The annoying clunk I had been living with for more than a year is gone. Steering is so much crisper and connected. Zero NVH issues with the PF CA bushings. Happy camper.
     
  5. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

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    #6 Dr Obnxs, Jan 22, 2010
    If you had the clunk...

    at lest one side was really, really bad.

    I really, really don't like the stock unit.

    Matt
     
  6. Rally

    Rally New Member
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    #7 Rally, Jan 22, 2010
    When were you hearing the annoying clunk? Over bumps? Braking?
     
  7. xalfa

    xalfa New Member

    Nov 24, 2009
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    #8 xalfa, Jan 22, 2010
    Clunk happened at slow speeds whenever there was independent vertical wheel movement up front. I diagnosed it a while back as a bad front swaybar bushing. Just took me a while to get it fixed because I chickened out of dropping the subframe myself...
     
  8. Rally

    Rally New Member
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    #9 Rally, Jan 22, 2010
    Thanks, sounds like that may be the source of my mystery clunk. That's a bit reassuring.
     
  9. Jakedog

    Jakedog New Member

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    #10 Jakedog, Jan 22, 2010
    I had the clunk whenever I would make a slow turn into a parking space or driveway. Keith replaced what was left of my bushings (among other things) with the PowerFlex. The suspension is now better than ever.
     
  10. xalfa

    xalfa New Member

    Nov 24, 2009
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    #11 xalfa, Jan 22, 2010
    Easy test to see if it is related to swaybar links or bushings: Disconnect one link and take a test drive. When I did this, my clunk was gone. I then checked joints on both links and they were good. Finally grabbed the disconnected end of the bar and moved it up and down. Lo and behold, lots of play in one bushing. QED. :Thumbsup:
     
  11. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

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    #12 Dr Obnxs, Jan 25, 2010
    For those with a front end cluck...

    stock front control arm bushing failure is more common than front sway bar bushing failure. Test to see what it is!

    Matt
     
  12. Rally

    Rally New Member
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    #13 Rally, Jan 25, 2010
    Yah, I know mine isn't the swaybar bushing. I'm hoping it's the control arm bushing.