Suspension clunking / popping..

[69Mach1-409]

I know this one has been beat to death and I've been searching this forum and multiple other forums looking for an answer with no luck.

Symptoms:

I have a clunk / pop on the passenger side of my 2008 GT that has been there for years.. It only happens when going over a speed bump or up / down a steep driveway at an angle with the Driver's side wheel first.. Then I get a single, clunk / pop, on the passenger side almost like someone hitting the frame with a hammer.. just once though.

Sense she was my nice weather, fun car, I was just dealing with.. but the way things have been going I had to sell my DD beater the beginning of March. Now she's my DD and it's driving me nuts!

What we've tried:

- thought at first it was the shit strut mounts Ford put on our 05+ cars.. so I replaced them with the GT500 versions last year when I installed the FRPP 'P' springs. No change to the clunk / pop.

- thought it could of been the front swaybar end links. So I took the front swaybar off. No change to the clunk / pop.

- thought it could of been a ball joint / tie rod end. We had her on the lift last week and they all looked good. No play in any direction..

- we also tried tightening the K-member to body bolts, but they were more then tight enough.


I'm open to suggestions on what to try.. something maybe I missed in my searches?

 

[Stang613]

Grease the swaybars? Are all the bolts torqued down to the proper specs?

 

[69Mach1-409]

I removed the sway bar and had no change.

 

[BMR Tech]

Have you inspected your A-Arm bushings?

So the noise was present BEFORE and AFTER the strut mount and spring change?

 

[69Mach1-409]

Thanks.

No, I haven't checked the A-arm bushing. Would it be a visual inspection, or is there another way to check it?

Yes, it was there before and after the strut mount / spring change.

 

[eddieval5]

In for when problem its found have the same problem but hear all the time when driving.

 

[ElDiablo]

im curious about this too... have the same issue.. popping when going down driveway or just starting out. am gonna try the gt500 upper mounts this weekend and make sure all is tight

 

[69Mach1-409]

Will do.

Starting out she's fine and 99% of driving she's fine.. it's just the speed bumps & driveways and only then if I go up them at an angle, with the driver's side first.

Leaving for CA tomorrow for work, so I won't be able to check the A-arm bushings until the the 28th - 29th.

 

[NickJones07GT]

My wife's Nissan Versa had this problem and it turned out to me the steering box. I tried strut mounts, swaybars and the lot and finally gave up. Then Nissan put out a recall on the steering box and I replaced it. The problem was gone. I am not sure what component it was but I believe it was an intermediate steering shaft. Either way the steering assembly might be worth a glance.

 

[11secLX]

Any updates?

 

[69Mach1-409]

Nope, I figured we'd be putting her up on the lift to install the TPS Brembo brake upgrade when it came in anyway, so why take up lift time twice. I ordered the kit back on the 10th and I'm still waiting on the rotors to come in. I was told last week that there was a shipping issue with them.

 

[lucis06]

I had this same issue on my 07 a coupke years ago turned out to be strut mount from lowering it, it didnt seat right reinstalled right noise gone

 

[dsmdiggler]

Same EXACT thing with mine, only does it on incline/decline out of my driveway and speed bumps. I took off the front swaybar and end links, same noise. I am going to try the gt500 strut mounts with new struts and see if it fixes it. If it doesn't, then I will live with it. I have lived with it for years and the only issue is the sound of it. People have complained for over seven years about this issue on the s197s and it seems to never go away.

 

[Brewster]

Mine was doing the exact same thing, creaking and squeaking going over bumps at slow speed and going into my driveway that is slightly elevated. My mods are Tokico struts, BMR lowering springs, BMR poly/poly A-arms, BMR poly front anti-roll bar. I changed out the BMR A-arms with http://www.latemodelrestoration.com...g-Ford-Racing-Gt500-Style-Front-Lower-Control- and it fixed the problem. NTB wanted to charge me like $650 to replace the ball joints in my stock arms and put them back in. For $229 and some time in the driveway with basic handtools and my problem is gone.

 

[69Mach1-409]

I'm leaning towards that being the problem (only thing I haven't replaced), but I'm going to wait till after I check them out.

I finally got my rotors in, so she'll be on the lift soon.

 

[RyanGT2007]

I have the same problem on my 07…

 

[1sloGT]

Mine was doing the exact same thing, creaking and squeaking going over bumps at slow speed and going into my driveway that is slightly elevated. My mods are Tokico struts, BMR lowering springs, BMR poly/poly A-arms, BMR poly front anti-roll bar. I changed out the BMR A-arms with http://www.latemodelrestoration.com...g-Ford-Racing-Gt500-Style-Front-Lower-Control- and it fixed the problem. NTB wanted to charge me like $650 to replace the ball joints in my stock arms and put them back in. For $229 and some time in the driveway with basic handtools and my problem is gone.

Very interesting. Anyone else get rid of it with a similar swap? Same problem here too, but using it as an excuse with my wife to upgrade stuff so I kinda hope it stays for a while. I've always thought mine came from the back though.

 

[RyanGT2007]

I'm taking it that it's the bushing right?

 

[dsmdiggler]

I am guessing people with GT500s sell those things for cheap.. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade if you can get them for cheap and are looking to tighten things up a bit.

 

[Nitemare]

Had the same problem on my 05. Dealer said there was a nut loose on the subframe.