[Shotimes] Front Right Clunk with lots of diagnosis

[Eric Wieland]

My boss (fellow SHO fanatic) and I tore down the right side suspension this
weekend again and tried a few different "tests" and we could not reproduce
the clunk without the suspension loaded and moving.  We did not find
anything that jumped out at us as obviously wrong.  The strut assemble is
tight and assembled correctly.  We checked the subframe and it is not moving
so the movement I am feeling in the front right hub.  

 

My question is it possible that the half shaft could have a bearing out or
somehow otherwise damaged that it could change its length and alter my
geometry.  The boots are all in good shape and it does not have any clicking
noises normally associated with a half shaft going bad.  I appreciate any
insight.

Eric

 

 

  _____  

From: Terrygranit@aol.com [mailto:Terrygranit@aol.com] 
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 5:15 AM
To: ewieland@mchsi.com; shotimes@autox.team.net; TechSHO@topica.com
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Front Right Clunk with lots of diagnosis

 

check to see if ball joint pinch bolt may have been over tightened,resulting
in stretched out receiver of ball joint stud.this creates excessive play for
ball joint stud.this is easy to see,look for small gap at pinch bolt,if
there is no gap it doesn't matter how tight you make pinch bolt,both sides
of gap only pinch against each other. please respond to let me know if this
was problem,if so I know just how hard this can be to pin down.

 

 

 

 

 

In November, I took my 93 ATX SHO off the road to do rod bearings and
several other maintenance items. The SHO did not clunk prior to me taken it
off the road and tearing it apart.

 

I have a definite clunk from the front right side of the when turning left
at times, but no always.  I have performed repeated teardown inspections of
the right front suspension and found nothing that raises a flag.  I can
definitely feel movement through the steering wheel and the wheel is not
always square even though the car tracks straight.  Almost like a moving
alignment which goes back to something being loose up front.  

 

The parts that I worked on/replaced that relates to this issue are: 

 

1. New aluminum subframe bushings (old ones were shot) 2. F and R ATX
re-enforced motor mounts (old ones were shot) 3. I also took a different ATX
subframe from another car and had it bead blasted and painted with POR-15. 

4. I replaced both A arms and strut rods with Moog units 5. I also used TPR
bushings everywhere. 

6. I used a Moog problem solver kit to replace both strut rod mounts on the
subframe since the welds on mine were broken (very common)
http://www.federal-mogul.com/fmeconnect/technicalservices/downloads/2077.pdf

 

7. I also replaced both inner and other tie rods with Moog units. 

8. Installed 24mm sway bar with new TPR bushings 9. Composite sway bar links
10. I have checked the torque on the subframe bolts on multiple occasions

 

I wish that I could observe the suspension while the car is moving to see
and feel what could be making this disconcerting sound. It hasn't gotten any
worse since I have been driving the SHO.

 

I had the front right wheel bearing replaced right after a winter run with
the Texas guys in 2003. I have had the SHO aligned twice and the shop (knows
SHO's well) can not find the issues either. 

 

Please help me start in a direction.  I am think that it is either the
spindle lifting off the ball joint (read elsewhere about this happening) or
that something is not right with the FL strut and spring assembly (I did not
tear this apart, but I wonder if they somehow go screwed up in the process).

How do I check the strut/spring assembly?

 

Thank you,

Eric