[Shotimes] Front Right Clunk with lots of diagnosis

[clubairth@bellsouth.net]

Eric:
 There is a chance you have a strut rod bushing problem. It is pretty hard 
to find. I am sending you a repair procedure. If your car has seen salt it 
is very likely this is the problem. What happens is the metal holding the 
bushing breaks free and causes a popping/clunking sound when the suspension 
moves from braking or turning.
.
.

.
.


> 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
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