Steering problem and rattling sound

225-50R16 · Post by **225-50R16** » 22 Mar 2010, 18:38

Hello,
I have some steering problem. In the steering system seems everything is ok but car is pulling to the right side, during driving and especially during harder acceleration. What else have taken my attention is rattling sound from left side. It is occurring only in specific places. One of them was when I drove on the machined part of the rod (between two center lines on both direction rod) at specific speed it started rattling (trrrrrrrrr). Hard to tel what. Second sytuation when sound is coming from left side is when driving slowly trough slow-down bump. In this case I can hear signle not to loud knock. For ease I can add that I drove with out stabilizer link. Ball joint have been changed, tie rod look ok. What else I have notice is that left side of the car is downing once, I open the hood, did catch frame and started pushing and puling and it was not so solid. The struts where changed 50k ego.
Could it be that the strut is worn out and is causing unstable driving and is sours of noise? What else I it can be? It is important because during winter the car had been very unstable on icy rod and was very easy to loose control.

Thanks

Post by **jblackburn** » 22 Mar 2010, 21:13

I think you've got 2 things going on here.

In the steering system seems everything is ok but car is pulling to the right side, during driving and especially during harder acceleration

That sounds like either a bent control arm or bad control arm bushings.

As for the clunking on the left side, try twisting the top of the spring seat. Sway bar endlinks will also make a clunking if they're gone.

^It shouldn't twist around like that.

225-50R16 · Post by **225-50R16** » 22 Mar 2010, 23:06

jablackburn wrote:I think you've got 2 things going on here.

In the steering system seems everything is ok but car is pulling to the right side, during driving and especially during harder acceleration
That sounds like either a bent control arm or bad control arm bushings.

As for the clunking on the left side, try twisting the top of the spring seat. Sway bar endlinks will also make a clunking if they're gone.

Spring seat and bearing was changed last month, they do not twist. Sway bar end link does not make the sound because I have taken it out - to check if the sound will stop. I also changed last month both control arms and subframe bushing. Also an alignment was done.

Steely · Post by **Steely** » 23 Mar 2010, 08:22

I had the rattling noise on the left side. Replaced the spring seat, no change. Replaced the sway bar link, no change. Then I replaced the right link, problem solved.

225-50R16 · Post by **225-50R16** » 23 Mar 2010, 12:11

I can add that tire where wear out unevenly, from inside. I went to my garage and pushed the car couple more times and I noticed clunking sound. Could it be that the strut is wrong?

Post by **jblackburn** » 23 Mar 2010, 21:26

It could well be that you have a broken strut mount. This would cause clunking as well as uneven tire wear. Pop off the tire and have a look for yourself...do some tugging on the strut. It should NOT move.