93 850 Ft suspension rattle

jschick · Post by **jschick** » 07 Mar 2005, 06:59

ok this has been driving me nuts latley and it has been getting worse. my front suspension has a knock/ rattle which sounds like ball joints, but they are good, and I jus treplaced the spring seats and they were also fine. last fall I replaced the swaybar bushings and the links so they are all good, only thing I see is possibly the lower A-arm bushings, are these replacable or do you have to replace the whole A-arm? with the car on the ground sometimes it knocks very easily and loud till I get under the car, on ramps it will not hardly knock at all. the car has about 125K on it

thanks
Jon

sreynolds · Post by **sreynolds** » 07 Mar 2005, 07:48

I have had two 850's with similar sounding noises to what you described. There is one rubber strut mount at the top of each strut between the strut and the strut well body. Those rubber mounts should be replaced every time the struts are replaced because they have about the same life. I think they cost about $25 each from FCP and are made from reinforced rubber and metal. They are about 6 or 8 inches in diameter. You can put them in yourself, but have to get the front end realigned after. I did it twice using spring compressors from Autozone. It's also a great time to throw in sway bar links (about $18 each) and the control arm (A-arm) if the car needs it. For the inexperienced mechanic, it would probably take all day ... for someone with experience, it takes a couple of hours.

jschick · Post by **jschick** » 07 Mar 2005, 08:45

I allready replaced rubber spring seat and the swaybar links. It believe it has to be the A-Arm bushings but are these replaceable? I thought it could also be the strut Bearing plate but since it rattles over light bumps I don't think it is from the bearing plate it sounds from the lower end of the strut when you bounce the car, but unfortunatly when I put the car on ramps it will not knock, and on the ground I can't get under it, but it is definatly not from the top of the strut.

sreynolds · Post by **sreynolds** » 07 Mar 2005, 12:48

I believe that the bushings are replacable before 1996. FCP Groton mail order (see online) has the parts listed both ways (full assembly or bushings alone). If you do the bushings, I am pretty sure that they need to be pressed into place (ie - special press tool).

jschick · Post by **jschick** » 07 Mar 2005, 13:10

yea these don't look to be a easy replacement since their isn't much to gab onto to press them out. i did find the bushings for $20, since their is only 3 bolts I will remove the A-Arm and inspect them and the ball joint, I assume I will find something once it is off.