Hearing it from the driver's side read. I ride over a bump, and I hear a "thunk". Car doesn't drive any differently other than that sound. Don't see anything obviously loose. Any ideas what I should check? Tie rod? Maybe one end of the sway bar?
Hafta climb under there and check it out...
[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 06-30-2015).]
Jack the front end up under the cross member & jerk the wheels in various directions.
On my '84 SE the passenger side upper control arm sleeve broke free from the cross member. The only symptom was a 'click' when the brakes were applied. I expected a caliper issue...
Sounds like sway bar, I would also check your suspension bushings. I just changed all of mine, my upper front a arm had a real bad one and was clunking.
------------------ Whether you think you can, or you can't, your right (henry ford)
Found it- there's a flattish piece of metal which connects the bottom part of the strut to the spring bottom thingie. That flattish piece isn't connected no mo.
The bottom of the strut attaches to the knuckle with two big bolts.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Tell us again the year of your Fiero. Yes, it'll make a difference with this.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 07-17-2015).]
86. You can see it here, it's the piece which connects to the middle of the rear shock.
Are you referring to the spring perch? What's the spring sitting on?
[EDIT] Oh, I see what you're saying. I don't know how that piece became disconnected, but no, you don't need it. I actually cut all that extra metal off my struts when I installed my lowering springs.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 07-17-2015).]
Are you referring to the spring perch? What's the spring sitting on?
[EDIT] Oh, I see what you're saying. I don't know how that piece became disconnected, but no, you don't need it. I actually cut all that extra metal off my struts when I installed my lowering springs.
It's actually black ... but you don't need it. If it's rattling or banging around, take a hacksaw to it.
Plasma cutter rules, just be careful you don't melt the body panels close by.
But ya its not really needed. But yes you should have the alignment done after changing those, you can get lucky if you scribe the position of the old struts onto the body of the car, but I would have the alignment done anyway.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 07-17-2015).]
But yes you should have the alignment done after changing those...
Unless there is some other problem, why would he need to be removing and/or changing the struts? Heck, he doesn't even need to cut that chunk of metal off. Just bend it into a shape where it's not clanging on anything.
Unless there is some other problem, why would he need to be removing and/or changing the struts? Heck, he doesn't even need to cut that chunk of metal off. Just bend it into a shape where it's not clanging on anything.
First, that is not a shock, it's a strut. fronts only have the old style shocks, rears are struts like on just about any other type of front wheel drives made today or back then.
Found it- there's a flattish piece of metal that SHOULD be connected to the rear shock .That flattish piece isn't connected no mo.
Will I need to bring it in for alignment after I replace the shocks?
He asked if he should have an alignment done after he replaces the struts, he is mistakenly calling rear struts shocks and yes they do affect the alignment if you don't put them back, exactly in the same spot they were to begin with. Even then they may have been wrong to begin with so yes he should have an alignment done after changing his struts. All it takes can be hitting a pot hole to hard to throw off an alignment, or hitting a curb hard, hell it don't take much to throw an alignment off and as I said if he changes the struts he should have an alignment done, if he gets it done at a shop they will tell him the same thing. You can try and get it right by marking the holes but the chances of it being exactly right are slim unless you have some special tool, I forget what its called but it sets on the wheel bearing cap and has a level on it, not exactly the average owners tool. It can be done using the instructions in the FAQ section of the forum that shows you how to do a complete alignment to all four wheels, but like I said if he has a shop do the strut replacement they should recommend an alignment after replacing the strut, it is recommended when ever replacing anything related to the suspension.
Steve
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 07-18-2015).]
He asked if he should have an alignment done after he replaces the struts....
I know very well what TDA said... and I was letting him know that replacing the struts may not be necessary. I have no idea why you've gone on and on "correcting" me.
... but you don't need it. If it's rattling or banging around, take a hacksaw to it.
