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Hearing a ''thunk'' after driving on a bad road yesterday by TheDigitalAlchemist
Started on: 06-30-2015 02:06 PM
Replies: 16 (333 views)
Last post by: Patrick on 07-18-2015 01:20 PM
TheDigitalAlchemist
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Report this Post06-30-2015 02:06 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TheDigitalAlchemistClick Here to visit TheDigitalAlchemist's HomePageSend a Private Message to TheDigitalAlchemistEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
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).]

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tebailey
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Report this Post06-30-2015 02:21 PM Click Here to See the Profile for tebaileySend a Private Message to tebaileyEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Look at the sway bar links. With our roads around here that is common.
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jaskispyder
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Report this Post06-30-2015 02:23 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jaskispyderSend a Private Message to jaskispyderEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Yup, end links. I had a bearing that make a banging noise also, but it was pretty consistent when turning, so easy to find.
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David Hambleton
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Report this Post06-30-2015 02:33 PM Click Here to See the Profile for David HambletonSend a Private Message to David HambletonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
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...
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ironworker
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Report this Post06-30-2015 03:01 PM Click Here to See the Profile for ironworkerSend a Private Message to ironworkerEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
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.

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IanT720
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Report this Post07-01-2015 01:04 AM Click Here to See the Profile for IanT720Send a Private Message to IanT720Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
X2 on my control arm seperating from the frame. It destroyed the mount, and was not worth fixing

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Report this Post07-01-2015 09:32 AM Click Here to See the Profile for DizzixxSend a Private Message to DizzixxEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
If its not what others have suggested it could be a ball joint.
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TheDigitalAlchemist
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Report this Post07-17-2015 03:10 AM Click Here to See the Profile for TheDigitalAlchemistClick Here to visit TheDigitalAlchemist's HomePageSend a Private Message to TheDigitalAlchemistEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
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?

[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 07-17-2015).]

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Patrick
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Report this Post07-17-2015 03:31 AM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:

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).]

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TheDigitalAlchemist
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Report this Post07-17-2015 03:36 AM Click Here to See the Profile for TheDigitalAlchemistClick Here to visit TheDigitalAlchemist's HomePageSend a Private Message to TheDigitalAlchemistEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

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.


86. You can see it here, it's the piece which connects to the middle of the rear shock.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Monro...538258298?nav=SEARCH


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Patrick
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Report this Post07-17-2015 03:39 AM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:

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).]

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TheDigitalAlchemist
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Report this Post07-17-2015 03:56 AM Click Here to See the Profile for TheDigitalAlchemistClick Here to visit TheDigitalAlchemist's HomePageSend a Private Message to TheDigitalAlchemistEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

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 silver piece...
http://www.autoaccessoriesg...or/lg/287/G55593.jpg
P
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Patrick
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Report this Post07-17-2015 04:36 AM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:

This silver piece...


It's actually black ... but you don't need it. If it's rattling or banging around, take a hacksaw to it.
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84fiero123
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Report this Post07-17-2015 08:08 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 84fiero123Send a Private Message to 84fiero123Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

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

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[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 07-17-2015).]

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Patrick
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Report this Post07-17-2015 08:21 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by 84fiero123:

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.

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84fiero123
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Report this Post07-18-2015 08:37 AM Click Here to See the Profile for 84fiero123Send a Private Message to 84fiero123Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

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.

http://www.shockwarehouse.c...enceshocksstruts.cfm

 
quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:

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).]

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Patrick
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Report this Post07-18-2015 01:20 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by 84fiero123:

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.

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