Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 08:42:41 -0600 From: Gavin Haslett <thumper_svxnopsamo.com> Subject: Re: Front Suspension Noise in Icy Conditions
I've had that same problem on two of my last three cars. My 95 Subaru SVX did it all the time when it dropped below freezing... exactly the symptoms you specify... and disappeared after 10-15 minutes of driving. Of course, in that thing suspension noises are really noticeable because the passenger cabin is located so close to the suspension. My 96 Saab 900 Turbo I replaced it with also does the same thing... and this is with new struts all around (less than 5K miles on them). Not quite as bad... and again only for a few minutes after initially starting... it goes away pretty quickly. I've sort of just started to accept it as normal behavior of strut-based suspension. Although my Pontiac GTP I drive daily now (the Saab is my SO's car and my weekender) doesn't do it yet... I've started to hear occasional noises when driving in sub-zero temps until the car warms up. The entire car has less than 5K miles on it at the moment though, so I figure that as of next year I'll probably start hearing "strut crunch". Why it does it? Not sure... I would agree with you that a distinct possibility is fluid in the struts that's freezing. Although there's not supposed to be water inside the struts, I'm sure some gets in as moisture on the piston. It probably then freezes inside the strut... probably at the bottom since the water is heavier than the oil the struts are filled with... then when you actuate the strut (read "go over a bump"), the movement and pressure changes inside the strut break the ice up, causing a crunching noise. As the strut is used it produces enough heat over time to melt the ice back to water, which when the car's been at rest for a while will drift back to the bottom of the strut and freeze again once the temperature drops low enough. Just a theory... but it works for me :) Don't let it worry you. -- Gavin Haslett thumper_svxnopsamo.com http://www.geocities.com/thumper_svx "Ahhhh... Mountain Dew... nectar of the geeks!"
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