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suspension/steering clunk followup Posted by TML [Email]  (#2212)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from TML) on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 09:15:02
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After trying many different suggestions, the worst of the sound was eliminated by re-tightening the steering rack bolts. This removed the metallic, snapping sound heard at low speed turns and was getting worse. There remains a more hollow clunking sound when going over substantial bumps at low speed, which as it turns out is a separate sound with a separate cause. I'm less worried about this sound, as it isn't progressive and doesn't occur very often.
I'm not sure what this adds to the oeuvre of front-end sounds on the 9000, other than "it's complicated, and there's no one all-encompassing solution". These are the things, over the years, that I've found responsible for various front end clicks, snaps, and clunks:
-loose wheel bolts (snapping sound heard mainly when braking, speed dependent)
-loose suspension/steering rack bolts (usually restricted to low speed turning)
-bad wheel bearing (speed dependent)
-bad ball joint (heard mainly on turning)
-bad axle/outer universal joint (heard on turning)
Here are other suspects, but which I have not directly experienced being the source of a problem:
-outer or inner tie rods
-shocks/dampeners
-broken control arm bushing caps (I replaced these on suggestion here, and made no difference - I personally don't think they are likely of being the cause of front end noises; one of my 9000s had broken caps for 6 months before I got around to replacing them, and cause no noises or handling problems. If the cap was so badly destroyed that there was horizontal play on the bolt, then that would be a big problem, but the usual failure of these is just for the "ears" to snap off - as long as the bolt remains tight, the control arm will be held in place.)
My one piece of advice is tighten EVERY single bolt associated with the sub frame, steering rack and front suspension with a torque wrench before ordering or replacing any parts.
posted by 24.246.55...
, Sun, 28 Aug 2011 09:15:02 <-- Viewing This Message
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