[shelby987]

I am sorry to report, I haven't actually had the car up in the air to investigate the noise yet, I noticed it yesterday and again this morning....and I just haven't had the time for an investigation. The noise to me sounds like when the end links went on my old saturn. I only notice it when I am going over speed bumps at a slow speed (same ordeal with the saturn). It was a slow loading and unloading for the end link that allowed for this clunk. Is the front sway bar on the 968 the same?



Any other common parts that I should be looking at? I am trying to get the parts required to my door by the weekend, and experience tells me today is that last day I can order to have parts in NC by Saturday.

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[flash]

very likely a sway bar bushing gone or softened due to a power steering or oil leak. unfortunately if you don't fix the leak, and only replace the bushing, you'll get to do it again in a relatively short time.



off topic: you're driving it, so i presume you got the belts done. how did that go?

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[94SilverCab]

Caster blocks at the end of the A arms tend to deteriorate due to rubber bushings, VERY common problem.



Many folks choose to replace 968 caster blocks with 951 solid blocks.



JMHO,



Jay

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[flash]

those indeed deteriorate and are often ruined for the same reasons i cited above for the sway bar bushing, but the caster blocks usually don't clunk. there is usually enough rubber in there to keep that from happening. if it is gone or a large chunk is missing, it could do that though.

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[Ryan]

Don't forget the struts...How many miles on the car? original struts? Signs of leaking?

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[flash]

good point - i just inspected the ones on the white car, and i think they are starting to go. with only 22k on them, the seals are still old. there is a noticeable clunk when rocking the wheel with the car on the ground. not so much with it in the air, telling me the upper bearing of the strut itself is going.

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[TonD]

I have a similar sound, only heard when taking off. Struts are new, as are caster blocks. When my M030 (clone, cause original NLA) was installed, they actually had trouble getting the bushes to fit, and used a file to make it fit! Could this be the cause of my clunk?

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[flash]

huh? i just installed those same clone bars and bushings and had no issues. a quick squirt of silicone spray and they slipped on with ease.

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[TonD]

I was rather surprised, too. I saw them doing it, but was so surprised that I didn't ask any question at the moment. Perhaps they used rubbers for thinner (stock) bars? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> Then again, I think the sound was there before. Sorry, don't mean the hijack this topic.

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[flash]

they use essentially the same bushing for both standard and M030 bars. the only difference is the hole size in the rubber

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[TonD]

Which is the whole point exactly...

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[flash]

yeah - mine fit snugly, and required the silicone, but then slipped on with ease. i love that stuff.

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[TonD]

Which seems to confirm my suspicion they used the wrong ones <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[shelby987]

Belts are replaced! It went well (as far as I can tell). Now it is on to the other issues, mainly this clunk and an unstable idle. Last night I got the <acronym title='mass air flow'>MAF</acronym> cleaned, swapped in a new DME relay, a new air filter popped in, and the hood struts replaced before it got too dark to do any investigation. (I also had a VW diesel that needed some lovin last night....so I am spread a bit thin at the moment)



The records the previous owner supplied me with indicated that the PS pump was indeed leaking at some point, and was repaired, so this could be the cause of the worn rubber. I guess I will check to see how much sway bar bushings are and order a setup this week. I didn't see any notes about strut replacement, but the dealer did all the service for 0-40k miles....so they may be original, or they may have been replaced, they certainly feel ok, and the noise does not feel like worn the worn out shocks I have dealt with....it feels like it is sway bar motion related.



This car is a blast to drive, but I just want to get as much of the maint/issues done and out of the way before summer hits so I can enjoy worry free top-down cruising.

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[flash]

sway bar bushings are cheap, and very easy to change.

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[shelby987]

Is it worth ordering 4 end link bushings at the same time?

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[flash]

4? are you talking about the disks that are at the control arm? it would depend on whether or not they got oil soaked. it should be easy to tell.

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[Ryan]

If you still have your rough idle after your work, check the wires in the dark for arching. Dist cap can be suspect as well.

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[tamathumper]

I've noticed a clunk through the steering wheel when I brake hard, not immediately on braking but about halfway to a full stop. The sway bar bushing is wet from a PS leak when I bought the car, but is fully intact. I'll replace it soon. Where are the other bushings I need to check? There's no bump or clunk at any other time.

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