Terrible suspension noise

[89berlina]

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone has had this issue. Couldnt find any threads mentioning it. My front left strut has started making a terrible noise - hard to explain, but it sounds bad. Sound like the whole thing wants to fall out! Ive checked all the bushings and the strut top mounting bolts and everything seems solid.

Bushings are fairly worn but not enough to cause such a noise. Also checked the ball joint by using a crow bar between the control arm and strut and tried to pry it back on forth to see if it moves, but it seems fine. Ive just put new shocks in as well so they're fine. The tie-rod ends also need replacing because they have some play on them but not sure if that would be the problem. I'll probably end up pulling the whole strut out but thought I'd first ask to see what I need to be looking at?

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks guys

[georgeonboost]

might be the shocker mate...mine makes a terrible noise too. i've yet to pull it out to check yet.

George

[VrWagz1]

if its a hollow clunky noise then its your strut top

[wildss]

have you checked the link pin bushes?

[89berlina]

might be the shocker mate...mine makes a terrible noise too. i've yet to pull it out to check yet.

George

Nah shocks are new. Shouldnt be the problem unless I got dodgey ones

if its a hollow clunky noise then its your strut top

Yeah, I was thinking the same. I'll have to pull it out soon and check.

have you checked the link pin bushes?

Link pin bushes are fine.

[maldotcom2]

if its a hollow clunky noise then its your strut top

Do the rears have a strut top that can be replaced too? I have a similar noise.

[centy]

strut tops. did you put oil in the struts when you changed the shocks?
anything that you can move can cause noise.

[georgeonboost]

strut tops. did you put oil in the struts when you changed the shocks?
anything that you can move can cause noise.

how much oil should be put in when putting new shockers in? wouldnt mind knowing for when i replace mine in the near future.

George

[centy]

about 30ml i think it was.
tip out old oil first off course.

[VrWagz1]

Do the rears have a strut top that can be replaced too? I have a similar noise.

If its in the rear and you have live axle, i would say its the front bush in the lower control arm where it atach's to the under carraige of the car.
Rear shock has no strut tops, just a couple of rubber washers, 1 either side of the body where the shock goes through then a big washer and a nyloc nut ontop. If you suspect the shock, then the rears are piss easy to change yourself in less than an hour with nothing more then a spanner set.
heres when i did my wagons, i beleive sedans dont differ much, just the location of the top nut. How to change rear shocks (wagon)

[maldotcom2]

Thanks. Yeah i was starting to think control arms since it happens on even the lightest bumps at less than 5 km/h. Those bushes need to be pressed out correct? Sorry to hijack OP but it seems you've got your answer of strut tops.

[maldotcom2]

If its in the rear and you have live axle, i would say its the front bush in the lower control arm where it atach's to the under carraige of the car.

Bloody hell mate, i just checked and they're both ripped in half. The rear ones where they join the diff housing are also worn. Good spot, rep points! (if i could).

[VrWagz1]

Bloody hell mate, i just checked and they're both ripped in half. The rear ones where they join the diff housing are also worn. Good spot, rep points! (if i could).

Those upper arms you can change yourself without too much hassel, just do one at a time. They are pretty cheap on ebay for the whole arm and bush pressed in and ready to go. They are very common to wear out, its a poor design for how much weight they take.
Commodore VK VL VN VP VR VS Upper Control Arm Rear NEW - eBay Other Lights, Indicators, Lights, Indicators, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 13-Aug-09 19:34:11 AEST)
VB-VS COMMODORE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS - eBay Other Suspension, Steering, Suspension, Steering, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 14-Aug-09 21:10:00 AEST)

The lowers do need pressing in. Im not sure but the old threaded bar big washer and a nut might pull a new bush in. If not you will have to take the arm out and take it to a shop to get it pressed in.

[maldotcom2]

Yeah, nah it's the lower ones. The upper ones look like they've been replaced recently. I guess the lowers weren't done because of the added cost of getting them pressed in.

[89berlina]

Hey guys,

Well thought I'd pull the whole strut out today and have a look and sure enough I found the problem. The large nut that holds the strut insert (shock absorber) into the strut had come undone. Just did it up again, but this time with a sufficient amount of loctite. Probably really should have done that from the beginning

[Dum*P*ster]

Was the sound like a rubbing?

My Strut has just began to make a strange Rubbing sound .. Left side to..

[89berlina]

No I wouldnt say so. Its a harsh knocking/clicking sound. Easiest way to check is to jack your car up until the wheel is off the ground and if possible, move the suspension rubber boot so you're able to see where the strut insert (shock absorber) goes into the strut. Check that the large nut is tight. You shouldnt really be able to see any of the nuts thread sticking up past where its screwed into the strut. If there is, then its starting to come undone. But you mentioned a rubbing sound? Are your wheels not making contact with the guards. Have a look inside the guards for any wear marks. If there is, I'd say your shocks are stuffed and you may have the wheel making contact with the guard?

[Dum*P*ster]

Just checked, and the wheel is not rubbing nor touching anything , ..

However, (Thanks to you ) I've noticed that BOTH my front Struts are nearly dead :P

The Driver side Strut is leaning Inwards. Might need a tighten up, as for the other strut.. I pulled its Rubber Guard thingy down, and I saw.. The strut itself has begun to break lol.

Everything else is all fine.. Springs, bushes etc etc, just the Strut is on its last legs ..


Im not pissed , But Im very happy you made me check it out :P .. If I had left it the way it is.. I might not be here next week looks VERY Dangerous .. So, I WONT be driving till i fix it

$66 for one strut at my local Wreckers.. So im gona grab two and hope they last for a bit till i get me tax monnies.. OR, I will just leave the car and wait till tax money rocks up..

Remember guys! Check ya struts!!

thanks again 89berlina

[89berlina]

No problem at all Anything to help out. Its good to hear you found the problem. Would be a relief. Haha I felt the same when I discovered that the strut insert nut had just come undone. I was dreading that it may have been something like a ball joint in the lower control arm, but it sure was a relief to find the problem. Driving was becoming abit scary - especially cornering. Car would slide around alot. Now, after getting a wheel alignment done, its handling beautifully. Too bad Im gonna have to rip it all out again and replace it with Kingsprings and GT Monroe shocks in the next 2 weeks Its fair easy job to change the struts anyway.