Page 1 of 1

Suspension getting old?

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:16 am
by 96B-Mike
I got a '96 base and it nearing to 100k. The car rides fairly smooth but a few flaws that im starting to hear/feel.

-Every time i accelerate and make a left hand turn, i hear a loud clank. (is it bushings? C/V joints?)

-My front right tire, a friend of mine hears rough noise every time i go over a rough part on the road (im hard of hearing so i can tell for myself) could i possibly need new struts?

--I do plan on getting a new suspension set up soon struts/shocks/springs..

but in the mean time is there anything i should replace asap or first off

THANKS

Re: Suspension getting old?

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:23 am
by Barry
Check front left control arm bushing

Re: Suspension getting old?

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:23 am
by DTMAce
Ball joints, control arm bushings, etc. Those are more common.

Re: Suspension getting old?

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 10:56 am
by berettaboi
the control arms are very common to rot out, and bend too (they are supposed to be straight actually). as well as the vertical bushing on the rear end of it that starts to pop out of the control arm itself. makes sure to give your subframes a good look over while you are there... they rot out as well. struts are common to make noise as well after they hit a certain age, look for the oil leaking out of them, thats a sure sign they have seen their day.

Re: Suspension getting old?

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:12 pm
by 96B-Mike
thanks guys, i appreciate it...ill post asap when i know it is

Re: Suspension getting old?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:29 pm
by Baims_91Base
Since nobody said it, also check your sway bar end-links. (Should be able to see them behind the brake rotor)

Even on a 56k mile '94 Beretta, I broke one about a month ago on a round-a-bout and had a funny clunking noise after I did it. ;) What was weird about how mine broke was that the stud/washer broke from the bottom, so it still looked fairly in-tact.

Or did you find the culprit to be something else?

Re: Suspension getting old?

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 12:25 am
by berettaboi
just another update on what to look for in your lower control arms, especially if they are original and you are in a rusty area...

Re: Suspension getting old?

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 1:05 am
by scannerman
i'd say they've seen better days.