Clank from suspension/give in steering wheel over bump

[Shady195]

So two things, might be related might not..

I noticed a few weeks ago if I go over a bump it feels like my steering wheel "gives" a little bit. Like theres a "deadspot" if I turn the wheel fast back and forth at a stop I can feel a "click" as I switch from one direction to the other. Its not really bad or extremely noticedable, maybe I just noticed it having only had the car amonth but it just feel like theres some give when the front wheels go over a few bumps

Also I noticed a light "clank" over bumps. Like a spring moving around in its seat. Im pretty sure its only coming from the right side, and i think its actually coming from the rear. It's not all bumps it has to just be the right bump, not to hard just enough to jar the suspension..

I've looked over everything outside of grabbing a torque wrench and trying to re torque everything but I just dont know what it could be

was wondering if anyone else maybe had something similar and figured it out.

[Shankenstein]

Originally Posted by Shady195

So two things, might be related might not..

I noticed a few weeks ago if I go over a bump it feels like my steering wheel "gives" a little bit. Like theres a "deadspot" if I turn the wheel fast back and forth at a stop I can feel a "click" as I switch from one direction to the other. Its not really bad or extremely noticedable, maybe I just noticed it having only had the car amonth but it just feel like theres some give when the front wheels go over a few bumps

Also I noticed a light "clank" over bumps. Like a spring moving around in its seat. Im pretty sure its only coming from the right side, and i think its actually coming from the rear. It's not all bumps it has to just be the right bump, not to hard just enough to jar the suspension..

I've looked over everything outside of grabbing a torque wrench and trying to re torque everything but I just dont know what it could be

was wondering if anyone else maybe had something similar and figured it out.

Tell us about your setup. Is it 100% stock? Has anything been fiddled with (recent repairs, accidents, etc)?

Part 1) If the steering is acting up, the first place I look is tie rods. Make sure the threaded side is tight. At the ball joint, check the boot for cuts/grease, and wiggle the ball-and-socket to check for vertical slop.

Next, I'd check the wheel bearing and lower ball joint area. Grab the wheel and yank on it (hard) in both directions. Listen for abnormal noises and any play. It should feel solid and connected.

Part 2) I had similar "clunk" and looseness when the upper strut mount (hat) had a worn bearing. If it's a more of a "clank" than a "clunk," then I'd check all of the sway bar mounting points and make sure nothing is loose.

Generally, just jiggling things and checking torques will help you isolate anything that's not right. Most times I get a forehead-slapping "Well, THERE'S yer problem!" moment when diagnosing stuff like this.

[Shady195]

Originally Posted by Shankenstein

Tell us about your setup. Is it 100% stock? Has anything been fiddled with (recent repairs, accidents, etc)?

Part 1) If the steering is acting up, the first place I look is tie rods. Make sure the threaded side is tight. At the ball joint, check the boot for cuts/grease, and wiggle the ball-and-socket to check for vertical slop.

Next, I'd check the wheel bearing and lower ball joint area. Grab the wheel and yank on it (hard) in both directions. Listen for abnormal noises and any play. It should feel solid and connected.

Part 2) I had similar "clunk" and looseness when the upper strut mount (hat) had a worn bearing. If it's a more of a "clank" than a "clunk," then I'd check all of the sway bar mounting points and make sure nothing is loose.

Generally, just jiggling things and checking torques will help you isolate anything that's not right. Most times I get a forehead-slapping "Well, THERE'S yer problem!" moment when diagnosing stuff like this.

All stock, no recent repairs or anything like that. Nothing really feels out of place or badly messed up its just slight and maybe im just paranoid.

I just feel like the steering wheel as a little "give" like when you had an old POS and you could turn the wheel 90* before the wheels ever actually turned.

Its slight, theres no dead spot when just curising or turning everything feels tidy its just it feels like it gives slightly when i hit a few bumps and I can feel feel it in the wheel like theres slop. I mean its ever so slight but I just started noticeing it.. and I feel like its something I would have noticed for the past month if it was always there.

I'll look more again and see what I can find.. Thanks man!

[Shady195]

So I did not update but I put my car up on the stands and got underneath. Began shaking, banging and checking tightness and found nothing that appeared to be loose or what could possibly be making the sound.

I set up an appointment with the dealer to bring my car in next weekend and we'll see what they find (if anything)

[DriftHappens]

for what it's worth, there's another thread with a similar problem. A couple nuts on the strut bar were loose (even though they were never touched).

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72378

[Shady195]

Originally Posted by DriftHappens

for what it's worth, there's another thread with a similar problem. A couple nuts on the strut bar were loose (even though they were never touched).

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72378

I'll take a look at those later and see however mine is not a hard thud like hat.. Its more high pitched.

If I had to compare it close to anythign it would be the sound as if you bounce the spring on the ground... However I went nuts trying to figure out if the spring was loose in the strut housing but it seems to be just fine..

[wparsons]

It could be ANYTHING in the suspension. Make sure the swaybar endlinks are both tight at both ends and the balljoints on them aren't worn (shouldn't be, but doesn't hurt to check).