popping/creaking noise front end

[ant0045]

i recently put in ford lowering springs and new isolators all the way around. I now have a creaking and poping sound coming from the front end and i can not figure out where it is coming from. To me it sounds like its coming from either the ball joints or the tie rod ends. This all started maybe 50 miles after i did the springs. I lubed the s**t out of everything and its still making the noise. You can feel it through the control arm and tierod ends if you hold either one when it makes the noise. Has anyone had the same problem if so what was causeing that god awful noise lol

 

[5litrarag]

I'd say if you can feel it through the ends its probably the tie rods or maybe the steering rack. Check them both...

 

[5.Woahhh]

Had the same problem, it's 99% your tie rod. I had the same sounds coming from front end.

 

[ant0045]

alright thanks. im prolly guna replace the whole rack then bc i know my rack is shot i just think its funny because it all started after the spring and struts were put in. i guessi just agravated the problem.

 

[trav_19]

if your ball joints are bad you can test them by pressing down on your front fenders if they are shot it will creak

 

[5litrarag]

alright thanks. im prolly guna replace the whole rack then bc i know my rack is shot i just think its funny because it all started after the spring and struts were put in. i guessi just agravated the problem.

Yeah the springs change the geometry of the suspension, so now things are at different angles.

 

[Addermk2]

i'd say balljoints... very common on fords

 

[94 DropTop]

alright thanks. im prolly guna replace the whole rack then bc i know my rack is shot i just think its funny because it all started after the spring and struts were put in. i guessi just agravated the problem.

Yeah the springs change the geometry of the suspension, so now things are at different angles.

when i press on my fender i get this ticking/popping kind of noise is that the ball joint?

 

[mich_666]

replace it all, theyre all ticking time bombs. :hammer:

 

[ant0045]

looks like its the ball joints. I replaced the rack and the tierod ends and its still making the same noise. Other thing is he wheel doesnt return, it didnt return with the other rack either. im guessing power steering pump. but the poping noie is definetly the ball joints, theres nothing else it could be.

 

[94 DropTop]

im just going to buy 03 cobra control arms.

 

[ant0045]

whats the difference in cobra control arms? i was thinking about just getting ford raciing control arms

 

[94 DropTop]

probibly the same ones im talking about. they have stiffer bushings, better ball joints and give us a 10% better turn radious. and they are only 160

 

[thorco3]

another way to tell if you balljoints are shot is to jack up the car and place a hand at the top and bottom of the wheel, if you can rock it back and forth at all then you'r bj's are done.

i put in 03 control arms when mine started going. There's nothing to pulling the control arms if you've already done a spring install. and as some of the guys have already mentioned, they're only 160 new.

 

[ant0045]

i know how to check ball joints and ive done that but ive been told that our cars ball joints dont get loose they just have wear indicators. ive never heard that before ever. i just dont know what else it could be either. i noticed it after i did the front end work and its annoying the hell out of me :wall:

 

[1FastGT]

to check the tie rods (inner and outer) jack the front up and one hand on each side of the wheel front and back not top and bottom and turn it from side to side and see if it has alot of play. if it does chances its your outer tie rods but if its like way too excessive then its the inner.

 

[ant0045]

i just put a new rack, inner and outer tierods in and im gettin the same noise

 

[94 DropTop]

probibly the ball joints then

 

[Venom351R]

Who sells the Cobra control arms for $160? My A arm knocks when coming to a stop sometimes I belive the bushing are done but I might as well just replace the whole thing for only $160 and be done w/ it.

Found some... http://www.speedconcepts.net/produc...d=233&osCsid=bcdb95ede84554b77c824dfdbe7f3935

 

[94 DropTop]

i was looking at mine the other day. You might want to make sure the noise isnt coming from your strut mount :thumb:. i believe that is were mine is coming from and not my a arms or tie rod ends.