96 Ford Escort

I have a 96 Ford Escort LX 1.9 engine. Recently, the front end has been popping. It's the the CV joints because I had those checked out. It only pops when I come to a stop. Someone told me that it could be my bushings. Could this be a possibility? Please someone help me out with this. I called Ford dealership and they want to charge me $150.00 just to look at it. I am a single mother with 2 kids that does not receive child support from their father.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have a 96 Ford Escort LX 1.9 engine. Recently, the front end has been popping. It's the the CV joints because I had those checked out. It only pops when I come to a stop. Someone told me that it could be my bushings. Could this be a possibility? Please someone help me out with this. I called Ford dealership and they want to charge me $150.00 just to look at it. I am a single mother with 2 kids that does not receive child support from their father.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The control arm bushings attatch the lower frame of the wheel assembly to the body. If worn they could make a popping sound when coming to a stop. Probably the rubber bushing is completely gone and it is just metal against metal. Also, CV joint, if bad, would make a clicking sound when turning. I doubt it would make any noise going straight ahead. I'd like to make a suggestion if I may. Don't take it to the dealer. He just wants to get into your pocketbook. Take it someplace that does front end work and alignments. You can find them in the yellow pages under automobile repairs. You can search the web by listing automobile suspension and alignment--your city-- your state. Most independents won't charge to look it over and advise you of what it needs and how much it'll cost. I used to work for Firestone and we never charged to check front ends or brakes. If one is close to where you live it would be a good place to get it checked out. All the best to you. Dave

Dave is right. CV joints normally won't make noise when going straight. Don't trust a dealer either. They are ripoffs. I just replaced both of my ball joints. That may be the problem too. It's easy to check. Even for a single Mom. :grinno: Jack up the front of the car so the front tire(s) are off the ground. Grab a tire at the 12 and 6 o'clock position. Now push in and pull out to see if there is any free play. There should be none. If there is play then your ball joints are bad. If the ball joints completely fail then the wheel basically falls off. Don't wait too long. They are not that hard to replace so maybe a mechanic can do it for cheap. Stay away from the dealer though. It's a lot about comission and very little about honesty :mad:

Take it to a quick lube or a mechanic.Have them give the bushings a REAL GOOD spraying with silicone spray(this should be done anyway when the oil is changed).This should cost nothing or a few dollars.IF the bushings are hard or slightly worn..this may cure it.If that doesn't make any difference spray them with that regular chassis type grease that NOW comes in a spray can.Again cheap.IF this quiets things down..do it when you change the oil.When these bushings get worn enough you will feel it in the steering..especially on the highway..wanderring.Next they will start creaking over bumps and the noise will be obvious.For control arm bushings to actually fail..this takes some real neglect..and time(useage)CONTROL ARM bushings. Ball joints,tie rod ends are a whole different storyThe suggestions about taking it to a mechanic or front end shop are good.DO NOT tell them to check the bushings.Take it to a few places for a general front end safety inspection.Tell them there aren't really any symptoms unless they are really obvious.If let's say 3 of them say the front end bushings are bad they probablly are.If only 1 does..then I wouldn't worry.
This "popping" noise when coming to a stop is also common with brake calipers sticking.
I bet it wouldn't be a cv joint.

Thank you so much for helping me out on this. I will take it to a mom and pop store to see if they can diagnose the problem. I"m just scared to death that my kids are going to be in the car and somethign happens. I will take it in ASAP and have it looked at. Thanks guys for all of your advice. Again....I really do appreciate it. I didn't know where else to look or ask besides the dealership.... :headshake

Back in my bachelor days I would have worked on it for a good, home-cooked meal. That might be the cheapest way to go. :iceslolan

Back in my bachelor days I would have worked on it for a good, home-cooked meal. That might be the cheapest way to go. :iceslolan


Yeah...is you lived near by it may not be a bad idea!! :naughty:

Thanks for your input though....it is really helpful. I am taking it in this weekend to have it checked. So I should just ask for them to look at my front end, right? Don't say anything as to why I am bringing it in. I can do that. I will put my female stupidity in action and wait for them to tell me something different.

Withholding information isn't a good idea. Just tell them what it's doing, when it started, etc.. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions.

Withholding information isn't a good idea. Just tell them what it's doing, when it started, etc.. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions.



Majority of the time that I tell them something...most of them will tell me it's completely different. I went in one time because something was clunking in the car. The guy tried telling me that it was my brakes. I had just had the brakes done so I knew that couldn't be it. But he was trying to sell me brakes. Funny thing is, is that I went on a forum and come to find out, it was my tie-rod end. They said they checked that and nothing was wrong. So....I don't know about some of the mechanics. I used to have a good one back in Palm Beach but that is about 200 miles from me now.

Yeah, I'm ashamed to say some of us aren't out to honestly fix cars.....

How many miles are on your 96? I have 155k on mine, so far the only thing I have needed to replace are the tie rod ends.
I know that there are government programs that will help pay for car repairs for single mom's. What state do you live in?

How many miles are on your 96? I have 155k on mine, so far the only thing I have needed to replace are the tie rod ends.
I know that there are government programs that will help pay for car repairs for single mom's. What state do you live in?

My car has 82K miles on it.Good shape...it's a 5 speed. 2 owners had the car before me. I paid $1,200 for it last year. I've had to replace the brakes, the evaporator purge valve and the thermostat. I am still having problems with the temperature problem but eveyone makes me think I am losing my mind. I have to put water in my radiator about every 2 weeks. How did you know your tie rod ends were bad? What was your car doing? I'm not very good at diagnosing noises in the car but I know when something is wrong. It seems like the noise is in the driver side tire. Once I get everything fixed on it and Christmas passes, I'm thinking about selling it to get something bigger. I love my car because it's compact and good gas mileage, but it just seems that it's falling apart. I'm scared to death that my clutch is going to go out. I took it to the shop this afternoon and they told me that my clutch is slipping, that's why I am hearing the popping noise. I don't know anymore. The state I live in is Florida. I haven't heard of any government programs....Ii can't get help from the state anyway. My ex husband is $70,000 behind in child support and the state knows exactly where he is and they will not do anything about it....except for telling me, "We're working on it"

Yeah, I'm ashamed to say some of us aren't out to honestly fix cars.....

I take it you are a mechanic?

Well, I'm enrolled in a tech school to be a master auto service tech. Before then, i grew up in a shop, though

If you have a good mechanic 200 miles away then it would save money to go to him so you won't get ripped off. You can check the ball joints yourself as described in an earlier post I made. I had a popping sound and it was the ball joints. I used to be a mechanic but I drive trucks now.

A slipping clutch does not make a popping noise. It doesn't make any noise. Do not go back to these people that told you that.

You need to find out where your coolant is going. Hopefully just a loose hose clamp somewhere. You got a good deal on your car with the low mileage. It ought to last a long time. I'd consider hanging on to it.

Mt car was overheating every once in a while. When I shut the engine off coolant would boil out the reservoir. This was caused by a clogged up radiator.

Instead of playing ignorant when you go to a mechanic you should act like you really know cars good. They are less likely to bullshit you then. Throw in words like balljoint, tie rod end, struts or "hand-held inirtially enhanced impact device". He won't know what the latter is but you will tke satisfaction in knowing something he doesn't. By the way, it's a hammer! :biggrin: