On my 2004 Cavalier,

I am getting a strange noise in my front end. Mostly when backing out of my driveway and turning the wheels to straighten up on the road. The noise sounds like a "spring" as it boings???? Could it be the strut spring moving in its mount? I have the front end checked out and all is tight including the stabilizer bar but this noise is driving me nuts.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Jim

It is more likely the bearing in the mount binding and the spring pops when it releases, but you're in the right area. From what I hear, mounts are very common on Cavaliers, but I haven't seen it personally.

I've seen it personally...I have a 96 Cavalier that has made that noise for a couple of years now. I've looked into it and had a mechanic look at it and neither of us can find what makes the noise. He thought that a spring might not be completely seated in its mount but said it wasn't dangerous. I installed a new ball joint which it needed but still the noise. It's mostly when I turn right like pulling out of my driveway over a small bump but occurs at other times also. It will almost always happens if you back up, turn right, then go forward. Mechanic said sometimes the A Arm bushings cause the noise, he replaced them, still the noise. I ended up buying another Cavalier. That fixed the noise!

Buy a new strut mount, problem solved.

Just because they look right, doesn't mean they are. The strut mounts on my 04 "looked" fine but they creeked and moaned like SOB's under the same conditions as stated above till I swapped in new ones.

I guess I was wrong...the problem wasn't solved. I heard the noise on my newer Cavalier today. How much do the strut mounts cost anyway?

Rockauto.com says $42 to $75. Seems a bit high to me though. If you're hoping to do this yourself, you'll need to get "quickstruts" that come fully assembled with mounts,bearings, springs, bump stops, dust boots, and new struts. Otherwise you need a spring compressor and doing it wrong can put you in a coma if you live through it, that said, for possible liability purposes I have no idea how to replace just the mount ;). We always do quickstruts at the shop, it works out to be about the same price for the customer because they're paying an assembly line worker to assemble them, and they get all new parts. Definately the way to go, especially considering how spings like to break. Not so much on Cavaliers as other cars, but I have seen a couple.