Suspension Noise

My 2000 Windstar is making a popping noise when a load is added or removed from the front suspension. The sound is coming from the driver's front side. The steering wheel is now centered at the 1 or 2 o'clock position. I have parked it so nothing more serious happens.

Any suggestions on what to look for before I take it into the shop? Thanks.

My 2000 Windstar is making a popping noise when a load is added or removed from the front suspension. The sound is coming from the driver's front side. The steering wheel is now centered at the 1 or 2 o'clock position. I have parked it so nothing more serious happens.

Any suggestions on what to look for before I take it into the shop? Thanks.

You might want to jack the front wheels of the ground thenplace your hands at the 9 and 3 oclock possition theen see if there is any movement, if so check the tie rod ends both inner and outer.

Also place your hands at the 12 and 6 oclock positon and see if you have any movement in the lower ball joint.

Have you bounced the front end while by hand to see if you ccan dupliicate the popping??

Also check the sway bar end links and struts for looseness.

The BEST advice I can think of is to have it checked out by a good mechanic.
It could well be something very minor......or serious.
Suspension noises travel and can drive one crazy.....and there are a number of minor things that can cause a lot of noise.
However, until someone who knows what they are doing checks it out, you won't know.

If the steering wheel is moved, then something shifted. If you are atleast handy, you can jack up the left front, jack from the body, not the lower member, and check from left to right for tie rod looseness. And top to bottom for ball joint looseness. But to me, the 'popping' suggests a faulty axle shaft(CV joint). That is the only moving part in there, aside from the wheel bearing hub assembly, which also would have movement from top to bottom AND left to right if bad. In some cases, the bearing just moans with engine rev/rotation and doesn't necessarily feel loose. An outside chance it could relate to the strut/assembly, but I'd want to be sure before ante-ing up for that.

Temp has the right idea. But so does Wiswind, if you don't have a nose or know how for mechanics, you might want to find someone who does. Having a wheel pass you, is no fun.