suspension making noise after strut replacement

[spugeddy]

Well it was making noise before the strut replacement, but I bought two new Monroe front struts, and had them put on, but I didn't replace the mounting hardware at the top of the tower. Sorry can't remember the name of it.

Still when I go over bumps or railroad tracks, it is the same "broken shock" sounding clank (metal on metal).

Any thoughts

[Airjer_]

Stabilizer bar links or bushings.

[spugeddy]

I've done the P171.... repair, and brakes, shocks, etc on other cars..

Is this repair hard. And do you have to get an alignment afterwards?

Sorry for the newbie questions.

[northern piper]

if you aren't doing any tie rods than the alignment isn't necessary really. If you're doing the sway bar bushings and end links, the next thing is your lower control arms and tie rods. You may be looking at doing the whole thing. That's what I did last year and then got the alignment done. I was of the impression that within 6 months I'd be likely doing the rest anyway so while I had things apart..

Bottom line, I'd be your clunk is sway bar bushings.

[old89lsc]

I replaced my struts with Monroe quick struts last fall. Boy did those things squeak like crazy when they were new. They squeaked over bumps and they squeaked when turning the steering wheel. They definitely sounded more like old shocks than my old shocks did. After use, they did quiet down. Overall, though, I am not impressed.

[wiswind]

In my case, the monroe quick struts were fine......but the stablilizer links were not.
Mine squeaked......clunked, etc after about 1 year........they were the nylon type....installed at the same time as the struts.
After a number of years, it is pretty hard to remove the stablilizer links without damaging them.
I would recommend that one use Moog brand for replacement links.

[spugeddy]

I was under the van this weekend and grabbed hold of the stabilizer links (verticle bars attached to the shock?) and they are definatley making noise. The bushings (further back, to the rear) didn't appear to have any warping, or "air" between them and the metal, and the noise was coming from the verticle sway bar link....

SHould I pay someone to change both these areas.

I have the jacks, and jack stands, but don't want to get over my head if it is too much work.

[old89lsc]

I don't know how hard it is, but if it turns out not too bad of a job in the driveway, please post it. Sooner or later I will have to replace mine and I would rather not pay for a job that isn't all that bad.

When I went to replace the struts my Haynes said that the steering knuckle would have to be removed. Well, I didn't really see going after that myself. I got a local Meineke to install the parts that I bought, saving me some money. I watched them do the job. It was easy; they put it on the lift, took off the wheels, and used an impact wrench to take off the bolts connected to the strut. The steering knuckles were left attached. I think that the whole thing was done in an hour by the two guys working on it. I felt like an idiot.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

[northern piper]

the end links are easy. the hardest part is detaching the nuts that hold onto the strut and the sway bar. They're usually corroded and need some coaxing. Use lots of pb blaster. Once they're off, the new ones get put in. Pretty simple job.

[wiswind]

I was lucky with my '96 windstar........needed new sway bar links.....but the sway bar bushings are still original and in good shape after over 220K miles.

[spugeddy]

I think I am going to try to links, and see it that solves it.

I'll post pics, or DIY of it if I am successfull.

[northern piper]

wow those are some bombproof sway bar bushings! I average about 25k on the ones I have! We must have even lousier roads than I thought!

[wiswind]

I think it also depends on the replacement bushing that you get.
My '96 could have 1 of 2 different diameter sway bars.......VERY close in size.....so if you get the wrong size......they won't last.
Also.....it depends on the material used to manufacture the bushing.......some are better than others.

The other thing that I read.
You do NOT want to use oil or oil based grease on the bushings, as that will soften (break down) the bushing material.
You use a silicone based lubricant.......I was given Motorcraft "Mini-Vent Window Lube" when I gave them the Ford Specification number that I got from the alldata manual instructions for the sway bar link bushing replacement.
That stuff is SUPER slippery.

Those 3 reasons are enough to make me leave good OEM bushings alone......my luck....I would spoil a good thing.

[spugeddy]

I bought the Moogs and am going to put them on today. I'll post later.

One link had the grease fitting lubed, but the other side looked dry.

Should I try to top it off with the silicone?

[spugeddy]

I attached a grease fitting to the sway bar links and added some grease.

The clunking I was getting from these new links has gone away.