97 Grand Prix Thud noise. .

[OriginalBattosai]

My girlfriends car is making a rather hard thud noise. First off its not a bad CV joint or axle half shaft. I know b/c i tore one apart tonight. F*CKIN Autozone gave me the wrong half shafts. BOTH OF THEM. And it s going to take at least 3 days to get this right freakin one! I usually go to a different one but it was late. Anyways when were driving and turning the wheel it doesnt make the noise. When i first put it in DRIVE or REVERSE then turn the wheel i hear this, thud or popping noise once, then its gone. Untill i do the same thing again. It happens about 95 percent of the time. Most of the time its in reverse.

Any ideas? Its never been low on oil of any kind has only 160XXX on the clock, but this is a 3800 series II engine. Also i can confirm that all the engine mounts are fine as well.

Any help would be awesome. Or any ideas as well.

Phill

[richtazz]

check the front stabilizer bar to see if it is cracked or broken, and it's mounts and end bushings as well.

The next thing to check is the lower control arm bushings (especially the one where the mount runs vertical through it).

Both are fairly common issues on older examples of Grand Prix's.

[OriginalBattosai]

ok as i was getting everything back together and tightening it all down. The sway bar bushing, the one that conects to the LCA, with the long stud going through it, snapped in half. Ok bought a new one. Still makes that noise, i noticed an engine mount on the passenger side, along the frame had a chunk missing. No clue any more, tried the other ida too, and thats fine.

Phill