Gen 3 Front End Noise

[FRANKENCAMRY]

My ’93 LE 5SFE makes a strange noise in the front end. It comes from the left font (driver’s side) and only happens at low speeds (less than 30 mph) when turning to the right or sometimes going over small bumps . The noise is a single loud click or rap noise and as far as I can tell it seems to be related to a certain type of loading of the LF suspension. From inside the car it sounds as if a small rock has kicked up and hit the left fender. It never, ever makes the noise more than once in rapid succession – in other words when it happens it’s always a single click/rap.

The following suspension parts have all been replaced in the last 15K miles but the noise remains:

• Front struts & mounts
• Front sway bar links
• Font sway bar bushings

FWIW… I got the car at 130K with a blown and had a low mileage used engine transplanted.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[davemac2]

I've experienced that kind of a noise with a bad strut which is shifting or worn. If new mounts and struts did not make a difference though, another possibility could be some other component that is shifting. As well, maybe have the spring isolators checked. Have a look at the ball joint, the tie rod end, and the lower control arm to make sure there is nothing loose. Another possibility is that your steering rack is shifting slightly due to a loose or worn mount. If the steering rack, I would think it should be re-produceable repeatedly by full wheel movement left and right on rough cement or tarmac. Another possibility is a bad or loose transmission mount or loose subframe since you say a new engine was dropped in.

dave mc

[somick]

Clicking could also come from bad cv joint.

Sam