99 steering question

[hytwr1]

Our 99 Windystar is making a clunking noise in the left front portion of the van when hitting bumps in the road or fluctuations in the pavement.

I jacked it up and checked steering components using the old shake the wheel method. The only thing I can find loose is what I would call the inner tie rod, where the boot is toward the rack and pinion unit. I'm assuming with a dust boot, there is some sort of knuckle or CV in that boot. But Haynes gives no details.

If anybody knows what I'm trying to describe, is this part of the rack or is it an item that can be changed without replacing the whole steering gear? Is there something under the boot that comes loose that I can tighten?

Thanks
Bill

[catvents]

Originally Posted by hytwr1

Our 99 Windystar is making a clunking noise in the left front portion of the van when hitting bumps in the road or fluctuations in the pavement.

I jacked it up and checked steering components using the old shake the wheel method. The only thing I can find loose is what I would call the inner tie rod, where the boot is toward the rack and pinion unit. I'm assuming with a dust boot, there is some sort of knuckle or CV in that boot. But Haynes gives no details.

If anybody knows what I'm trying to describe, is this part of the rack or is it an item that can be changed without replacing the whole steering gear? Is there something under the boot that comes loose that I can tighten?

Thanks
Bill

About your inner tier rod, Haynes does not give any details however this part is avalaible at Advance so we can expect it could be change; but for sure this is not something you can adjust or tight.
For your clunking noise, take a look at the stabilizer link ( a vertical bar between the shock and the stabilizer bar , sometime one of the 2 joints ( up and down) become loose and it can be uneasy to feel this loose when the van is jacked. A few months ago I had to replace the stabilizer bar bushing ( this is what retain the bar to the frame unit under the engine. These bushing were so loose that you hear clunking noise every little bump the van meet.
Let see what the other will say.

[joeuser742]

I have the same noise with my 99. I changed the control arms, springs, struts, inner and outer tie rod ends and still have a small knocking when I hit bumps and potholes, I suppose I should also change the bushings on the stabalizer bar. The tie rods were easy to change, but had to get an alignment afterwords.
Another thing that I haven't changed yet, which could be making that noise are the motor and trans mounts. I know that mine are really bad.

[pitteach]

Very interested in this condition. My 2000 makes hollow sounding clunk on either side when I hit a bump. I was assuming struts as mine seem to be riding a little low.

[hytwr1]

This van only has 71K on it. But you never know.

Since I can feel quite a bit of end play, I'll go with the tie rod for now. Usually outer tie rod ends are much easier to change than inners. Joeuser, were the inners pretty simple to swap?

[joeuser742]

Originally Posted by hytwr1

This van only has 71K on it. But you never know.

Since I can feel quite a bit of end play, I'll go with the tie rod for now. Usually outer tie rod ends are much easier to change than inners. Joeuser, were the inners pretty simple to swap?

They were fairly easy to change, but I remember when I went to tighten them, it was a little tricky (especially the passanger side). There was just enough room to do it. I pulled the boot, took the inner and outer out as a whole, measured it from end to end, then put the new ones together and the alignment was ok, but I still took it in. I remember using a small pipe wrench to remove and install them.

[hytwr1]

Thanks.

Sounds like an evening project when the boss get home with the van.

[hytwr1]

Just changed both the LH tie rod ends and the ride is better. Of course I haven't run it down any real rough roads yet.

Outer was OK, but was the OEM without a grease fitting. TRW is in it's place. I also do not have the end play that was there. The design of the innners amazes me. No wonder they wear out so much.

For those looking to change theirs these have to be the easiest tie rods I've ever had the pleasure of changing. Took about an hour.

Will check back in a few days after I've had time to drive it more than just 1-2 miles.

[joeuser742]

Yeah, all the parts that I changed on the windstar front end were pretty easy to do.

[jd-autotech]

it maybe the bearing plates at the top of your struts, pop the hood and hold the top of the strut piston with your fingers and bounce the van with your knee on the front bumper and feel for a knock, or swaybarlinks remove links secure sway bar and drive to see if the noise is still there or finally there are 2 frame to bar bushings that can kinda get wallerd out some grab bar and see if there is any movement there

[hytwr1]

Just following up.

The tie rod took care of the clunking that was concernig me most. I still have some noise, but it sounds different than the tie rod did. I can tell it's stabilizer links or something along those lines as the noise is definitely something hitting the frame.

Bill

[LeSabre97mint]

Hello

The radius bar bushings that mount in the front of the subframe can come loose an make a racket that sounds like your front end is just about to fall off when going over small bumps. The previous ower's machinic wasn't able to fine the noise. You lift up the vehical...check for loose components and everything seems tight. The radius bar supports the lower control arm to keep it from moving back and foward.

To check this bushing, remove the nut on the front of the radius arm and pull the rubber bushing out. You will be able to tell if the bushing has been moving. I welded mine up and no more noise....that is from this area.

Dan