upper control arm 95 Bird

[vasta41]

I recently had both right and left upper control arms replaced because of a bad ball joint on the left side,(you could hear it knocking when you hit a bump). After the repair every thing was fine for a couple of months,now that same noise is back on the left side. The previous owner had the car lowered with a new set of springs all around and the tire size is 275/45/17 on all four corners. Is there a different control arm I should get because the car has been lowered or do you think the 275's are too big for the stock front end components? Strange that it happened on the same side. Thanks for your time guys

[Johnny Mullet]

Inspect the front end first. A bad sway-bar link can also make a similar noise.

[overl0rd]

Strut rod bushings can make that noise too. Just curious, the tires aren't hitting the fenders when you hit bumps right?

[vasta41]

Course not, they fit fine... just a little bigger. I'm thinking the easiest solution would be to just raise the car back to stock at this point...

[intrcptrbird]

Well first, Mine is lowered 2". it uses the same control arms and such. 2nd I was I was told that a 245 was the widest tire you can fit on the front of these cars. Third, almost ANY bushings on the fornt end could cause a noise on a bump. I had a poping noise almost evertime I turned or hit a bump (started off only when i hit the bump and very intermitent). It turned out to be 2 loose bolts on the large cross member that the rack and pinion and lower control arm are mounted on. I would take it to a GOOD and trustworthy tire and suspension place and have THEM check the tire clearances, all the bushings, and asocciated nuts and bolts. I put money on it NOT being the upper control arm/ball joint unless the drop was done TERRIBLY wrong.

[overl0rd]

Originally Posted by intrcptrbird

2nd I was I was told that a 245 was the widest tire you can fit on the front of these cars.

I was under the same understanding.