Creak/Pop In the Front End of My Swinger

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vames

vames

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
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Long Beach, CA
Hi -- I wonder if anybody can listen/watch this creak/popping that is happening when I'm steering my stock 72 Swinger. I'd like some ideas of where to start looking when I get some time to try and diagnose on Sunday.

Here are some facts:
  • It's happening at low speeds or stopped in park, particularly when navigating tight spaces.
  • I pumped grease into all four ball joints and tie rod ends -- same noise with no change.
  • It doesn't seem to be up/down suspension related.
  • It seems to be coming from the passenger side.
  • The front end was rebuilt with a Kanter (rubber bushings) kit about 20 years (~50k miles) ago. The car sat still for about 10 of those years. Now it's a full on daily driver.



 
See if you can find a different way to share the videos.

on google photos you can create a link that can be pasted that makes the video available to anyone with the link

1732664690868.png

New video by Dana Nance
 
strut bushings? when they wear out they allow the lower control arm to move front to back - often shows up when loading forward and back like when parking a car or when stopping and then moving the opposite direction
 
vames said:
The video links should be viewable now.
Click to expand...
They are :thumbsup:

Time for a second person.

My first thought was lack of lube on ball joints and tie rod ends, but now I'm thinking maybe the steering column is not aligned properly. Just a guess.

get the front off the ground and see if it still does it and with the engine off too.

did it just start?
did you make any changes then it started?
what front suspension modifications?
 
that ain't strut bushings! never heard that one... will be interested to see what it turns out to be.
 
It sounds like a dude stroking an inflated balloon.
It is interesting that it happens only when turning, as if the steering shaft itself is rubbing against something.
I don't think that a center link sounds like that when scraping the oil pan. I would consider removing the steering column and rotating it out of the car. Also have the front end of the car UP and push the tire/wheel to turn while listening for the noise.
 
str12-340 said:
that ain't strut bushings! never heard that one... will be interested to see what it turns out to be.
Click to expand...
As long as we're on strut rod bushings -- I've never been quite sure that what is on there is correct. They look absolutely huge -- so thick that the nut can't get on far enough to put the cotter pin in there. It's been like that for manyt years, so that's probably not what is causing the current noise noise, but does this look right?

IMG_0373.jpg
IMG_0378.jpg
 
vames said:
Ball joints and tie rod ends are all freshly pumped full of grease (I guess one that is super far gone could still make a noise even with grease, but the sound didn't change at all).
Click to expand...
I would just about bet my last dollar that's what it is.
 
I know I could do a full-on front end rebuild and this would probably go away, but I'd feel like an idiot if I didn't figure out what has failed first.
 
Dana67Dart said:
...now I'm thinking maybe the steering column is not aligned properly. Just a guess.

get the front off the ground and see if it still does it and with the engine off too.

did it just start?
did you make any changes then it started?
what front suspension modifications?
Click to expand...
No recent changes. It just started. No modifications in the front end beyond those weird strut rod bushings that have been on there for more than 20 years.
Makes the sound if I turn the wheel with the engine off.
 
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vames said:
I know I could do a full-on front end rebuild and this would probably go away, but I'd feel like an idiot if I didn't figure out what has failed first.
Click to expand...
Does it make the noise sitting still?
 
vames said:
Yes. When I turn the wheel in park or with the brakes on.
Also, it makes the sound when the engine is off and I turn the steering wheel.
Click to expand...
Ok. Then here's how to find it. You can do it on the ground but it would be easier on a lift like a drive on or an alignment rack. Get a LONG 3/8 drive extension and with someone in the car duplicating the noise, place the end of the extension on each ball joint and put the other end against your ear. When you get to the offending joint, you'll know it. If you don't find it obvious with the ball joints, then move to the steering linkage joints next. You WILL find it. Don't all fancy and use a mechanic's stethoscope. All those are for is trying to make someone look like he knows what he's doing. Use a SOLID piece of metal. Use a long 3/8 extension and you will find the problem. I've been doing this a LONG time and it has never failed to find the issue. Put the extension on ANYTHING that moves with the car sitting still and the wheels being turned. There's a 99.9% chance that it will NOT be the strut rods, but I'd check them too "just because".
 
Thanks Rusty. I will do exactly that (I think I have a 24 inch piece of rebar that I can use as the poor man's "stethoscope"). I wish I had a lift but maybe I can just get the whole front up on jack stands.
 
vames said:
Thanks Rusty. I will do exactly that (I think I have a 24 inch piece of rebar that I can use as the poor man's "stethoscope"). I wish I had a lift but maybe I can just get the whole front up on jack stands.
Click to expand...
The problem with putting it on jack stands is, it likely will no longer make the noise, because the weight is off the tires. The weight really needs to be on the tires to really duplicate properly.
 
Just a thought.....

The idler arm has a rubber thru bolt bushing.

That could easily be loose enough to twist when turning or not twisting.

Also with the suspension unloaded if the noise is not present it points to ball joints
 
Ok, I'll rock the boat,
I really want to agree with the BJ guys but Ima thinking it's too loud. More like it's coming from the aprons, which points to the shocks or UCA bushings. But, I'm just guessing.

But I should mention that I once had that sound appear on my 75 Dart DD, and a week or two later the P-side T-bar broke, sitting right there in my driveway. After I swapped it out, that noise was gone. Oh man, I said, God is watching over me, cuz I just came home with that car. That couldda happened on the hiway! Jus-saying.
 
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