Well A month or two ago I was driving the car around and I started hearing this kind of popping sound coming from what it sounds like the front passenger wheel well or in that area whenever I go over a bump. I figured there was a loose bolt or the wheel bearings needed to be redone (for the thousandth time). So I brought it over to my buddies shop and redid the wheel bearings but then realized that the strut was loose on the spindal...so we tightened those all down and left. Half way home we realized that it was still making that damn noise. There is some play in the rack pinion, but its always had play and its on both sides. I have Spohn coilovers but nothing looks loose on that end. Anyone have any ideas?? Thanks.

Chris

**A good description of the sound is it sounds like a box of sockets in the seat as you go over a big bump. I thought thats what it actually was until I took the socket out.

Maybe bad ball joint? Or I have had my sway bar link break and the 2 ends rubbing together make a loud popping sound. Just a couple thoughts!

Mine makes a random popping from the same area. If I jack up the tire and jerk the wheel around I can make the sound. If I idle in reverse and jerk the steering wheel left and right 1/6 of a turn it will make the noise. I have no idea what it is. I think its maybe my strut or strut mount.

Well the ball joints are new...as is everything else on the car, although I cant rule that out. I dont have a front sway bar so thats not the problem, the rear is ok too. I might have my friend check the ball joints, he knows more about this crap than I do. Thanks for the imput.

My biggest problem is you cant really simulate it when the car isnt moving. Its gotta be going over a bump at least 10-15 mph in order to hear it, so I cant really tell. My buddy thought it might be the dog ears on the brake pads not being pushed down all the way, but they are a little loose on both sides so I dont think its that.

What I fear it is something wrong with the rack and pinion. Its a $1300 appleton rack, and like I said there is play.

hmm...tie rod issue maybe? When does yours happen?? Mine only happens over bumps.

check your idler arm. thats where my poping noise is comming from, if its really bad like mine is, you can feel the play in it with your bare hands.

I dont have an idler arm...its a completely new steering system with rack and pinion...no pitman and idler arm. But it could be a comparative part of the system

I had this very problem and it turned out to be loose K member bolts. Id check and make sure there tight on that side. Hope that helps.

Hmm...this is very possible, the kmember is aftermarket and its always possible that something got loose, Ill definatly check that out. Thanks

Chris

*should there be locktite on the k-member bolts or something?

I checked the k-member bolts and they were good. I found out that my exhaust hanger broke, so I took it to midas and had em check it out and they rewelded the hanger and the sound has gotten better, but it is still there. I duno if its a combination of things like wheel bearings and exhaust hitting the body or what. Its real a real clunky sound...i just cant believe that fixing the broken exhaust hanger didnt completely stop the noise. Im hopefully taking it into my buddies shop tuesday...any other ideas?

Like Darkshot was saying, I think if I was you, I would double check thoes strut mounts. This is where Id look next. The upper bearing in it may look fine, but under loads it could be moving, or the whole strut mount maybe loose making that popping sound.

Well I just installed Spohns upper strut mount along with the coilovers and ive checked them and they seem bolted down and in place. But the noise didnt start happening until a couple months after i installed them. I might try and recheck them because it seems logical that that could be making the sound. However the guy at midas fixed the broken exhaust hanger and the sound decreased by about half, but is still there...so wouldnt that make it seem like there is still exhaust clunking on the body somewhere ?? Here is the upper strut mounts i have.

ok, this is starting to really **** me off. I brought the car to my friends dad who definatly knows his stuff, had him completely inspect it and even he couldnt find out the problem. We redid the wheel bearing again, and it still makes this noise. It sucks because its summer and I cant even drive the car or bring it to the track or anything. Strut mount is fine, springs are ok, everything is tightened down, k-member is good, brand new ball joints. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

anyone????

a-arm bushings?

most likely not though caz u seem to have everything in new condition..
but i know mine's cracked
and i have a clunk whenever i go over bumps, or whenever i apply brake from fast speed.

just a thought but u didnt overlook motor mounts and trans mount right?

a-arms seem to be ok...the trans mount is fine, and the motor mounts look fine, the bolts are in place and nothing seems broken. I might recheck that transmount though, im not 100% sure on that.

Check to see if the sway is centered or not. If it was not centered properly upon re-installation, the short side might be hitting parts of the body, causing the clunking.

u know i might be havin the same problem with u.

i replaced my swaybar(front) couple days ago,
and I hopefully did it right but since the installation
I have a clunk going on.
it only happens when im turning left "while" im backing off,
but its pretty loud and im scared of brakin something.

im gonna have to look under the car with my steering wheel turned
and see if its hitting anything and centered or not etc..

I didn't read all the replies to your original question, but from the description it sounds like a strut. BTW, nice looking car.

I dont have a front sway bar so thats not the problem unfortunatly.

That my leading suspect. One of the struts I installed (Lakewood 70/30's) seemed to be a little sticky when I pushed the strut down by hand...one felt real smooth as it went down, the other stuck a little bit. I was too excited about the coilovers to think it was a problem, but now im not so sure. However Im pretty sure it wasnt doing that immediatly after i installed the lakewoods...I cant be sure of that though. I was thinking of getting a cheap *** strut from autozone and swapping it out just to see if it makes a difference. Maybe I will get some time this weekend before i get back to school. And thanks, I only wish I could drive the damn thing.

Sorry to bring up an old thread... but here we are 6 years, a BS and a DDS degree later and I found out half the problem... Time2Fly was correct the passenger strut was completely blown (finally broke down and took the damn thing apart and realized it). That fixed the major sound... however there is still a slight clunky sound from the passenger side. I think it is the spherical rod end bushing that is in the Spohn upper strut mount. I know spherical rod ends are loud but this side seems to have a lot of play. I will be contacting Spohn about it to see what I can do. If anyone who responded to this thread 6 years ago is still around... thanks!