I replaced my front struts about a yr ago. I used Gabriel struts from AutoZone.

About 6 mos later, I got a clunking noise from the RF strut. The shaft was jiggling around in the cylinder. So I took it off and swapped it for a new one under the "lifetime warranty".

Well now it's doing the jiggling thing again. What could cause this? All the ball joints, end links and tie rods are fine. I'm !!!

Also, I keep getting a strong squeaking noise from the rear when I hit bumps. I've checked everything it the rear of the car. The spare, the hatch hinges, the molded trim pieces, the struts for the rear hatch. Everything. I even sprayed WD-40 on the bumpers of the rear hatch.

The only thing I can think of is one of the rear shocks (which I replaced 1 yr ago with the front ones) is squeaking in the eyelets. But it's loud!!

And it won't do it when I'm pushing the car up and down while my buddy sits in the back seat to listen. Only when I'm driving the car.

Thanks for any help.

AJ

 

check your upper strut mounts, if they are bad they can kill a strut in a hurry. they are not the easiest things to check, you may want a front end shop to check them for you.

as for the squeek, you may have to use the old look listen and feel test to find that.

GOOD LUCK

 

Yeah. It sounds like your mounts. Did you replace those at the same time?

 

I just wanted to thank you two (1986redbird & Viprklr) for your responses.

Unfortunetly you guys were right.

I took it the shop today and they said that the RF bracket was worn. And I'm the type to replace everything in pairs, sets, etc.

Total of $409. That's money that could have gone to my 350 I'm building, but oh well.

I guess it's better to wait a little longer and have a car that'll stay straight going down the 1/4 mile.

Thanks again,
AJ

 

UGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

I hate service shops!!!!!!!!!

I got my car back today, paid the $409.65, and went home. On the way home, I heard it still making that DAMN NOISE!!!!!!!!

I told the MF's that the noise was coming from the strut, and that I had already replaced it once. I also gave them the receipt from AutoZone so they could get 2 new ones. I told them I wanted 2 because if they replaced just the right side, then they'd be ~1yr, and ~10K miles diff between the two!!!!! I just wanted them find out if anything may have been causing it.

They didn't replace either one!!!! G*D DAMN RETARDS!!!!!!!

Even when I gave the guy the receipt, he said, "Don't worry, I know Bill. I'll get it taken care of."!!!!!

I'm not saying that the strut brackets didn't need replacing. The front steering is MUCH tighter now. That, I'm happy about. But if your gonna do a job, DO IT RIGHT!!!!!!

So anyway, I called them and told them, and they want me to bring it by tomorrow so a tech can go for a ride and listen. Do you guys think I should have to pay for them to replace them, even after I already asked them to? Or should I try and reason with them and pay labor for the driver's side even though it's not bad, and they do the pass side FOC, since they already had it apart, and that's what I told them to do anyway? I mean hell, they ain't gotta pay for the struts. They're covered under the "Lifetime Warranty."

I dunno. I don't wanna come off too strong 'cause then you don't get anything done. They just get pissed, and so do I. Then I storm outta there mad, and with a bad strut still.

Oh yea, and to top it all off, found out my wife's ex-husband works there now. A$$hole ain't contacted his 10 yr old son (my stepson who I've been raising) for about 6 years now.

Gosh, what a day. I think it's about BEER:30 pm.

Let me know what you think I should do or what I should request they do. OK?

AJ