Ok I just bought a 91 ford escort gt and while i was on the test drive, i noticed it felt like it needed motor mounts, (like the engine was moving too much) every time i shifted or let off the gas in gear it would make a clunk noise and you could feel it in the whole car. so i replaced the front and rear motor mounts and the problem is still there. also when i'm driving on gravel it feels like the front end is going to fall apart, idk if that helps but it is starting to concern me..
Weird clunk in front end
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The ball joints seem to be fine, there is no play in the wheel, except for tie rod ends, but they are very minimal. The bushings are gone on the shifter linkage, which allows for more play when shifting gears, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. I've replaced both front and rear motor mounts, and both axles, I'm kinda getting tired of spending money on this thing cause its my beater. I just don't want to feel like the front end is going to fall out from under me going down my rock driveway.
i have no idea how many miles are on the car, the odometer says 18,000 i'm sure its rolled a couple times, the sway bar bushings look a little dry rotted, but not really broken. the tie rods have a little slack but i don't know if its the inner or outer, its so little play i'm not going to worry about it though... especially being $20 a piece
yeah i think i may have found the problem, when the car is parked i started pushing real hard on the top of the tire and can hear some slack somewhere, i just need someone one to get underneath it while i do it to figure out whats moving, i think it may be lower control arms, not sure though cause with the car in the air, when i try to move the tire it solid as a rock, (besides the tierods, lol
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how are the struts on it? on my old LX the front left strut was so worn out it clanked around and didn't "shock" at all, seal was totally gone, had about an inch of sideways movement after disassembled! doubt that's it but hey it might be. very possibly the lower control arm bushings, I'd replace the tie rod ends and see if that helped/solved it maybe.
a sway bar bushing that's worn out can make some wicked noises too. but you said they don't look that bad, cracks are normal in those unless you go solid bushings or something or other.
a sway bar bushing that's worn out can make some wicked noises too. but you said they don't look that bad, cracks are normal in those unless you go solid bushings or something or other.
When I push down on the front of the car its doesn't bounce around hardly at all. It just recoils back up and stops, I'm pretty sure the struts are ok, however, I haven't looked at the strut mount/bushings because the noise seems to be coming from the bottom not the top..
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ok right! struts are good then, and noise is coming from the bottom. yeah if you got it up in the air already I'd replace the tie rod ends while it's up there and see if that causes the noises to go away.
if the tire tilts in and out from top to bottom that's ball joint/control arm/worn strut mount, if it's side to side clunking it's tie rods inner/outer.
good old auto shop lessons ha ha!
if the tire tilts in and out from top to bottom that's ball joint/control arm/worn strut mount, if it's side to side clunking it's tie rods inner/outer.
good old auto shop lessons ha ha!
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actually yes that would cause a clunking going down a rock driveway, what's going on is the tire wants to turn every bump it hits and the tie rod is loose so it's slamming right and left every bump it hits, yeah I'd just replace the tie rod pieces that seem loose and test drive!
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I know that feeling! it'll be ok to drive unless the tie rods are so worn out they pop apart, I've seen that happen lol if there's just an annoying tapping noise you'll be ok, if you have a lot of slop in the wheel no good! use your judgment if you think you can drive it or not.
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