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Post by 85t5mcss on Mar 26, 2009 17:41:23 GMT -5
OK Dave, here's a good one for u.
96 Cutlass Supreme, 3.1L, not the sport suspension
Front End knocks. Worse when turning hard left low speed. Also does it when putting in reverse and when taking off from stoplight. If u ease into it, no noise. Gotta preload it to avoid the knock.
I've checked and had it on a rack. The sway bar is not broken, mounts and bushings r good, ball joints r good, CV shafts replaced recently and were bad then, new strut catridges and the big bushing on top (that got rid of one noise), tie rod ends r good, body mounts seem to be ok, rack is mounted solid, motor mounts and trans mounts seem to be ok as well. Control arm bushings need replaced but its not them. It *feels* like its at the firewall and everything seems to be fine.
2 days ago the steering started feeling vague. Have u ever heard of a rack making an internal knock or pop so badly that u feel it inside the car?
The only other problem I have found is the drivers strut tube seems to be leaned backwards and the strut doesnt remain centered in the tube. So the bushing is taking more punishment. Can these be tweaked back into place? I did not move the car while the cartridge was out either. I'm just kinda lost so I took it to a friends shop and didnt have much luck that way either. (It didnt have the steering problem then)
HELP ME!
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Post by twomanymontes on Mar 26, 2009 20:31:06 GMT -5
Ok sounds like you have checked this out pretty good! But don't rule out the lower control arm bushings just yet. They can pull through, allowing the control arm to contact the subframe, then when the car is lifted, they can slide almost back into place. Look at the subframe, if there is any contact, change them!!
Since these early W-bodies had the BS cartridge struts, Check the caps! They had a tendancy to loosen up after a few months to a year. Also the driver's side has more negative caster than the passenger's side, so it will look to be leaning farther back and will go off center when turning.
Now, here is something that I have found on GM FWD cars that fits your description. you need to check the wheel bearings. Not in the usual way. Raise the car, using a small sledge hammer, hit the front tires on the side walls below the rim inward, then take a long prybar between the rim and rotor and pry outward. All it takes is a little play and they will make a poping noise on turns or while changing directions.
The rack does make any noise, they bind, But the intermediate shaft will wear and make noise.
Hope this helps and shoot me some pics if you can.
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Post by 85t5mcss on Mar 28, 2009 7:53:49 GMT -5
Since these early W-bodies had the BS cartridge struts, Check the caps! They had a tendancy to loosen up after a few months to a year. . Yeah caps are good. Actually just had them off again. No contact at the lower control arm bushings either. I checked the wheel bearings but noy like u r suggesting. I'll give that a try and see what happens. I'll let u know what I find. And thanks for the help. I've been through just about everything I could think of with no real luck. From lugnuts and caliper brackets all the way down to bushings and sway bars. |
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Post by twomanymontes on Apr 10, 2009 18:36:15 GMT -5
Well it's ben a few weeks, Anything happen?
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Post by 85t5mcss on Apr 13, 2009 20:22:14 GMT -5
I've replaced the left hub assembly and another noise is gone. But the worst one is still there. Just haven't had the time to mess with it anymore. Next I'm just gonna replace the control arm bushings and frame bushings anyway. Hope for the best because I am out of ideas. If they r the noise I will be upset that I've been looking around for something else. But, everything I've replaced has made a difference. When it started making noise, it all started at once or I had the radio too loud when I drove it. I'd like to see it make it 2 more years so the Daughter can drive it. Better that than beating up my truck or Monte. And, she will learn to drive a stickshift. Mostly knows how already.
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Post by twomanymontes on Apr 16, 2009 19:05:35 GMT -5
Never have enough time to mess with your own stuff. Heck My SS has been torn apart for months now and I have 6 weeks to get it to the first show in NJ!  Them Olds's will last for years, as long as they are taken care of. Keep me posted on the results. Oh and I'm sure you just had the radio up to loud, LOL! Funny, Matt learned how to drive a stick in an 03 Lancer Evo. Did a pretty good job too. |
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Post by 85t5mcss on Apr 16, 2009 19:54:22 GMT -5
Fixed! Again. Now remember I had replaced the CV a month or so ago, I DID check the Ball Joint then as well as replaced the hub. Bad ball joint again. It may be 2 years old, but has less than 10,000 on it. And, its been greased. It must have been bound up when I was checking it before because it almost got overlooked again.
Last night going around a curve it felt like the front end was rolling over. Similar feeling to a loose wheel. Nope, ball joint gave and was moving around. At home it was "bound up" and didn't act bad. During inspection of moving the wheel back and forth it worked loose and that's when I noticed how much slop was in it. It was pretty bad to the point that I'm surprised it break out of the housing.
All better now. Thanks
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Post by 85t5mcss on Apr 16, 2009 19:56:39 GMT -5
And for a 96 its in good shape. 115,000 miles. Good paint, runs good, no smoke, 3.1L tapping, need to replace oil pan gasket and the rack is starting to seep but other than that it's great. Comfortable and quiet ride. Need to replace the steering wheel or do something with it since the top is worn out.
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Post by twomanymontes on Apr 16, 2009 20:42:58 GMT -5
Glad you found the problem, and the tapping won't go away either, They are none adjustable so unless you want to drop in a set of lifter, live with it. all those racks seep, never give it a second thought. the oil pan gasket, LOL! Have fun! They are near impossible to do without a lift and still just as hard with a lift.
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Post by 85t5mcss on Apr 19, 2009 7:26:48 GMT -5
Yeah, looked into the oil pan replacement already and it doesnt look fun at all. May have to farm that one out. The tapping and non-adjustable I knew about since I've replaced the intake gasket once already. Getting ready to do that again. It lasted a few years, so no worries there. Its a minor leak right now.
The tapping is sort of like the 2.5L, no matter what u do they r noisy! And I'm not bad mouthing 2.5Ls. Had one in an S15 and loved it except for no power.
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