Front end noise...help!

[dwbiggs]

Greetings,

Lately I have been noticing that whenever I apply breaks I am hearing/feeling a noise on the drivers side in the vicinity of the wheel.  It happens when there is a weight transfer as applying the brakes when I am stopped doesn't create the noise.  I'm thinking something is loose with the control arm or strut.  The noise is almost a dull snapping sound almost like my knee makes when I crouch down.    Anyone have any ideas?  How tight are you supposed to torque struts with the rubber bushings on them?

Dan

[Chryco Psycho]

probably a dry bushing , get someone to bouce the car & see if you can locate it 

[Carlwalski]

 

Yip, that's what I'd say...we just found that on my 'Cuda when stripping it.
One of the front bushings had slid into the socket because it was so old and brittle. Steel against steel = 

[dwbiggs]

My bushings are brand new...rubber.

Dan

[Bullitt-]

No personal experience here but when you state weight transfer I start thinking about wheel bearings. I had was I had a bent brake dust plate that was fine till I hit the brakes with the wheel turned in one particular direction & then a scraping noise was made but it was pretty obvious as the frequency decreased with the speed of the car. Also look at your shocks as they can rub on themselves if not installed straight.

[Bullitt-]

              More thoughts & some research.
I have wondered if there should be some lubrication in the lower control arm around the cam? that adjusts the torsion bar height. There seemed to be evidence that something was in there but no information in the service manual as to any maintenance in this area.
              The service manual states under front end noise
 loose or worn wheel bearings
 loose or warn shock mounts
 loose steering gear to frame bolts
 steering knuckle arm contacting lower control arm wheel stop
 worn upper or lower control arm bushings
 loose or warn strut bushings
 loose struts or lower control arm

[dwbiggs]

Thanks for replies...I'll be getting it up in the air this weekend to check it out...let you know what I find.

Dan

[basement]

dwbiggs, keep us posted cause I have something very similiar occuring.

[Challenger6pak]

Check your ball joints while you are under there. 

[basement]

I had a noise happen when ever coming out of right hand turn.
What it ended up being was the Pitman arm would scrape across a rock that had lodged itself ontop of the driverside header where the runs come together into the collector. I know its not quite what you're experiancing but thought it just goes to show you, always expect the unexpected.