[pmacca]

This past weekend I installed new struts and shocks on my 1996 850 wagon. Everything went smoothly and the results appeared fine. The next day I took it into a shop to get it aligned and after that I began to hear a clunking noise on the right side. It makes the noise mostly at low speeds and when I trun the steering wheel back and forth. I parked the car and pulled up the front end under the right wheel well and I could hear the clunk coming from the spring area. The spring appears to be seated fine in the strut and upper seat. I put new sping seats and strut mounts on the car too. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be casuing this problem. I know that it could have been something done during the alignment, but it really sounds like it is coming from the spring. Any suggestions or advise?

Thanks, Larry

[XtremePsionic]

check your sway bar end links. After my strut installation I've had continous trouble getting them to stop clunking. Getting new ones helped, but then the nut would be loose after a while.... Maybe Bay 13 can enlighten me the correct way to tighten the sway bar link nut.

If you still have troubles after tightening the swaybar link nuts you might have other problems like worn out links, worn out control arm, steering, tie rods... but try the swaybar link first.

[Volvo OD]

The Haynes says to tighten to 37 ft-lbs, and I was told to hand tighten first, then torque down the end that attaches to the sway bar itself, then torque the nut on the strut.

[pmacca]

Thanks you guys for the advise. I tried to tighten up the sway bar links and could not. So, I took off the bolt re-positioned it and tightened it again. Whola! No more clunking!
Thanks again! Larry

[jb7073]

Yeah, sounds about right. When I installed my struts, found that I need new links on both sides. I'm probably ordering them next week. There goes $60, but hopefully will improve handling and lower noise.

[Bay13]

With The old link rods you could put a wrench in back to hold it while tightening the nut. The new one you can't so I use a set of needle noise vice grips to hold the assembly so the nut will bight and hold.