4 replies to this topic

[prasamin]

Hey fellas, so I've had this popping sound when I turn and stuff since I got my car 4 years ago, and never thought much of it, but I figure, what the heck, maybe it has something to do with the pass side front being higher than all the other wells....there is more space b/t the tire and fender there than the drivers side (which rubs alot on bumps)....it also looks like maybe the bottom of the wheel (part that touches the road) is just a tad further inward than the top of the wheel (part closer to the fender liner)....

Any ideas about what the popping noise is?...control arm bushing or arm itself? ball joints or something?

Could that cause a "camber off" problem?

Thanks,
-Pras-

[WhiteT5]

Sounds exactly like the issue I just addressed by putting a new control arm in. On '95 and newer models, you can't just replace the bushing. You hafta replace the whole arm, which I got from the dealer for about $110. A faulty control arm can certainly cause alignment issues as well; it certainly did for me. A good way to check is to jack the car up and support with jackstands. Tug the control arm back and forth to see if it has any play in it. A properly working control arm should have ZERO play in it. Also, take a look at the swaybar and tug on it to make sure it is tight.

[prasamin]

Thanks Sean, I'll have to check it out then...I'm hoping there is some play, so that I know that it is indeed the problem...They did tell me it was hard to align my car, and that I had something called "spring sag", and needed camber bolts to help fix it....I said no to that, as I figured the sag was from dead struts (which they are)....anyway, easy to replace the control arm?

-Pras-

[theunderlord]

Thanks Sean, I'll have to check it out then...I'm hoping there is some play, so that I know that it is indeed the problem...They did tell me it was hard to align my car, and that I had something called "spring sag", and needed camber bolts to help fix it....I said no to that, as I figured the sag was from dead struts (which they are)....anyway, easy to replace the control arm?

-Pras-

it's worse with the 18's?

[prasamin]

i think that's a question Kevin, and yes, it's worse, though I did notice it with 16's and 17's.....

my ride is definitely harsher too since i got the 18's...I really need new struts, but my brakes are shot, so I gotta do that first!