Clunking & creaking.. it wasn't the control arm bushings, now what?

[odingalt]

{'98 v6 3.8l rear-wheel drive 7.5" axle and no mods}

Replaced all of the upper control arm bushings. What a bitch! No matter what anyone tells you about removing the bushings, just do yourself a favor and get a bushing removal puller kit, or jerry-rig something with at least a 3-ton two-jaw puller (three-jaw won't fit in there and the 2-ton's teeth broke off when I was pushing the bushings through). I tried the whole 'just drill out the bushing and heat it up bit' and that didn't do **** for my except make a huge mess for when I tried to use the puller.

Still hasn't solved a clunking problem. It sounds like it's coming from the driver side rear. Only when I accelerate from a stop. There's also a lot of creaking back there when I have my foot on the brake but give it a little gas. I'm going to replace the shocks next and check the shock bushings.

There's also a lot of rattling when going over bumps about 25 mph in town. Wondering if the shock is so destroyed it's rattling around. On an open, smooth road, no other noises whatsoever. Just get that clunk when I punch it from a stop and the creaking, and the rattling when cruising around my town's crappy paved roads.

 

[odingalt]

Possibly u-joints would be the next thing to explore after the shocks? What do y'all think?

 

[GREENBIOCH]

Its a Ford...whatcha expect!

 

[odingalt]

Replaced the shocks, also tightened up all the hardware, was insanely loose. Bought the wrong torque wrench in the first place. Tightened up all the hardware on the rear end to the specs listed in Chilton for this model.

Drove the car up on a ramp, parking brake on, car in neutral. Driveshaft turns with my bare hands about a 1/2 an inch either way, is this normal?

The knock is not as bad as it used to be but is still there with hard acceleration from a stop.

I'm going to try the u-joints and will post results.

 

[cobra232]

it`s the rear shock tower rubber insulator on the interior of the car. they will squeek like an SOB sometimes. mine does pretty often especially if it`s been dry for a while. try spraying them down with WD-40 that usually quiets them down for quite a while

 

[94 3.8l stang]

If WD40 works. silicone spray lubricant would be even better. it wouldn't evaporate so quick??I hear the same thing. I never thought of the shock tower.

 

[odingalt]

U-joints are fine. Still have a clunk in the rear under hard acceleration. IF I really punch it, it seems delayed, but will sometimes pop twice. Sounds like a pop now instead of a clunk, coming from the underside of the car.