Can anyone give me any insight? I have just purchased a 1991 LX hatch car with a 5 liter. I have just replaced all tires and had them balanced. My problem is , when I am driving down the road, any bump will have the car veering side to side. Also when I take off, letting the clutch out and coming in with the throttle, I feel and hear a popping noise coming from the front of the car. It almost feels like a bushing popping but I know it is not that simple. Could these 2 symptoms be related in some waY? My wife will be driving the car and I need to fix the wandering across lanes before I let her get in the car. Please provide any solution you have that could solve or help to troubleshoot this problem. Thanks
help before I wreck
- Thread starter cmb91LX
- Start date
Michael Yount
Mustang Master
First - you need to stop driving the car before you hurt yourself or someone else. There is something VERY wrong with the front end. Get it to a suspension shop and have them look it over with you - there's any number of things it could be. But don't risk fate by driving it anymore til it's fixed.
Could the ball joints be the culprit? I dont want to be taken by a suspension shop when I can change these out myself. I was just hoping someone out there has had the same or similar experiences with a 5 liter car. Any other input you can provide?
Does the car have lowering springs in it?....Your problem is most likely bump steer. They make a bump steer kit to correct the problem. I would check over the whole front end and if all bushings/steering components check out ok then look into a bump steer kit from steeda or MM to fix the problem.
Check where you would lube the balljoints, the little nipple thingy that you put the grease gun on should stick out alot. If it is sticking in alot ( the little hex thing) behind the nipple is less than flush, the balljoints are bad. Does this make sense to you? It is from the Haynes manual. I agree you should not drive the car. If you have to, be real careful.
The car does NOT have lowering springs so a bumpsteer kit is probably unnecessary. I will check the "nipples" and let you know what I find out. Any suggestions about the popping noise when releasing the clutch and forward progress starts. It almost feels like a CV joint pop on a FWD car!
BarnStang
Founding Member
Zerk fitting (grease fitting)
You can always take it to the Ford dealer and they should give you an itemized list of components. Then get them yourself, or decide which parts you feel comfortable replaceing and let them do the others.
I'm up to 80k miles and I have that slight popping noise on braking and acceleration from the front end. I know the A arm bushings are getting worn enough to allow some play in the front end. On my list of things to do.
You can also get more than one front end shop to check it out. They should all come in pretty close with the same diagnosis. The one that wants to take advantage of you will be way out in left field on their estimate...
You can als put the car up on jack stands (on the frame, not the control arms) and check things out yourself. The shop manual should provide some methods to check bushings and ball joints. Generally, there should be very little play in anythng under there.
You can always take it to the Ford dealer and they should give you an itemized list of components. Then get them yourself, or decide which parts you feel comfortable replaceing and let them do the others.
I'm up to 80k miles and I have that slight popping noise on braking and acceleration from the front end. I know the A arm bushings are getting worn enough to allow some play in the front end. On my list of things to do.
You can also get more than one front end shop to check it out. They should all come in pretty close with the same diagnosis. The one that wants to take advantage of you will be way out in left field on their estimate...
You can als put the car up on jack stands (on the frame, not the control arms) and check things out yourself. The shop manual should provide some methods to check bushings and ball joints. Generally, there should be very little play in anythng under there.
Michael Yount
Mustang Master
The reason I like taking it to a front-end shop is because they'll usually let you poke around underneath with them - while it's up on a lift. If it's displaying the noises/symptoms you say (no doubt) then it's likely the problem is gonna be fairly obvious. The best way to get "taken" is to try and diagnose this over the internet and not have someone experienced with front ends to actually look at your car with you. So many things it could be - bearings, ball joints, tie-rod ends, upper strut mounts, steering rack, various bushings, etc. -- all we can do is point to what it could be. Unless you're planning on replacing everything that it might be, get it to a front end shop that can help you trouble shoot it. Simply tell them you'd like to pay for the diagnosis. Paying for 1/2-1 an hour of time that way is a good investment if you're gonna do the work yourself, and you're sure of your parts replacement skills, but not your diagnosing skills.
the bumping noise you hear is prolly the rack and pinion and tie rod ends. I had the same problem. I would go into driveways, take off from a stop and I would hear a thump. Now that I replaced all that everything is smooth. except I havent hooked the end links up on the sway bar so it is like steering a yacht LOL good luck
cobradvm
New Member
Hmmmm...gotta go with Michael on this one - if something breaks loose, and your wife loses control, and wrecks at high speed, trying to save a few bucks may not seem like the best idea.
Just my $0.02
howard
Just my $0.02
howard
Very true guys, I wouldnt risk her life for a few bucks. i will take it to a few shops and see if I can get a consistent verdict. I hav been told by others to check the steering end links. I am not trying to persay "diagnose" the problem online , rather get insight from persons who may have had a similar problem in the past. Then I will have an area to have a shop look at ya know. I appreciate all of your help and I will let you guys know the findings.
