My 93's new front end (What now?!?!?!)

[UltimateSVT]

Alright guys, yesterday I spent 5 hours at the mechanic shop with my 93. They charged me $200.00 to install the upper control arms, lower control arms & the strut rod bushings. I could've done this myself but I pull too many hours during the week & I wasn't interested in dealing with the cursing from jamming my fingers & dealing with stubborn parts, etc... I think the price was very, very fair for the labor.

Never the less, the reason I took the car in is because about 8 months ago my car started making a clanking from the front end. I lifted the car, snuck my head underneath & inspected everything. I saw worn strut rod bushings & super worn control arm ball joints so purchased them & threw them in my trunk until yesterday.

Please note that the sway bar bushings & the rack & pinion are both in good condition. After everything was installed & I left the mechanic shop, the car does the same clanking in the front end whenever I either hit bumps on the road or when I do very sharp turns. Granted my car sits on a set of Eibach's so it is lowered but there's no need for the clanking to continue. Any idea's what else could be the culprit of the noise making?

 

[Modular97LSC]

sway bar bushings...get a set of energy suspension bushings and put those in and call it a day.

 

[keVIIIn]

My old thunderbird made some clunking when I would go over train tracks or dips in the pavement..turned out to be the sway bar end links, replaced them and the noise completly went away.

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Alright guys, yesterday I spent 5 hours at the mechanic shop with my 93. They charged me $200.00 to install the upper control arms, lower control arms & the strut rod bushings. I could've done this myself but I pull too many hours during the week & I wasn't interested in dealing with the cursing from jamming my fingers & dealing with stubborn parts, etc... I think the price was very, very fair for the labor.

Never the less, the reason I took the car in is because about 8 months ago my car started making a clanking from the front end. I lifted the car, snuck my head underneath & inspected everything. I saw worn strut rod bushings & super worn control arm ball joints so purchased them & threw them in my trunk until yesterday.

Please note that the sway bar bushings & the rack & pinion are both in good condition. After everything was installed & I left the mechanic shop, the car does the same clanking in the front end whenever I either hit bumps on the road or when I do very sharp turns. Granted my car sits on a set of Eibach's so it is lowered but there's no need for the clanking to continue. Any idea's what else could be the culprit of the noise making?

I can see it from right here. It's the Red Calipers, they do it every time :shifty:
Actually I just did all that you did before Xmas and I am getting a clunk now but it turns out I should have replaced my front strut arm bushings when I was doing everything

 

[Moes8]

probably sway links as others said, small cheap part,makes a good racket when worn

 

[UltimateSVT]

Ok boys, I went underneath the car & snapped a few pics. A bit tight since the car is lowered but enough for you guys to take a closer look. Let me know what you guys think.

Sway bar bushings can still take a bit of a beating. Yes they are worn but you can clearly tell that the rubber is still there, so no clanking can be coming from here.

Here's the sway bar link from the driver's side where the noise is coming from. Looks in decent shape. A bit of the inside on the top ball joint is showing but that's only after the mechanic twisted the whole hub out of the way to get to the lower control arms. NOTE: I HAVE THE NEW SWAY BAR LINKS IN THE TRUNK. I DIDN'T INSTALL THEM BECAUSE I FIGURED I CAN WAIT A BIT.

 

[isaiah3g]

It might just be something loose. I had this probelm and I tightened everything I could find under there and the sway bar end links were a little loose. It went away.

Could be that?

 

[mossbergman]

I don't know what's making your noise but your car looks awesome as always

 

[UltimateSVT]

It might just be something loose. I had this probelm and I tightened everything I could find under there and the sway bar end links were a little loose. It went away.

Could be that?

I dunno! It's going to be driven this week by my wife as usual. Come next Saturday I am jacking up the front end & taking a good look on both sides. If I have to order sway bar bushings I will. If I have to install the end links I will too! I WANT IT DONE & OVERWITH! I can't trust the car because it sounds hideous. Car just turned 106,000 so it's not like it's got 160,000 miles on it. I can't take it to shows or road trips because I don't trust it. I let my wife drive it because she works 9 blocks from home.

I don't know what's making your noise but your car looks awesome as always

Thanks dude. Looks ain't everything though.

 

[billcu]

For a quick test of the sway bar links, turn the wheel all the way, hold the link with your fingers, and have a friend bounce just that corner of the car. You should feel it clunk if it's bad.

Those sway bar bushings are very shot.

 

[chris2523]

My old thunderbird made some clunking when I would go over train tracks or dips in the pavement..turned out to be the sway bar end links, replaced them and the noise completly went away.

probably sway links as others said, small cheap part,makes a good racket when worn

another for sway bar end links. mine made one hell of a racket.

 

[beerdog]

Replace those sway bar bushings. They are cheap and it can only help.

 

[DLF]

Please note that the sway bar bushings & the rack & pinion are both in good condition.

Sway bar bushings can still take a bit of a beating. Yes they are worn but you can clearly tell that the rubber is still there, so no clanking can be coming from here.

You're wrong, your sway bar bushings are junk, replace them.

 

[Sapperfire]

You're wrong, your sway bar bushings are junk, replace them.

+1, bushings are TRASHED, you can clearly see its split thru the bottom, look at all the wobble room around it. And the link boot looks flat like no more grease..replace both

If that was your wife's vag, you'd be shopping for a new wife, don't lie

 

[mossbergman]

thanks sap lolol

 

[marked8]

Your sway bar end links can look good and still be trash. The ones on my 94 looked great......until I got them off and discovered that they were complete trash.

 

[UltimateSVT]

Replace those sway bar bushings. They are cheap and it can only help.

You're wrong, your sway bar bushings are junk, replace them.

+1, bushings are TRASHED, you can clearly see its split thru the bottom, look at all the wobble room around it. And the link boot looks flat like no more grease..replace both

If that was your wife's vag, you'd be shopping for a new wife, don't lie

Your sway bar end links can look good and still be trash. The ones on my 94 looked great......until I got them off and discovered that they were complete trash.

thanks sap lolol

To answer everyone above:

I was above to order the sway bar bushings, the rep at Advance Auto Parts tells me that there are 3 sizes for diameter of the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII way bar:

*1.6
*1.9 - 1.10
*1.12 - 1.14

Which one does our Mark VIII wear?

As for the end links, they will be replaced this weekend. If I get the sway bar bushings by Saturday I will install those as well.

 

[UltimateSVT]

Can someone please help me with the above mentioned? I don't want to end up buying the wrong ones.

 

[2002WRXSTi]

Can't ya just grab some calipers and measure it to see? That way you know exactly what the size is and don't have to go by what someone says it should be.

 

[THANATOS]

Can someone please help me with the above mentioned? I don't want to end up buying the wrong ones.

the safe thing to do would be to use a caliper to measure the diameter of the sway bar you have.

 

[UltimateSVT]

Can't ya just grab some calipers and measure it to see? That way you know exactly what the size is and don't have to go by what someone says it should be.

the safe thing to do would be to use a caliper to measure the diameter of the sway bar you have.

That's the thing, I don't have a caliper. Otherwise I would've done it already. I guess I'll just have to buy one. I'm too busy the next couple days so more than likely I'll buy the caliper on Saturday then ordering the bushings for installation next week. I rather do things right the first time!

 

[Sapperfire]

Done yet?