Front end popping

[01lssport]

I had asked a while back about what could cause the popping sound in the front end of the LS. Most of the answers were sway bar or sway bar bushings.

Well got a new one for ya, the bottom a-arm (were it mounts to the sub frame of the car) has two bolts that hold it to the car, right. Those connections in the subframe are slotted for caster/camber adjustment (guessing). The back bolt is a little loose and lets the a-arm move back and forth in the slotted sub frame mount. It will only do it when I back out of the driveway at an angle or if I take a corner like Jeff Gordon.

This is kinda wierd because I found that the bottom bolt on the coil/shock was loose too. I'm beginning to think that this car was wrecked on that side.
Just thought I would share the info.

 

[DLS8K]

I had asked a while back about what could cause the popping sound in the front end of the LS. Most of the answers were sway bar or sway bar bushings.

Well got a new one for ya, the bottom a-arm (were it mounts to the sub frame of the car) has two bolts that hold it to the car, right. Those connections in the subframe are slotted for caster/camber adjustment (guessing). The back bolt is a little loose and lets the a-arm move back and forth in the slotted sub frame mount. It will only do it when I back out of the driveway at an angle or if I take a corner like Jeff Gordon.

This is kinda wierd because I found that the bottom bolt on the coil/shock was loose too. I'm beginning to think that this car was wrecked on that side.
Just thought I would share the info.

I fixed my clunks in the front end a few month ago......and now it seems to have come back. About the only thing I didn't replace was my outer tie rods..........put the LS up on the lift and hit one of them and it clunked. I figured 100,000 miles on an outer tie rod is getting up there and was told in some cases that it will make that sound.

 

[LincolnTech38]

i hope you tightned the bolt, you didnt mention if you did or not lol

 

[01lssport]

i hope you tightned the bolt, you didnt mention if you did or not lol

Nope, didn't tighten it. It's been like that for 6 months. I'll fix it on Saturday when I'm putting in my lowering springs. I only drive it about 1 1/2 miles to work. No long trips till it's fixed.

 

[joshluvsla]

Just took my car to the dealer and They said that I had a loose tie rod and the just tightend it... my car has 92k do those parts need to be replaced or just inspected?

 

[eastcoastLS]

warranty receipt for popping noise when making turns

when my car was new under warranty, the guy who owned the car before me took it to west covina lincoln mercury mazda dealer and told them to "check for steering column makes a popping noise when making turns" an the reciept says the dealer "checked and replaced steering column"
it also says, replaced with part number XW4Z - 3C529-KA

maybe this will be useful to someone

 

[beaups]

Those lower control arm bolts take "I think" 148 lb-ft of torque. That's a lot of torque.

Remember, do NOT tighten ANY front control arm bolts until the vehicle is resting on the tires (not jacked up). This is important with the way the bushings are designed....