Noises from Lower Control Arms?

[TicTocTach]

There is a noise in my front suspension - a clack sound when I apply the brakes at low speed. I noticed this sound right after I swapped the GTPP Brembo brakes onto my car, so I wrote it off as brake noise. I also used G-Loc GS-1 HP street pads and they're a little noisier than the stock pads were. I have checked all of the fasteners after the upgrade, no loose bolts, etc.

When I got my front end aligned, the tech said he saw some wear in the ball joint and recommended replacing the LCA's. I chose to pass on that work since the car only has 60K miles on it and still feels really tight. However, when I had the car inspected last month, the tech said he thought the clack sound was in the LCA's. I don't see how that could be the case, but this is now the second mention of LCA's and it has me thinking. I haven't investigated the LCA noise possibility yet, so I thought I'd ask the experts. Has anyone had a problem with their LCA's making noise or otherwise wearing out around 60K miles?

Sponsored

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

Time to get down there with a pry bar my man. 60k is not unheard of for sure

These aren't Toyota Corollas-bigger tires, brakes, wheels, aggressive driving, more power, all put extra stress on basically everything holding your car together.

 

[TicTocTach]

Time to get down there with a pry bar my man. 60k is not unheard of for sure

These aren't Toyota Corollas-bigger tires, brakes, wheels, aggressive driving, more power, all put extra stress on basically everything holding your car together.

Yep, that’s definitely in the works, maybe this weekend if my kid gets done with his project early. I’m looking for reality checks on the wear side which seems low to me, but definitely getting into the range to monitor. More info to follow when I get a chance to check.

 

[GTP]

You can use search to see this discussed previously.

It is quite possible that you are hearing a single "clack" when backing out on your driveway. Pull forward slowly and you might hear the same one-time sound. Have a friend stand beside the car to verify it is from the brake caliper. If all this is true, then you are hearing the brake pad backing plates knock against the guides in the calipers. You didn't hear this on your 4-pot brakes before the upgrade.

With some disassembly, you can replicate this noise by hand by shifting a brake pad up and down in the caliper. Should make the same tone of sound.

 

[SHOdaddy68]

You can use search to see this discussed previously.

It is quite possible that you are hearing a single "clack" when backing out on your driveway. Pull forward slowly and you might hear the same one-time sound. Have a friend stand beside the car to verify it is from the brake caliper. If all this is true, then you are hearing the brake pad backing plates knock against the guides in the calipers. You didn't hear this on your 4-pot brakes before the upgrade.

With some disassembly, you can replicate this noise by hand by shifting a brake pad up and down in the caliper. Should make the same tone of sound.

This was what I was going to suggest. +1

 

[TeeLew]

60k is on the early side of the curve, but you didn't just drive it off the lot, you know...

 

[S550HPP]

Mine were done at 35K.

Was it all the wash board country back roads at 60 MPH and no slow down for speed bumps and broken pavement on the amazing Bilstein B6?

The $285 Ford Performance kit and 2 hrs wrenching was well worth it!

 

[TicTocTach]

Well, this is where I’m headed, too. Confirmed that the front LCA joint is toast - not just the little bit of vertical movement they showed me at the shop, but a LOT of front/rear movement when I push/pull on the caliper. I’ll get that FRP kit on the way and get her knocked out over one of these next weekends.

 

[S550HPP]

Package comes with QR to Ford instructions

Remember to clock the subframe mount bushings before tightening to 185 lb. I was on a lift and used a trans jack to compress the strut.

Also note the 10MM on top of the ball joint threaded end...use a wrench on that while you tighten main nut with wrench so doesn't rotate in tapered bolt seat. Once quite snug use the torque wrench.

A 4 lb sledge hammer and 3-4 whacks on the knuckle and ball joint end will just drop out watch your feet.

 

[TicTocTach]

Package comes with QR to Ford instructions

Remember to clock the subframe mount bushings before tightening to 185 lb. I was on a lift and used a trans jack to compress the strut.

Also note the 10MM on top of the ball joint threaded end...use a wrench on that while you tighten main nut with wrench so doesn't rotate in tapered bolt seat. Once quite snug use the torque wrench.

A 4 lb sledge hammer and 3-4 whacks on the knuckle and ball joint end will just drop out watch your feet.

Thanks! It looks like a pretty straight forward operation, I was a little worried about compressing the strut as well. I love my Quickjack, but it was tough clocking those bushings when I installed the 350R springs. Package from LMR should arrive tomorrow, so this weekend looks like an LCA party and an alignment if I can get a time at the shop.

 

[S550HPP]

Yeah the trans jack has a large plate so easy to get on the tie rod end or disk plus it's a stout jack so it was effortless.

 

[TicTocTach]

Finished the job an hour ago (little over 3 hours with my boys helping and a break for pizza) and at the alignment shop now. OMG, my rattle trap shitbox is a smooth, quiet new car again! She drove really well on the way over to the shop, so I guess things weren’t too far out when she wasn’t hitting a bump.

Going with stock GT350 alignment specs which has enough camber to keep the front tires under the fenders.

Take-home messages here are that yes, the ball joints can be trash at 60k miles, and the Ford Performance control arm kit is a great deal and an easy project with typical tools.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

There is a noise in my front suspension - a clack sound when I apply the brakes at low speed. I noticed this sound right after I swapped the GTPP Brembo brakes onto my car, so I wrote it off as brake noise. I also used G-Loc GS-1 HP street pads and they're a little noisier than the stock pads were. I have checked all of the fasteners after the upgrade, no loose bolts, etc.

When I got my front end aligned, the tech said he saw some wear in the ball joint and recommended replacing the LCA's. I chose to pass on that work since the car only has 60K miles on it and still feels really tight. However, when I had the car inspected last month, the tech said he thought the clack sound was in the LCA's. I don't see how that could be the case, but this is now the second mention of LCA's and it has me thinking. I haven't investigated the LCA noise possibility yet, so I thought I'd ask the experts. Has anyone had a problem with their LCA's making noise or otherwise wearing out around 60K miles?

I have a new set of lower arms from steeda with performance pack bushings if you are interested.

 

[S550HPP]

Great outcome!

Sponsored