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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'94 Ford Taurus SHO, Rear Suspension Rattle
Q:
I have a ‘94 Ford
Taurus SHO that is making a clunking sound like it's coming from the rear
suspension when going over bumps or ripples in the road. The clunking
is much more pronounced when it's cold outside, not nearly as noticeable
on hot summer days. The car has 109k miles. I had new struts put on by
the Ford dealer (they thought that was the fix), but that didn't stop
the clunking. I tend to think that maybe it is somehow related to rubber
bushings since it is more pronounced in the cold. To me, it sounds like
it's coming from the upper strut mounts. The problem is no one can see
if there's a problem there without removing the strut assembly. I've been
listening to this annoyance for 2 yrs. now and it sounds like it is distinctly
coming from the upper strut tower. Any ideas as to what this noise may
be? Are there inexpensive methods of repairing this? I'm at my wits end.
Has this been a common complaint from SHO owners? Any help would greatly
appreciated.
- John B.
A:
Worn and thumping/banging
strut mounts on a vehicle of your age is not an uncommon problem. Also
you should be aware that the sway bar bushings that hold the sway bar
to the body of the vehicle are troublesome as well. They harden with age
and are noisier in cold weather. Due to their location you could be led
to believe that they are noisy struts or strut mounts. The only way to
answer that question is to dig into the problem. I would first find a
section of road that really makes the noise come to life. Next, unbolt
the sway bar links from the rear struts and secure the sway bar so it
will not hit or get caught on anything. Then drive the vehicle over that
just right section of road and see if the noise is gone. If the noise
is gone, then look closely at the sway bar bushings, they likely need
replacing. If the noise remains then you will have to take enough of the
vehicle’s interior apart so one person can drive while the other
inspects the offending strut mount. If the cause to the problem proves
to be the strut mount, the only way it can be repaired is by removing
the strut from the vehicle. I know you don’t want to hear that, but
there are no short-cut solutions. The job has to be done the right way.
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