khutchinson22

Should the lower part of the strut have play where it attaches to the lower control arm?

khutchinson22

Is there a ball joint or bushing that it supposed to be attached to because it sounds like it's metal on metal. There might be about a quarter inch of play.

Welwynnick

No.
You need a new lower control arm.

Nick

khutchinson22

Neither of the allen bolts want to tighten or loosen. Im afraid im going to break the allen wrench.

Welwynnick

You need to use a blow torch.

Nick

khutchinson22

That makes me a little nervous considering it's an ABC strut. Anything I need to know? Any risk of damage torching that part of the strut?

khutchinson22

Torch, manual impact, nothing wants to break these damn things loose! Im afraid to use air on it but im out of options.

khutchinson22

They arent reverse thread are they?

khutchinson22

Got em. MAP torch to the rescue!

StarvingArtist

I bet you just found the main cause of your vibration.

khutchinson22

Nope. Vibration remains.

StarvingArtist

The pattern is worn into the front tires now. I would suggest you check or replace every bushing and ball joint that's not new, then grind the uneven tread off your front tires, or just buy new ones again. Then set the toe-in at less than half what is recommended. Just inside of 0. Check the wheel balance and you will run smooth for a while, depending on your treadwear rating.

khutchinson22

The tires are brand new. Not even 500 miles on them. With the exception of the struts, the front end is all new.

khutchinson22

I'm also replacing the flex discs and drive shaft support on Sunday. That should be the last of it. Although, I am hearing a bumping type sound coming from the rear over small bumps during slower driving

Welwynnick

Exhaust maybe? There are lots of hangers, and they're all pretty vulnerable to corrosion or cracking.

StarvingArtist

It's hard to diagnose over the internet, but check your tires carefully (especially the inside edge) for tread block edges taller than other tread blocks. 500 miles was enough to do it on mine with a 240 tread wear rating.


Drive shaft support would be a totally different type of vibe, hope you get it figured.

khutchinson22

The symptom that makes this strange is that the vibration almost completely disappears after the car has been on a lift and then returns after a day or so. It would stand to reason that inconsistent tire wear would produce a vibration regardless of other factors. Thats what is making me think driveshaft.

khutchinson22

I might also mention that it has been doing this since the tires were first put on. It hasnt gotten worse or changed.

StarvingArtist

Don't know anything about ABC, is it possible for one shock to get pulses from the pump or maybe a fluttering valve in the system. I'm just guessing wildly now, let a really good mechanic drive it.

Welwynnick

I think that's very unlikely. Hydraulic pulses are absorbed by the accumulator on the pressure regulator, and by the flexible hydraulic hoses. When one of those fails or degrades, the result is noise, rather than vibration.

In any case, internal vibration in the strut would be absorbed by the suspension spring itself.

Nick

khutchinson22

Thank you for that. I was questioning this myself.

mbenz570

I didn't have to remove the bumper it is held in by clips and I was able to pull it off once I loosed it