THUD/SNAP with turning????

[whiplash306]

Hey guys..lookin' for a little guidance here. I'm trying to make my basically stock '86 GN ride better than new now. The actual cruising ride on a smooth road is GREAT but in town, over pot holes and making tight turns while hitting a slight bump causes some snaps from what I think is some sort of suspension component, more-so in the front. I've got a small plan of attack mapped out.....Bilstein shocks all the way around and the front and rear body braces from Kirban Performance, but will that help with the snapping and otherwise disturbing noises noticeable while turning and hitting a bump/pothole at the same time?....I'm lost.....ANY ADVICE is welcomed as well as where you recommend I get these recommended parts from....THANKS!!!

 

[Turbo6inKY]

Bushings and ball joints.

 

[whiplash306]

Thanks for the reply, but it was kinda vague...ha Is there any bushings and ball joints that are better than another...perhaps aftermarket?.....Or are the stock components adequate?....

 

[whiplash306]

C'mon......Anybody....."B U E L L E R".....

 

[wlaukaitis]

Yep,

cheapo front end test:

1. get a buddy
2. jack car up enough to get a pry bar upsidedown underneath the tire (angled toward the floor) have said buddy wedge it underneath and wiggle up and down it while you look at the <<ball joints>>
3. remove prybar
4. have buddy move/wiggle wheel back and forth (along the steering planes) enough to check the <<tie rod ends>> but not too much to actually make the car "steer" (turn the whole steering components)
4a. have buddy move wheel in and out (grab the top and bottom of the wheel and pull the top while you push the bottom and then alernate) to check <<wheel bearings>>
5. lower car
6. have buddy go into car and unlock steering, move steering wheel back and forth somewhat vigorously while you check the <<drag link>> <<center link>> and <<idler arm>>

While checking you'll see how hard or soft your helper should move the components. Like the ball joints, you should NOT see the spindle move and the A arm NOT move. Catch my drift?

make sure all the shocks are bolted up good.

my .02 dollars

maybe someone has a better method.

 

[salvageV6]

You can check the upper control arm bushings easily by looking at them.

Rubber should be in all 4 of them, usually cooked out of the passenger rear one and it will cause the clunking you hear.

Moog rubber parts, ball joints, idler arms, pitman arms, center links, tie rod ends, have all worked well for me.

Used a Perfect Circle brand tie rod end also that works just fine.

 

[whiplash306]

Thanks for the replies guys....I appreciate 'em..now let's see if I can figure out what to do with 'em.....Here goes....