[slow_solo_focus]

Jacked my car up tonight, I wiggled tie rods firmly; no budge.

Shook wheels up down, left and right, no budge.

Shook sway endlinks, was able to push passenger link bottom one in and out.



When I drive I hear a wobble/rattle as I drive. Low speeds is one speed of rattle, medium travel speeds the rattle/wobble increases. Highway speeds is an even faster rattle.



During brake/acceleration I will get one/two clunks... Usually not more.



Before I say what I think the issue is. What's your opinions?

EDIT: endlink fixed constant noise however clunk is till there

 

[02fordsvt]

Are all your wheels (at least the two fronts) still balanced. This would explain the wobble and could be linked to a weight falling off one of the wheels.

 

[sailor]

Passenger side link is shot for sure, shouldn't be able to feel any play & the symptoms match a loose one.

Moogs are prob. "best" by rep., I threw on an Autozone pair when I needed them & they've been fine (after one retightened bolt).

Grease fittings & warranty, cheap enough to buy a pair and get that out of the way.

 

[slow_solo_focus]

yea, ill start w/ link. if its still a prob ill check wheel balance.

 

[slow_solo_focus]

endlink fixed my constant rattle/wobble however the 1/2 clunk(s) during accel/deceleration are still there.

 

[sailor]

Look at the ball joints closer, pry on the arm a bit to look for movement.

wiggle the wheels on the ground as well as in the air, could tighten up to look good at full drop.

 

[slow_solo_focus]

I wiggled everything in the air, but I'll wiggle on the ground too.



Any better ways to diagnose ball joints? Or is that for me to google.

 

[sailor]

IDK, a clunk when starting & stopping is a good one to say look there for a problem but it doesn't guarantee the location of the issue.

 

[dirtbrown]

could be your lower motor mount

 

[slow_solo_focus]

How do you figure that?

Also vibrations are low...?

 

[felixthecat]

I wiggled everything in the air, but I'll wiggle on the ground too.



Any better ways to diagnose ball joints? Or is that for me to google.

Lift the tire off the ground & take a pry bar to the bottom of the tire & see how much slop there is.

 

[slow_solo_focus]

To the tire? Alright I would have pry'd where ball joint meets lca...

 

[felixthecat]

To the tire? Alright I would have pry'd where ball joint meets lca...

Lift the tire off the ground by 2-3'' & take a 20'' or so pry bar to the bottom of the tire & try to lift the tire & you'll see the slop if there is any.

 

[slow_solo_focus]

ball joints had no play in them. driver side one has a small hole ~1/4 to 1/5" if i had to guess.

i tightened as many random bolts down as i could, still no luck getting rid of random clunk

 

[sailor]

That lower motor mount suggestion wasn't a bad idea to check IF it's only on Accel./Decel..

 

[slow_solo_focus]

gah, i hated replacing that one... ill be getting poly inserts if it is the issue.. i also made a post on reddit to see if anyone there has a different idea...

i guess ill link this to reddit as well.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Cartalk/comments/2niscy/2000_focus_se_20l_dohc_clunk_at_accelerate_and/

 

[dirtbrown]

also get under the car and make sure the front control arm bolts are all tight...i one time had a noise i could not figure out and it ended up simply being a loose big bolt on the underneath subframe that connects the lower control to the car and that was the problem..also check tie rod ends to be tight

 

[slow_solo_focus]

motor mount test! lmk what you think. its the parking brake and clutch test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR3X35MK0G8&feature=youtu.be

 

[KK_SilverDevil_712]

Have u checked the cv joint ?

 

[slow_solo_focus]

i shook them and the boots and every thing seems fine. i was refering to the vid. is that too much slop?