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Topic: RF Clunk/Photo Inspection (Read 2580 times) previous topic - next topic

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Ok, I have the dreaded RF clunking problem, and as you all know, there are numerous things which could cause this. I took the wheel off today and did a visual inspection, as well as grabbed around and tried to feel for any loose parts. Nothing. I checked the Ball joint by looking at the wear indicator, and it did not appear to be pointing down from the flat surrounding area less than 1mm.

Here are some pictures I took, if anyone sees anything out of the ordinary, let me know. Like I said, all the bushings looked good, and the only thing I can think of is Strut Mount, or possibly the strut, seeing as it appears to be the stock Strut that came with the car.


Bottom of Ball Joint. Indicator does not appear to be sticking out less than 1mm. Appears to be sticking out more. Felt like it.







<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
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RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #1 –
is the brake caliper tight? simple to over look. just an idea thats what mine was
1986 Cougar LS

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #2 –
broken coil spring
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #3 –
Sway bar to chassis mount?
11.96 @ 118 MPH old 306 KB; 428W coming soon.

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #4 –
Sway bar,or perhaps the strut bushing up top.Those go bad and there's some clunking going on.What is all that wet stuff?Leaky brakes?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #5 –
Broken spring on the LCA on the bottom?
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #6 –
Took the pics after pressure washing all the dirt that had accumulated in there over the years. Two people mentioned broken coil spring...how can I check that?
<---One must always remember to Remain cool, calm and collected when dealing with your fellow man, especially on the Internet....
-DMC24guy
[/SIZE]

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #7 –
should be able to visually look at the bottom see if it looks sheared off
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #8 –
usually the spring will look good until you remove it then it will be in two peices, as it brakes in the rubber on the bottom
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #9 –
Quote from: cougarman;145616
usually the spring will look good until you remove it then it will be in two peices, as it brakes in the rubber on the bottom

Exactly.  It's not the sort of thing you can peek around with a flashlight and see.

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #10 –
You might be able to get a prybar in to move it around and see?
I didn't know for sure mine was broke till I got it apart.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #11 –
I had a slight clunking noise (and an annoying squeaking sound) coming from the driver's side front. Spring was broken. Swapped on new springs, the clunking sound has apparently gone away but the squeaking is annoying as ever...I have a hunch it's the strut or strut mount.

Garrett H.
'94 F250 XLT- 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo Diesel, 4" intake, 4" exhaust, 5" turnout stacks, manual hubs, etc.
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Engine, wheels, tires, etc!
Exhaust sound clip
Another clip

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #12 –
When do you hear the clunking sound? During braking? Cornering? Going over bumps? letting off the gas? getting on the gas?

I had two instances of noise in the front end. The first noise was a clattering/clunking sound when going over bumpy roads. It turned out that the pins holding the right front caliper came off so the caliper was just floating on the spindle. Braking was just fine.

The second noise happened alot during braking or when backing up and over an expansion joint in my drive way. This noise you could even feel in your feet on the floor board.  I hunted all over the front end looking for that noise. I just couldn't find anything loose or evidence that anything was moving around.  I ended up taking an impact and loosening the K member bolts and tighting them. Come to find out one of them (driver side rear of the shock tower) wasn't tight. Problem solved. Hopefully you will find that clunking noise.
Raleigh, NC.

RF Clunk/Photo Inspection

Reply #13 –
I have that rattling noise coming from my front end and I think I have traced it to the left front caliper.  I can move the whole caliper around on the pins.  Anyone know a solution for this?  It is really annoying.
1988 Thunderbird
5.0 HO, t5, TC rear, TC brakes, etc. - Gone