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Front right suspention patter...

Hi there!
My T-bird is making that patter noise from the day I got it. It only happens when I'm driving on eg. gravel/coutry style roads. It's a strange sound like a rubber hammer hitting floor.
It's a Spring time, so I've decided to check what it may be and replace the defective part of suspention. I suspect it may be a shock absorber or ball joint? The shocks are OK, but I heard Gabriel shocks are known for making a noise like that.
If it's a shock absorber, which struts do you reccomend for daily driven 3.8 T-bird with stock suspention and "baloon" 215/70R14 tires?
Take care!

P.S. Hope you will like the new photo in my signature :)

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #1 –
I dunno about 10" brake cars but 11" brakes are bad about the calipers rattling.  Mine does it.  Sounds like something is loose under the car. 
 
Try this.  when you hear the rattling noise.  keep your foot on the gas (petrol?) pedal and very lightly press the brake pedal.. If I do this my noise goes away.  I don't know what to do to fix it.
One 88

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #2 –
How are your front sway bar bushings and endlinks? If the rubber is going bad that could cause the bar to shift around a bit and cause that noise. Also if you do change them polyurithane is much better than the rubber and stiffens up the front a bit.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #3 –
Have you checked your ball joints? could make a really bad noise when the are out. They are kinda hard to check but do a search we have talked about many times.Cougar Se  Are you sure its caliper rattle and not brake pads? Make shure you install shims if they aren't built onto the pad. Then another thing would be to use some brake squeek greese. It's kinda like gule to hold the pads to the caliper. Last if not least install new pins and those pesky little rubber boot things they slide into.
84 Turbo coupe 2.3T Modded with 88 upper and lower intake, 88 injectors, E6 manifold, T3-4 AR.60 turbo, 31X12X3 FMIC, Homemade MBC , Greddy knock off BPV.
4 eyes see better than 2! 
Da Bird!

FreeBird

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #4 –
Hey Shevretti, my car makes a similar noise from the driver's side front wheel, along with a constant squeaking while going over bumps. I checked the ball joints, bearings, etc and everything is good. Basically I've narrowed it down to the broken spring on the driver's side (has about half a coil broken off the bottom)...it has to be the thing making all the noise because I can't find anything else that it could be!

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

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #5 –
Mine makes a noise like that but only when I've got 2+ in my car.  I know I need taller springs due to my taller tires I threw on. Also, my rear control arm bushings are shot, my endlinks are junk and etc.  I'd def. look at the endlinks and balljoints

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #6 –
I used to get a similar noise from my right front suspension, but only when I had a passenger in the car...it eventually got worse...my struts were cooked...but i also replaced the ball joints(which didn't look too bad), tie rod ends, steering rack and I did the 11" brake upgrade.
Project 3G: Grandpa Grocery Getter-'85 Crown Vic LTD 2-door, 351W with heavily ported/polished GT40 heads, heavily ported/polished Typhoon Power Plus upper & lower intake, Comp Cams 265DEH retarded 1*, FAST EZ-EFI, HD T5, 8.8" 3.73 trac lock with extra clutches, 3G alt. swap, '99 CVPI front brakes, '09 CVPI rear disc brakes, '00 CVPI booster&m/c + wilwood adj prop valve.

Parted & Gone-'88 T-bird Sport, 351W swap, ported GT40 heads

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #7 –
Thanks for all your ideas! I've already replaced the sway bar bushings and endlinks. Checked the brakes and lubricated everything well. The springs are one piece too. Think I should check the struts and ball joints. What about the strut mouts?

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #8 –
The strut mount may have failed which would cause some rattle and noise.  Good idea!

Chris
"I put my foot in my tank and I began to roll." Chuck Berry

Front right suspention patter...

Reply #9 –
Hm, I may have to check my strut mounts aswell...

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

F/end ??

Reply #10 –
My 88 T-Bird Sport Rack + Pinion broke a couple weeks ago. Luckily I was going 20 in town not 70 on the freeway. Had it towed to a dealer and was told I also need balljoints (lower/outer) and steering column bearings. I told them to hold off on the BJ's because I have had them checked twice recently and was told they are fine (not checked by them). They couldn't get the steering column bearings either, not new or junk yard.

After I got it back I took it to a mech I trust and he said the BJ + Steering Bearing are fine. I filed a BBB complaint because they were trying to push $1000 worth of repair that I might not need. Now they are pestering me to bring it in and let them prove to me how "dangerous" the BJ's are getting. They say to check them requires "a special procedure". Are they bull pin' me or what?

I do get a little "wobble" (real little) once in a while from the F/end and at highway speed there is a thump thump that feels like a tire out of round/balance. Could that be the BJ's??