Sway bar or lateral link?

[dodgethis]

Hey guys, I know in the past i have created threads regarding my issue with wheel bearings. I took it down to another place for a second opinion. I was originally told by the first shop I went to explained that all 4 struts were blown, and needed to be replaced. I did mention about the low growling noise i get when increase speed, and of course the noise increases as i speed up, or decreases as i slow down. I was told that it was indeed a wheel bearing in the front passenger side. I then took it to another shop and i was told that my 4 struts were not blown, and my suspension was fine. What was even more interesting was that the second shop said that my wheel bearings were fine, and that they felt that the low growl noise was from a bad sway bar, or lateral link?

 

I'll be honest, I only thought what could be causing the problem of the noise would be something turning because it increases and decreases with speed, can a sway bar do this? I thought it just stabilizes the steering, and that there are no revolutions created from the sway bar (duh)? Anyway, I am more confused, as one shop says one thing (which i did pay for the check) and was quoted pricing for the wheel bearings, and struts to be replaced, and the second shop, (I didn't pay anything) have a different thought as to what is causing it. The noise is annoying needless to say.

[Andrew]

its the bearings. I dunno what that other shop is smoking other than wanting to "replace" good parts and charge you for it.

 

or it could be the brakes dragging. Does the growl go away when brakes are applied?

 

also, i would ask each shop how they determined the struts were blown/not blown. Me, i would just do the bounce test.

Edited December 12, 2010 by Andrew

[dodgethis]

Independent,

 

The growl does not go away when i press on the brakes. It is dependent on the car's speed. I will also mention that doing the bounce test does work, and it shows there isn't any sign of damage, and needing to be replaced. I have noticed (don't know if this is a indication that the struts are failing soon) is every time when i run over a bump, or uneven part of the road i do hear a sort of crunch noise just before the car absorbs the shock of the bump. It is getting annoying. I wonder if that is the mounting plate that is attached to the struts, and its just wore out. It went away when the shop had evidently greased part of the fittings of the sway bar, and after a week of it being quiet, it has started showing its face again.

[Andrew]

bearings then for sure for the growl.

 

I had a similar crunch type noise on my old GP and i never figured out the cause.

[Schurkey]

"Crunch" over bumps is often the sway bar bushings; it can also be the rear leaf spring pads (at least on the earlier W body--I don't know if the newer ones have the same sort of transverse rear leaf spring.)

[dodgethis]

Thanks for the info, so it's a good thing to rule out blown struts and start looking into the sway bar bushings or the mono leaf pads ( if I have 'em), as far as the bushings go for the sway bar, I should just buy a new sway bar right? The bushings will be already attached to the bar right?

[AWeb80]

Just buy ES poly bushings and call it good.

[dodgethis]

Sorry to sound like a noon, but am I pulling the bushings from rock a*? Is there a write up on how to replace the bushings.

[AWeb80]

The sound is from the front right?

 

I'm not sure what size bar you have....I think around a 30mm or something if it's hollow. find out and I'll tell you how to replace them. It's cake.

[AWeb80]

here is a half ass write up I did.

 

It's self explanatory when you get there.

 

http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/30103-Energy-Suspension-34mm-Poly-Bushing-Install.-FE3