Boston35

I recently bought this 99 GS300 with 104k. I noticed a suspension noise, much like a squeaky old mattress, when I was driving it home. I've had it for about a week now and the noise seems to come and go. It was making it pretty good tonight so when I got home it hit me that I haven't even tried to reproduce the sound by pushing down on the car. So I walked around the car and pushed down on top of each wheel well. It became very obvious the noise was coming from the front right wheel area. Here's a video I made of me simply rocking the car in that spot.

View My Video

Any ideas on what it is?



On a side note, I couldn't embed the video into the post like I wanted - is there a trick for that?

drgonzo370

iTrader: (1)

Not letting me view it on my tablet but I'll just take a stab in the dark and say lower ball joints would be the best place to start.

vwynn

iTrader: (4)

its more of a squeek/creek than LBJ popping ^.

sounds like either your shocks/spring combo are done.. or that it wore out the top hats possibly? i was going to add maybe lube the swaybar bushings but it seems like the struts are making the noise.

clos430

iTrader: (21)

Disconnect the tie rod end and see if it goes away.

Mr Jokster

iTrader: (8)

I vote upper control arm bushings. Grease them up, see what happens.

neegroy

iTrader: (19)

grease up all the bushings and see if it makes a difference? you should be very careful about our cars and the notorious front end problems

DosyBoy

iTrader: (1)

Can't view your video, but I'm getting brand new sway bars this Monday, my lbj are rock solid not a mm of play...

Boston35

The most suspension work I've ever done is replace struts and mounts on a Saab. I'd like to but I have no idea how to grease the upper control arm bushings. I've seen this control arm bushing kit discussed on the forum - http://www.tmengineering.net/suspens...n/make/gs.html - do you think that might be what I need? According to the receipts the ball joints were done at 80k and again at 95k (it has 104 now). It seems odd that they would have been twice. I also get a distinct vibration in the steering wheel at 60mph only. Over or under 60mph the instability and vibration are not there.

IS the car even safe to be driving like this?

1sWt2GS

iTrader: (6)

sounds like me at night


its probably your upper control arm bushing

2GSC300

iTrader: (6)

Thats pretty loud. Also think it could be control arm bushings. Your car goes up and down pretty easily. Are your struts bad or is it just me. Could be the cause too?

GS714

You need to read more posts on TM Engineering. Most folks never got any respond or received what they ordered, me included. I have had similar noise but not loud like your. Anyway welcome to the clunker club.

Boston35

Some more detail to add:
I sprayed the upper control arm bushings with wd40 today. No difference at all. The sounds seems like its coming from lower, like its in the hub. As one poster suggested it could be related to the tie rod.

It makes the noise more when the car has been driven for a little bit. Almost like it has to warm up to make the noise.

I dont think its the struts because the noise originates too low, the struts look OK, and its only happening at that one wheel.

And thanks for pointing out that TM engineering is shady. I won't be ordering any parts from them.