leavehard

I recently purchased an absoulute creampuff 98 LS. Under 50K miles, driven only half the year (spring /summer) by an elderly snowbird. It rides like you would expect it to on almost any road surface... like a magic carpet. But, today I took it down an unimproved mostly gravel road. Lots of washboard type ruts.Traveling at 25-30 mph the I could hear and feel the left front suspension bottoming out... or at least that's what it seemed to be doing. Loud metal to metal type sound. Do these things have jounce bumpers ? Can't figure what could be causing this rapping sound so early in it's life. Of course low miles or not, it is 10 yrs old I guess.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

if the shock is bad then the ride height on that corner only will be lower than the rest...

most likely it is a bushing issue, strut rod, control arm, or lower ball joint.

leavehard

Ride height is good all around PD, so I'll have the dealer check the usual suspects as you say. Arrrgghh. Was hoping to avoid bushing replacement by buying a real low miler. But, I suppose age is catching up with her. Thx for the armchair diagnosis buddy.

steveski

I had similar very loud metal on metal sounds like yours - really loud. My front caliper bolts were not torqued to spec and caliper(s) were loose - easy to check. Once tightened sound was gone - luckily no money out of pocket

leavehard

Thanks Steve. Now there is something the dummy can check and remedy himself. I'm good with that washer fluid replacement stuff too, lol.