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Old 05-07-2013, 07:26 PM
RedArrow RedArrow is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: New York
Vehicle: 1986 Volvo 745 TD
Posts: 900
Default Sounds of a bad strut I guess

Quote:
Originally Posted by v8volvo View Post
If the strut is leaking oil then you won't have much damping on that corner, are you noticing ride/handling symptoms too or only noises? Most of that stuff I put on new and should not be breaking down yet. Struts maybe since they've seen a lot of miles already but balljoints for sure should be fine....

It does have the diesel front springs but the strut inserts are all the same either way.

As for the noises, have you checked to see if the big gland nut that holds the shock insert into the strut tube is tight? Sometimes those will loosen up and make bad noises as the shock jumps up and down inside the tube...
Well, i`m not absolutely 100% sure that the oil is from the strut tube (might be some brake fluid seeping from the caliper) but I am definitely sure that the left front of the car has some kind of a suspension issue that I can clearly experience&hear .all times. + it also feels through the steering wheel as well... when I hit small bumps or while driving through uneven surfaces the left front has that knock/knock/clunk sound to it. Easy to hear a `keychain-type` noise as well, like there were metal rings loose being shaken on a metal rod. On the other hand the car cruises straight, steering feels pretty stable and tight and there are no badly deformed bushings or loose connections anywhere at the front. Most of the clunking noises (L side only) occur on low speed bumps and slow turns but the major knocking sound comes if the wheel arrives in a hole or on a larger bump. Then it sounds like I drove through a deep manhole that has a sloppy loose lid or whatever and it produces a sound of a shaky metal hit on metal sound effect...

I think it has something to do with the strut itself, idk. The insert probably has too much play inside & it moves around in the tube.
If I grab the wheel on top and pull on it hard, I think I can see the strut insert being in a slightly angled position; it has an unwanted movement too with a sound somewhere inside.
Yes, I think the ball joints and tie rod ends are all fine but we`ll inspect them again next time at the removal of this crazy strut.
I noticed a knocking/clicking sound btw many-many thousands of miles ago but that time it happened only at very slow speeds and only at left turns on very bumpy roads. I suspected the upper strut mount and bearing that time. We talked about it, remember and it seemed okay but I suspected that it will end up being more sensitive over there. I just kept hearing that sound but there were no negative effects on handling. In Jackson Hole, WY I showed it to a European car specialist mechanic who said that my strut is going to be toast soon but it`s completely fine to keep driving. 10k later I`m here but whatever it is, will be solved I`m sure.
I will keep the d24t pros` good advice on which spring compressor to buy. Thanks for now!
Low quality video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAuYG...ature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPQ5e...ature=youtu.be

Last edited by RedArrow; 05-08-2013 at 08:35 PM. Reason: i was stupid
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