Suspension Maintenance

[SteveDX89]

All right, I did the prelude arm conversion not too long ago to help resolve some clunking in my suspension. Only problem is, it's still there just not as much. I was thinking of replacing some other suspension bits here shortly. Is this a good idea? I was planning on doing the front wheel bearings cause I still have a little shake on the highway at speed, lower ball joints, and tie rod ends. Is there anything else I should do while I'm at it and should I replace ball joints or anything in the rear?

[danronian]

Before you go replacing everything, make sure it all needs to be replaced, because if you replace something that doesnt need to be replaced your simply throwing away money, thats just my opinion though.

[SteveDX89]

Yeah, you've got a point there. I'm pretty sure the tie rod ends need replaced because the rubber cover/shield thing looks in rough shape. I'm not sure what's still causing the clunking noise so I figured it was the lower ball joints because replacing the uppers significantly lessened the number of times it does it. The wheel bearings I thought because of the shake at highway speed. Am I on track here or is there something else causing these noises and shakes?

[AZmike]

The tie rod ends could be the cause of the shakes. You mean shaking steering wheel, right? I'd start there and see how it runs before spending on any other parts.

[SteveDX89]

Yeah, the steering wheel shakes but the rest of the car does too.

[danronian]

Well to figure out if the tie rod ends are shot just hold it real tight and try to see if there is any play in the actual joint of it.

To see if the ball joint is shot, jack the car up so the wheel is off of the ground and try to tilt the bottom of the wheel in and out. If you feel any clicking, and can pin-point the noise as coming from the ball joint, then you should replace it.

Another cause could be warped brake rotors if it is when you are braking.

Actually as I read your post about the whole car shaking it makes me think that it needs a front end alignment, did you get one done since you did the prelude conversion?

My car actually does the same thing from 60-70mph only, the steering wheel shakes very slightly. The thing is I have replaced the upper and lower ball joints, and bearings, and I know the tie rod ends are good. I also have just bought new tires, replaced the upper control arm bushings, and got a front end alignment. So it seems I have the same questions.

[dXsquared]

for the wheel bearings, jack the car up, take the wheels off the front and shake the brake rotor back and forth,... like oush in and out on teh left and right sides.. if there is any movements, your wheels bearings are bad

Travis

[SteveDX89]

I just replaced the brake rotors about a week ago and I did get an alignment done after the prelude arm conversion. The tires should still be balanced. They were put on about a year and half ago. I'm sure most the stuff that I want to replace is pretty old but I'll check the parts out, if they don't need replaced I won't. My upper ball joints were absolutely shot when I replaced them, is that a good indicator if the lower ones are shot too?

[danronian]

not really, in some cars upper and lower ball joint just seem to go at different times, and possibly before you owned the car they were replaced. I would take the wheel off and tilt it like I wrote before replacing them. The lower ball joints in my 3g were replaced a while before I bought it and when I went to replace the upper ball joints they were totally shot but they somehow weren't shot months before for inspection.

Does anyone know how to check if the bushing in the damper fork is shot. When I turn the wheel in my car all the way and look at the thing it almost looks like it is being pulled out a little bit and looks quite dry rotted. But the thing is I am pretty sure these bushings are thick so it is probably just outer rot, but could this be why I have a shake in the steering at certain highway speeds?