2007 Front Suspension Thunking Noise - Page 21

Jays Mustang · 02-24-2007, 04:46 PM

Ya I know what you mean. I made some delivers (truck driver) to the garment district long ago, man those roads were made a hundred years ago and really suck too.

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wolfey2k · 02-24-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: JimsGT

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Jays Mustang

Keeping an open mind to everything said. It seems to me that every support/brace would help. But if the noise happened just in corners I'd agree with that support. But I checked closely that there's no difference in the noise straight or corners. Now did the lack of that support aid in our problems? Could be. As I mentioned along with others that the noise started on the right side and with me the left side around 1200 miles. So something did ware out. But I'd like to note I've got a bad back and never "hanged" any corners at high speed. Slow on corners always. So chassic flex wasn't an issue unless you concider just driving normal causes flexing. Just some more thoughts on this problem. I liked those breakdowns between the coupe/conv. I couldn't see anything different other than that brace. What do you guys think about possible damage in shipping on the trains or auto carriers? Might be the reason some have problems and others don't.

I had the "problem" as soon as I drove off the lot at 15 mi ! That was in Nov, still have the noise to this day at 4k miles...('06 auto. GT) Anyway, it seems to be coming from the passenger side, and only in a straight line when going over bumps or other road imperfections, isn't doesn't happen at any turns, or cornering at all. It isn't loud either,loud enough that I just know its there. Just some clunking sound over bumps. As long as there isn't a safety issue, I'm fine with it. (Along with the other idiosyncracies of the car...lifting hood, squeaking windows when going over bumps) So, is this the same issue you guys are talking about?

Yeah, I noticed the squeeking windows in the GT convertable I drove the other day...
The thunking noise, from what I have observed, is more subtle in the GT coupes than it is in the Pony coupes. As you may know the GT has a beefier suspension, thicker / stronger springs etc.
Same strut and bearingassemblies though.
I swear the more I think about this the more I want to drop my idea of waiting for Ford to come out with the fix this March/April as promised and just get the part and put it in! FUGG IT! But that $280 dollar price tag,,,I'd just have the shiz's when they do come out with the TSB and I lose $280 bucks for nothing! So, no shiz's for me ;-) I'm gonna wait! No matter how much it hurts!

wolfey2k · 02-24-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: northy_polk

I invite you to join me in a drive of our nation's Capitol!!! The wheel nearly leaps from my hand on some of these bumps, and that's only going 30 mph!!! And the removal of the sway bar was a mistake for me. Borderline dangerous. It's going back on this afternoon.

Yeah, I get down there a few times a week. Thunk thuthuthu-thunk!
DC, that's the place to test ones suspension for sure!
Many of us have already tried removing the anti-sway bar...no luck and yes, it's fairly dangerous to drive without it for many reasons. Especially with strut assemblies.

northy_polk · 02-25-2007, 12:00 AM

So I left work early today, clunked over to Home Depot, and bought some materials to make a temporary brace. I had to put the sway bar back on first, and that took forever cause I couldn't get the damn nuts tight enough and the suspension was making horrible metal on metal noises. Eventually I got it all back together and tight. And believe it or not, for about 5 minutes the thunking was nearly gone! But, alas,it did not last. . . So maybe tomorrow depending on the weather I'll get under there with my new drill and reciprocating saw [battery powered] and fashion a brace from a square tube of steel 27" long with 4 bolts, each having lock washers on both sides. Wish me luck!

Jays Mustang · 02-25-2007, 12:23 AM

Ya good luck. We'll be waiting with your results.

wolfey2k · 02-25-2007, 12:37 AM

Geesh! You gotta be kiddin me northy! ;-D
You actually did it you son of a gun!
Well that's cool but I'd love to see some pics of your work and brace if that's okay. I'm sure everyone would like to see what you did.
I can't imagine what your rig up must look like though ;-).
Did you look at the pics of the factory installation and bar?
I have pics up on here if you want to have a look.
Pretty beefy bar and connections.
Best of luck tomorrow! I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for ya!
Wolfey2k

wolfey2k · 02-25-2007, 03:44 AM

Updated pics of the A-Arm cross member missing on all GT and V6 coupes in post #193. Original post #155.
THE ANTI-THUNKING BAR!
All Shelby GT500's have them. Proof they will work just fine in allcoupes IMO.
Don't take my word for it though as Ford says they had to crash test them for safety before issuing the upcoming TSB. Also they say they may offer an upgraded strut bearing as part of the fix!
Anyone new to this forum/thread is advised to go back to page 1 of this thread to get all the data on this problem, Ford's soon to be released TSB's and so on.
If you want to go ahead and make the fix yourself, it will cost you $280 bucks from Ford.
It's part Number 5025of the sub-frameassembly.
I'd wait until the end of March or early to mid April as that's when Ford's Mustangteam says they will release the fix. Then you can get it done under warranty! :-)

Ford_Dude · 02-25-2007, 04:46 AM

I'd say if its a bolt and nut (not bolt and threaded metal) use a lock nut (with a nylon insert) not a lock washer as it might be better
if it is a bolt and threaded metal then yes use the lock washer
and let us know how it goes

make sure to use all 4 bolts
and is this compatible with also doing the CHE k-member brace (I'm thinking about doing that at some point)
even though I don't have the thunk if a TSB is issues (free chassis stiffening maybe)

Jays Mustang · 02-25-2007, 01:47 PM

Hi again, On my car I learned this morning that I've fallin into the realm of it happening at higher speeds. I thought I'd just go for a cruise on main roads to clear my head of this situation. I hit this 5 mile length of road at 60mph that had frost heaves. Felt like expansion joints every 30 feet. It was Thunk..thunk, Thunk..thunk the whole way. And not normal suspension noise, this was our noise problem. I couldn't believe it. I turned off cause I was ready to flip out. Man I can't wait until either we or the factory figures this out.
I was also thinking of Wolfey2k's info. He mentions crash test. You think that since that bar/brace was on other Mustangs, that itwouldn't need retest but he said also new upper bearing support. Now that would need retest figuring if it failed the wheels would stuff into the passenger compartment. The more and more I think about it, I figure that's our problem. There's only a few things that thefront assembly is held to the chassic. The upper bearing support and 2 control arm bushings. (the sway bar has been proven out of the question)
I know some that read these posts probably figure why are these guys worked up about slow speed noise. Well, on my Message Center on the dash it's says I average 29mph. That's why.

wolfey2k · 02-25-2007, 02:40 PM

Right. Sorry to hear about your high speed thunking. I noticed that eons ago and I did mention it in one of my previous posts. In a way I'm glad you're hearing it too. Pretty tuned in ears by now I bet ;-).
To be clear, Ford is talking about offering an updated upper strut bearing. So if they do and IMO they darn well should just because of the poor quality of the current bearing, it will be a kit. They are definately going to offer up the A-Arm support cross member retrofit as a TSB.
The A-Arms are not the cause of the thunking. They are a symptom, an effect of subframe flexing if anything.

The few convertables I test drove, it was such a heavenly experience! No thunking, no rattling, no nothing! Just pure joyous NORMAL cab noise! I was rolling over extremely bumpy roads when testing and I didn't hear anything at all! NICE!

Jay, maybe you should go test drive a couple convertables like I did. It may be theraputic for you ;-). Just a thought. I sympathise with you man. Hang in there!