2007 Front Suspension Thunking Noise
10-09-2010, 07:11 AM
#2071
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 944
I confirm the part# 8R3Z-18183-B.
After I sent letters to the Ford Board of Directors, Ford Customer Service
and Bill Ford, Ford Engineer Ralph Arning sent my dealer the 8R3Z-18183-B.
Dealer replaced both struts also as they were both leaking.
Repair completed 6/5/07
I found this info in my THUNK file.
The new mount will look identical to your original except the mounting studs
a few mm's longer. The real change was to the compound of the rubber used
in the mount. The "chuckle" or "loose lumbar" was attributed to the radial
and axial rates on the mount. The new rubber compund corrects this issue
and thus corrects the loose lumbar noise from the front suspension. I've
compared the test graphs of the two mounts and there are drastic improvements
to both the static radial and the static axial rates for the new mount.
Edit: You may find this interesting. From my Thunk file.....
Also, although it's not necessary, adding the 4R3Z-5025-A X member brace will
help with the load put on the upper mount. This may explain why the convertibles
do not have this problem.
Hmmm...Soon after this the braces showed up on the hard tops.
I went with the CHE K brace.
After I sent letters to the Ford Board of Directors, Ford Customer Service
and Bill Ford, Ford Engineer Ralph Arning sent my dealer the 8R3Z-18183-B.
Dealer replaced both struts also as they were both leaking.
Repair completed 6/5/07
I found this info in my THUNK file.
The new mount will look identical to your original except the mounting studs
a few mm's longer. The real change was to the compound of the rubber used
in the mount. The "chuckle" or "loose lumbar" was attributed to the radial
and axial rates on the mount. The new rubber compund corrects this issue
and thus corrects the loose lumbar noise from the front suspension. I've
compared the test graphs of the two mounts and there are drastic improvements
to both the static radial and the static axial rates for the new mount.
Edit: You may find this interesting. From my Thunk file.....
Also, although it's not necessary, adding the 4R3Z-5025-A X member brace will
help with the load put on the upper mount. This may explain why the convertibles
do not have this problem.
Hmmm...Soon after this the braces showed up on the hard tops.
I went with the CHE K brace.
Last edited by rls82959; 10-09-2010 at 07:27 AM.
10-09-2010, 01:56 PM
#2072
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 1,465
Thanks for the added information. This just about wraps up the dreaded clunking issue common on the S197 Mustangs.
I also confirm that my 2008 GT has the cross brace bar from the factory. My car did NOT clunk with the strut mounts on my OEM setup. I wasted almost 400.00 trying to fix it when I should have kept the original updated mounts that came with my car.
I also confirm that my 2008 GT has the cross brace bar from the factory. My car did NOT clunk with the strut mounts on my OEM setup. I wasted almost 400.00 trying to fix it when I should have kept the original updated mounts that came with my car.
10-09-2010, 10:00 PM
#2073
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 944
Glad your thunk is gone. In the letter I wrote to Bill Ford, I told him my front end sounded like a 71 Pinto.
It was very frustrating. Brand new frickin car. I was amazed when Mr. Ford's secretary called me at work.
Then the Engineer called my dealer and fed ex'd the parts.
It was very frustrating. Brand new frickin car. I was amazed when Mr. Ford's secretary called me at work.
Then the Engineer called my dealer and fed ex'd the parts.
10-10-2010, 10:46 AM
#2074
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 1,465
I'm glad too. After all my research, 9 times out of ten, people should avoid using any other strut mount on a S197 than the revised OEM part. Some say they have no clunks with the Steeda HD mount, but I did, and nothing I could do would make it stop.
10-10-2010, 03:45 PM
#2075
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: IA
Posts: 19
I'm going to add to this conversation because I have done tons of searching and everywhere I looked it said the strut mount clunk did not apply to convertibles, even the TSB.
I have a vert and had the clunk, just replaced my strut mounts with the 8R3Z-18183-B and I can tell you it made a HUGE difference. No more clunking! I do have the cross brace and also had the clunk until I replaced the strut mounts.
I have a vert and had the clunk, just replaced my strut mounts with the 8R3Z-18183-B and I can tell you it made a HUGE difference. No more clunking! I do have the cross brace and also had the clunk until I replaced the strut mounts.
10-10-2010, 05:45 PM
#2076
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: AZ
Posts: 465
Ford Racing now sells a M-18183-C version now ... from the 2011 SVT Performance Pack.
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=12451
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=12451
10-11-2010, 02:08 PM
#2077
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 1,465
Ford Racing now sells a M-18183-C version now ... from the 2011 SVT Performance Pack.
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=12451
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...KeyField=12451
-A is the original part - don't use or clunks are imminent
-B is the 1st revision that cured front end clunk
-C is an upgrade to the -B revision and adds a higher durometer bushing.
I do believe this is a part that has SVT higher durometer bushings, and doesn't have the popping/clunking issues with the -A original part. The original SVT part was also a -A version.
Original equipment on the 2011 Shelby GT500 with SVT Track Pack Option
Increased durometer
Eliminate the popping/clunking noise often associated with lowered Mustang's with these upgraded strut mounts from Ford Racing.
Increased durometer
Eliminate the popping/clunking noise often associated with lowered Mustang's with these upgraded strut mounts from Ford Racing.
Last edited by Unleashedbeast; 10-11-2010 at 02:16 PM.
10-11-2010, 06:32 PM
#2078
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location:
Posts: 40
I have an 06 GT and had the exact same problem. I took it to my ford dealer and after test driving it, the service guy said it was supposed to sound like that. I said no way, so they took an 07 off the lot and took me for a ride in it. Low and behold, it also had the cluncking noise on low speed bumps. The dealer checked their national hot line for complaints and had none on this problem. He said that eventually when complaints came in Ford might do something about it. OK, now listen to this. I wanted to lower my stang, so I added eibach prokit springs with tokico dspec struts. Vola', the noise went away and I haven't heard it since. This tells me the problem is in the factory strut/springs assembly and Ford doesn't want to deal with it.
Last edited by Longhaul89; 10-12-2010 at 10:21 AM.
10-11-2010, 07:07 PM
#2079
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 32
I recently switched from a Eibach Sport with stock to H&R Sport with Tokico D-Specs and it started about six months later. I'm willing to go $100 in the hole to give this a try.
Last edited by newjohnre; 11-11-2010 at 06:43 PM.
11-13-2010, 06:08 PM
#2080
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 28
Hey I am new to Mustangs so forgive me if I ask a stupid question. I see this thread is 208 pages long and I cant read all of it. Anyway, on this page I saw TSB so will Ford fix this for us? I have an 06 and have this noise everytime I hit a bump.