I just swapped to Steeda HD strut mounts, I like Steeda's products and have not heard any bad reviews on these and am also running their outer tie rods. My strut mounts were kaput, I was hearing a clunk when I turned the wheel and also a loud pop when going over bumps, also I could never keep the car properly aligned. I installed the Steedas, and the first thing I noticed was the steering was much smoother and the popping from turning the wheel was gone; happy already. This was until I went down the street. The popping noise must have tripled, and when I get on the freeway the wheel will alternate between violent shaking and smooth riding.

At first I thought it may have been my bad ball joints, but it wouldn't make sense for them to all of a sudden start making more noise. My instinct tells me something is loose, but I've done this several times and have learned to check my work every time. Does anyone have any tips for helping me deduce what this could be? I won't have time to look at it for a week and honestly I'm getting tired of having to tear it apart on every day off I get.

 

Did you do an alignment on it once you put on the new upper plates? If not, Steeda shows that these have a + or - 1degree of movement, so that could be part of the problem. Also wheel balance? Is it good? Just some thoughts to help.

 

Well the wheels are jacked up, I know the balance and alignment are off. I haven't got one done yet because I simply haven't had time, but they were installed two days ago. I'm 99% sure there's something jacked up on the right side, it seems to make more noise from there and shake more from there. I checked all the bolts and had my friend turn the wheel few times while I listened to it, nothing. I drove over some speed bumps slowly to try and replicate it, nothing. It only seems to do it with minor bumps at speed. Looks like I'm going to have to rip everything apart.

 

Check your sway bar links.

 

You haven't gotten an alignment because you haven't had time yet...so you're willing to ruin a set of tires because of it?

Check to make sure the Steeda plates don't have to be oriented a specific direction on the car. The OEM plates have a notch that has to point outward otherwise it throws off the geometry.

Not knowing your level of mechanical aptitude, how did you tighten the center strut nut? What torque did you use? How did you tighten the stabilizer links? What torque did you use? There is a specific way to do it and a specific torque to use, doing it wrong or over tightening it, you'll potentially damage the part.

 

I checked the stabilizer links, they're connected but I didn't torque them to a specific value. The center strut mount nut I torqued to 46 as per Steeda's specifications. The plate is also facing the right direction, logo facing the quarter panel. The tires are already trash, it's actually the reason I'm doing all this so I can be ready to put new ones on and have no problems. Also, the front sway bar had a small amount of play but I discovered that before I did the swap. I'm doing an overhaul on my entire suspension, just trying to prioritize.

 

Nothing is worse than encountering issues after installing something. I don't have any real recommendations since it sounds like you are checking everything…though if the solution truly eludes you I'd suggest installing the stock suspension again and seeing if the issue continues. New parts can have QC issues, it would be a way to see if there might be an issue with your new parts.

 

Okay well at least you don't have to worry about the tires
Plates - check,

Center strut nut - check,

Sway bar links - Not check...Ford has a specific one related to this so start there. Play on the sway bar could be from not having the links torqued to spec and from worn out stabilizer bar bushings. For now, try removing the sway bar altogether to see if the sound goes away. If it doesn't then you'll have to keep looking.

 

I'm in agreement. Check the sway bar. You said it was loose. The links cause a heck of noise, so the bar could also.

 

Thanks guys I'll check out out in the next couple days, once I get my car out of impound my apartment complex was nice enough to tow me for parking in a hashed out zone (not a handicap spot). If it ain't one thing it's another, now I'll HAVE to drive on it just so I can attempt to fix it.