Hey, Folks. I'm JK. Long time listener, First time caller.... Anyway, I just bought myself an '02 that had been in an accident for a rebuild. the car slipped into a ditch and snapped the front passenger wheel back and sheared the ball joint, bending the control arm. We have replaced the control arm as well as every other damaged part, except the control arm bushing. the problem is that we think there's a problem with the steering knuckle, as well. there is a quiet to moderate clunk when steering or driving over bumps. The steering wobbles (jogs the steering wheel back and forth) at nearly any speed, worsening as speed increases.
*Note: the right front replacement wheel is 1" smaller than the other three wheels*
when we turn the wheel standing the clunking is heard when turning the wheel in either direction.... any ideas? thanks!
*Further Note: alignment has not yet been redone*

 

*Final Note: Steering knuckle on the column."

 

If you can reproduce the problem by turning the wheel with the car not moving, then have a friend turn the wheel back and forth as you climb around to narrow down the noise. You could also try to see if it happens with the front end off the ground. The noise could be any number of things, especially after an accident. Maybe a damaged steering rack, tie rods, intermediate steering shaft etc etc. It would be hard for us to diagnose it for you from our keyboards. Good luck...

 

Petrock, thanks for the advice I'm not really expecting a magic answer, though if someone had one, that would be great.... My buddy who is my "car guy" (I'm just now really getting into cars) is a BMW fanatic, so..... I just wanted some advice from Mustang folks.... thanks, again!

 

When it comes to steering I would have it checked out professionally. Just my 2 cents...

 

Mustangs are way simpler to work on and understand then a modern BMW. But if you follow the advise I gave before, you should at least be able to narrow down where the noise is coming from. At that point you can determine if it is something you feel comfortable fixing yourself or bringing to a shop. Either way, once you get the noise fixed you should definitely get an alignment done. Good luck...

 

I would put macthing size tire/wheels on the front just to rule out a possible wheel size issue. Since you didnt say what the smaller wheel was, it could be rubbing/catching on something causing the noise.