Unknown Sound over Potholes?

[taleon]

I have a 1998 GSX and whenever my front left wheel goes over a big enough bump, something on the left side sounds like metal to metal is shifting. I thought maybe since the struts have been replaced maybe something was loose. I took off the wheel and checked all bolts on the suspension, the motor mounts, transfer case...All tight. I hit the exhaust to see if it is making a noise...could not tell. Could it be the driveshaft moving on the bump, or the only thing that i could get to make a noise was just jerking the drivers side front axle from side to side, and it kinda makes that noise that i hear. Do the axles move in and out at all while driving? Everything seems tight, no leaks...not sure if the sound is normal or not, but the car drives perfect otherwise.

 

[Drift_SM]

I have a similar problem...it happens if I bog out, go over rough roads, or bumps.
I belive it is the lower front motor mount. Or somthign to that effect. I havent got a chance to put a new one in. Its a common part that wears out. I hope that will solve the problem.

 

[taleon]

Ok thanks...Yeah I only checked the bolts on the motor mounts to make sure they were tight, I didn't even think that the mount itself might be bad.

 

[Defiant]

Snapped bolts in the bearing carrier on the backside of the block.

 

[Drift_SM]

Snapped bolts in the bearing carrier on the backside of the block.

Wait huh? Could you explain this more! YOUR BACK! !

Is it an easy fix? Hard? whats involved?

can you explain specificly what bolts they are?
maybe a picture?

 

[taleon]

Ya if you could, I am not sure what you are talking about...please elaborate for us.

 

[sadsm]

I'm asuming your refering to the cradel that holds the crank shaft up right? Some of the bolts holding that in are snaped?[/QUOTE]

WTF WHOA! Can you elaborate for me? Not sure what you are talking about, but I hope you are not talking about what I think you are talking about . When you say cradle that holds on crankshaft, I keep picturing the main bolts that are snapped. Please clarify for me.

 

[taleon]

Ya I really hope he doesn't mean that. The car drives and accelerates fine, if that was the case I would imagine i would be having other problems. Oh well hopefully he can clarify for us.

 

[Spidey]

He means the bracket that holds the driver side CV shaft to the block.

 

[Drift_SM]

He means the bracket that holds the driver side CV shaft to the block.

Alright, still.... were looking for some more information here...not blantent short answers.

Any pic's or ideas on how to go about fixing this?

 

[Spidey]

I figured that'd be descriptive enough, sorry. If you have AC you probably can't see it from the top, I didn't think about that. I'm not exactly sure how you'd get to it with AC in there without pulling the compressor, but it may be possible from the bottom, I'm not entirely sure, hopefully someone with AWD can help Anyway, the bracket/carrier is about 3-4" I would guess, from the t-belt end of the engine, and near the bottom of the back of the block, and it just supports the CV shaft. If the bolts are snapped it is going to be a real PITA, I'd just take a look first and see if that is actually the case.

 

[Drift_SM]

does it make a difference if the sound is comming from the right side of my car...?

 

[Defiant]

does it make a difference if the sound is comming from the right side of my car...?

Since you said it was the left side, then yeah, that would make a difference. As it would if you meant it was from the back of the car.

 

[Drift_SM]

Since you said it was the left side, then yeah, that would make a difference. As it would if you meant it was from the back of the car.

Wrong. I never stated the sound was comming from the left side of my car. (the thread creator did) I agreed with him that I had a "similar" sound, but never said it was the same side, same synario.

The metal on metal sound I hear is more towards the front right (passenger) side of the vehicle. I can feel the "clanking" through the floor.

I have posted thread about this before and I got no answers, either no one understands what I'm explaining. Or they have no idea how to help.

Defiant, you look to be the only person who has any idea how to diagnose this sound. (mine, or taleon) Any other advice on where to start or an idea of what to look for would be more then generous. (not to be rude) but yet you keep giving short crude answers.

Spidey gave me a good place to try and look, but I doubt that braket is the problem (for me) because of where the sound is comming from. Although I'am going to check it out soon, but any other advice is greatly needed.

After I check the bolts I'll post back, but incase the bolts arent the problem, do you have any other idea what it could be?

 

[wongster]

you mentioned you replaced the struts right? what was the condition of the bump stop? because mine are warned out and dont stay where they are. I have to replace them, because right now everytime i go over a big bump it makes that same metal to metal clank that your describing.

 

[taleon]

Well i actually bought the car a couple of months ago, and the lady that owned it before me got the struts replaced. This weekend I will check those bolts, and if that is not it, I will pull the strut out and check the stop on it. Is our suspension camber adjustable...If i pull off the strut do I need to get an alignment again?

 

[wongster]

it is highly recommended if you do pull the struts out...

 

[taleon]

Ok, I checked the bolts for the center bearing for the axle...it is fine. the motor mount looks a little worn, but it is not cracked...The only thing I didn't check is the bump stop. Could it really be the bump stop though making the noise?