Front suspension noise, trying to narrow down - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

nogard · 11-15-2010, 01:44 AM

I have a '88 camry wagon 3S-FE 5 speed. I have KYB struts, Intrax springs and White lines anti-sway bars. The noise is coming from the front right, and seems to be a clunk sound when it was warmer, but now that is is getting colder it turned into a creak sound.

With the car in gear if I rock the car front to back I can hear the creak. I thought it was the sway bar to control arm bushings, which are about 3 years old. I took the wheel off re-torqued the nut on the end of the sway bar, the nut that holds the control arm to the bracket on the car, and the two bolts on the sway bar mounting saddle. It seemed that this fixed the problem, but it is still there at times.

I'm having a hard time trying to pin down what is making this noise and why after double checking everything. I seems that when I take of from a stop and/or some times when I shift into the next gear and let the clutch out quickly and not as smooth I will hear it. I don't thing it is the clutch, at one point I thought it was the differential (167,000 miles). I don't think it is the half shafts they are also both around 3 years old.

nogard · 11-16-2010, 07:41 AM

No advise?

71Corolla · 11-16-2010, 10:27 AM

Do you have wheel ramps? If you do, I'd drive it up on those and try to determined where the noise is coming from. The last time I had a similar problem it turned out to be the control arm bushings. Sorry I can't be of more help.

DAVIS3903 · 11-30-2010, 10:07 PM

have you changed the struts out? check this at the top of the strut tower remove the boot/cap the shaft from the strut has two flat sides turn it and if it does so turn it untill it slips into the slot that matches with the tower palte. then hold that shaft with a open end and with the a box end tighten the strut nut. I found that to be the issue when i changed mine out. minor details.
bd

white90dx · 12-01-2010, 12:45 PM

First, check the front (pivot) bushings on the front swaybar. You have to keep up on those with somewhat regular greasing to keep them quiet (this only goes for the poly bushings that come with the Whiteline swaybar).

The same might be true for the swaybar to control arm bushing... is it rubber or poly? If its poly, it might need greasing to keep it quiet. If its rubber, it might be worn out already...

-Charlie