thumping noise in right front

[340 swinger dart]

Ok, I have a 96 Camry coupe dx, 2.2 5 speed. I keep hearing a thump in the right front usually when wheel is turned about 90* to the left. I wanna say the top of the strut area? I know my Daytonas have a bearing between the strut and the inner fender mount to let it turn, same here, right?? It does not make any noise just getting moving in a straight line. It has 179300 miles on it. I replaced the torque link strut at the right strut to front of the engine. It has already started comming apart, I got an Anchor one from O'Reilly's. They told me something else is wrong there so I will prob get a MOOG one, if available, and see if it's made better. The current one has no more than 300 miles on it. How reliable are the front/back motor mounts? Thanks

[BMR]

If the new dogbone failed quickly, chances are one or more of the other motor mounts are bad. It's fairly common for them to go bad. Good way to test them:

1) With engine running, set the parking brake and stomp on the brakes.
2) Put it in drive, see if the motor shifts.
3) Shift to reverse, see if motor shifts.
4) Repeat 2 & 3 as much as you need to.

[liensalebuyer]

same thing my mechanic said, he finally drove it this morning, drove it 200 feet, pulled over and popped the hood, accelerated and reversed with brake on, engine shifted. Front lower one for me, the dogbone was changed 18 months ago.

[340 swinger dart]

Thumping noise was in the right strut bearing or strut itself. I started out doing the bearing but I seen how week the struts were. Noise be gone! As for dogbone a found it a half dollar cheaper at another store. The first one wanted to say something else was bad, I installed #2 upside down, (you can see the way the rubber is structured) and it has held up for over 1,000 miles. I can't do the above test, have a 5 speed.

[fenixus]

^you can always do above test no matter if you have automatic or manual stick. you just need to pull on e-brake before starting anf then use one foot to hold the brakes down and the other to clutch while shifting gears, you do not have to touch the gas pedal. just don't release the clutch fully (making the engine die), release it half way, it should do I think.

most likely on eof bottom mounts is bad too if dog bone is going bad fast.

thumping noise while sharp turning left is probably the strut bearing though, I have it ocassionally especially when raining and that is with fairly new Monroe QuickStruts. it happens very rare, but as I say, more chance to happen if it's been raining. probably just need to grease the strut bearings.

[340 swinger dart]

Well while reading thru the Chiltons manual that I had bought before doing the struts, they advice lubeing the bearings, however on a 96 it is a sealed bearing. I believe the 94s and maybe 95s are differant. I had bought the strut mounts from autozone with bearings, and it didn't work on mine, might work on a 95 or 94. That Chiltons manual is about worthless anyway. I found two torque specs that are WAY over, one is the lugnuts, 150 ft pounds! I don't even put that much on my 2010 Ram! 135ft pounds there! 150 is sure to break them! (75 is the real answer I believe) I think the other was balljoint to control arm, 217 ft pounds! On a 17 mm head! LOL! Haynes says 94 ft pounds, I'll stick with that! Plus the Haynes which is 92-96 is just as thick a book as the Chiltons which covers (yeah, right!) 83 to 96!

[fenixus]

yeah Chilton sucks, I tried using one for an old Ford Probe ages ago ... it was pretty much useless... Haynes makes decent manuals.

[csaxon]

One owns the other. Check the Toyota author for both manuals...same guy.