Suspension Bushings, How do you know if they are worn out? Options

[nick mironov]

What are the symptoms of worn out suspension bushings? I amtrying to decide whether or not they need replacement. I get occasional klinks and klanks on rougher roads and sometimes on a full turn of the steering wheel. Otherwise, everything seems tight. What are other things that could cause suspension noise?

Nick

[FourBlades]

The gland nut (large nut with a hole through it) holding your shock inserts into your struts could be loose. Both of mine worked their way loose (which is about five complete turns) after a year or so of driving.

Someone posted a thread on how to tighten them.

You notice this problem when your wheel drops down into a hole and then clanks when coming back up. Otherwise there is weight on the shock and you don't really notice the problem.

There are other possible culprits, like worn out ball joints or bearings.

You should be able to detect those by jacking the car up and grabbing the wheel at the top and bottom. If you can move the top and bottom of the wheel back and forth then your bearings or ball joints are worn out.

John