Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Rattle & knock in suspension going over rough road

My 95 Mystique LS with a V6 with only 29K miles has developed a rattle/knock noise in the front supension. It appears to be coming from the where the sway bar link bolts up to the front struts. I checked the tie-rod ends and ball joints for any looseness and they appear fine. I had someone bounce on the hood while I put my hand on the links. I am fairly confident that is where the noise is coming from. I had the same noise in my 86 Sable wagon that turned out to be the links. Has anybody experienced similar problems with this type of noise? I priced out the part from an Autozone and a local jobber and they are quoting $29 for one side. I checked also checked the price on the fordparts.com website and they are on about $13 for one. Any insight to this problem or any other possible culprits to look for would be greatly appreciated.

I just changed the End Links in my 96'Mercury Mystique and it solved the problem it sounds like your having. You can buy the orginal style that's on it now or you can pay five extra dollars and buy the one's you can keep greased so they last longer. I could grab mine and they would rattle a little so I knew that was it. The job takes no time all and is very simple.

I agree, sounds like the end links. The ends are ball joints that are not greasable, and dry out over time, then they wear and knock. Ford dealers stock the links. I paid about $15 each last spring. Parts stores can get McQuay Norris or Moog links, and I know that one style has grease fittings.
When you replace them, make sure that the wheels are even, either on ramps or hanging. This eliminates the torsion in the sway bar. Two integral bolts with nuts hold them in. Unbolt tops from both sides first. This allows the whole sway bar to swing down so you get clearance to the lowers. You will see how that works when you get into it. Dealers will install them for about 2 hours labor. Of course, it takes them a whole lot less. Now that I have done one set, I can replace both in 45 minutes, if I don't have to hunt for the tools.