Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting CRUNCHING noise from front end

I've just recently developed a loud crunching noise in the front end of my '95 Contour SE. Less than a month ago it developed this noise and the shop replaced the right front bearing and the front sway bar. Nasty crunching noise gone.

Seemingly overnight it's developed this noise yet again. It makes the noise any time the suspension is flexed - cornering in either direction or hitting bumps, even just uneven pavement.

I've read ALL the sway bar postings for both front and rear, and no one mentions crunching noises. I originally thought it might have soemthing to do with the front struts but the shop says neither one's shown evidence of being blown. The car's going in to the shop this week for two new rear struts and I'll tell them to chech out the sway bar but I'm worried that that isn't the complete problem.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this. Any suggestions??

I had the same thing on my '97 and I found out that the lower control arm was warped. I had to replace it it was a $$$ part $310.

It sounds like you may be able to duplicate the noise by pushing/bouncing the front end of the car while it's parked. Try pushing & bouncing and listen where the noise is coming from. Also turn the wheels L & R to reach in and check the sway bar links behind the wheels. They get loose and make a lot of racket on any suspension movement.

Has anyone seen the neighbor's cat lately???

possibly, possibly could be the front sway bar is not aligned properly. It needs to be centered with respect to the car, if not, it will bang one side of the suspension (lower control arm or upper, one or the other..)
but that's just a theroy....
mine makes a noise when I turn right and go over a bump, so I take a crowbar and pull the sway bar towards me from the passenger side front wheel (wheel is off).

probably the sway bar bushings creaking. or it may be sand or other material in the spring mounts that is binding the spring from moving, this can be simply flushed out with a nozzle on the end of your garden hose.

Could be a number of things if they replaced the front sway bar. Since the entire subframe must be dropped to do that.

Ask them if they used the proper tools to align it when they put the subframe (with engine & tranny on it) back up???

They could have damaged a strut.
Swaybar endlinks.
Axleshafts.
A number of things in the front could have been damaged or misaligned when doing a job of that nature. I would take it back and demand satisfaction!