Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches Eastern Canada Clickin' and clunkin'

Guys , I know that this is not the Maintenance Forum , but this query had been posted there .... no response, as well as the AllExperts have passed up on this.... maybe a fellow Canuck CEGer can help .....

Just got rid of the infamous 'rear clunk' to now hear another sound from the front-end !
First, there is a 'clunk' from the front end when the car is initially moved [from a parked position] and the steering wheel is turned. Then, after use, if the car is stationary and the steering wheel turned left to right and back, there is a clicking noise that accompanies this action.There is no vibration thru the steering col when driving [except a cyclical sort of vibration that kicks in between 115-120kph only] and the clicking sound does not come when the car is in motion and steering wheel moved.
Love the car, but these [recurring] problems are driving me crazy/depleting my pocket book/making the local Ford dealer happy !
Please can any of the CEGers help out on this...... thanks, in advance !
carbon
97 Mystique/ 2.5l Duratec/Mobil 5W30 synthetic/Bosch +4s'/BAT swaybar bushes/new rear links and bushes/HID driving lights+auxiliary fog lamps

Sounds like your tie rod ends. Jack the front wheels and see if there is play in the ball joint at the end of the steering rack where it connects to the knuckle.

Thanks for the reply!
Problem solved .....No, wasn't the cv joints/shafts/hub bearings/tie-rod ends [as I had feared!] was the front swaybar links. Got this done at Meadowvale Ford in Mississauga [thanks Marcy & Gang!]....... wasn't cheap, Can$363.81, but am glad it has been sorted out .
carbon
97Mystique/2.5 Duratec/Bosch+4s'/BAT rear swaybar bushes/new Ford front end bushes (!)

I could have told you that it was your links, but I've been off-line for awhile. Anyways, I had to replace mine at 54,000km under warranty (thank god). I drive a 98' Mystique V6 5spd GS. Any other problems with the car?

The other problem that I had was a 'twin' of this ..... the rear links and swaybar bushes.
Got the BAT bushes and new 'Ford' rear links.
The brakes seem to need alot of attention [new rear pads @ 40K, both front and rear rotors remachined at 50K] or maybe its the way I drive !
My warranty period finished, just as all of this cropped up ...wondering if I should buy an extended warranty .... got a quote of Can$1650/60K for an 'enhanced' warranty [pretty much all things mechanical covered]?
carbon
97Mystique

[This message has been edited by carbon (edited October 29, 2000).]

How do you check the tie-rod? The tire shop told me the tie-rod and tie-rod end is gone, and would cost USD$320 to fix!


AK

whew, maintenance costs big bucks .... whenever, I've taken the car into a garage/dealership, I've always walked out with my pocket book depleted by atleast $350
NMC has given a method to check out the tie-rod wear in a post above.
ATB !
carbon

It must be the way we all drive the Mystique, because most other Mystique owners that I've talked to experience the same problems. My rotors were machined @ 40k also and then @ 55k I warped them up badly while under emergency braking (had to change). I also changed my front pads @ 40k and the rear @ 60k. Not cheap I know. Why all the problems I don't know.

Carbon, IMHO if all that they changed on your car was the front links, you got screwed. I bought both my links for $32 each and it only takes about 45 min to change each one, less if you're a dealer with a hoist. That's Canadian dollars by the way. I'd find another dealer.
As for the brakes on these cars, I think the normal ones are undersized and the SVT is adequate. Did you know that all V6 Cougars got the SVT brakes? It's cause Ford didn't wuss out and put 14" wheels on them.

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96LX/ATX/A4 repeaters/SVT exhaust/KKM/E1 suspension/SE rockers/BAT swaybar/urethane bushings/Kenwood 7 speaker syst./E1 SVT brakes
Soon: E0 rims/225/50r16 somethings......

What were the exact symptoms that led you guys to diagnose your front (or rear) links as causing the problems? I have a clunking noise coming from the rear end when going over small bumps in my '95 Mystique (103000 km). I thought it was the jack bouncing around in the trunk or the wooden spare wheel well deck bouncing around. I took everything out of the trunk (except for the spare) and the sound is still there.

I am currently living in Hamilton so I might partake in one of these maintenance meetings. I commute to U of Guelph every day along Hwy 6.

Thanks..

MTL