Have a 93 thunderbird lx w/88,000 miles..here are my symptoms:
1) when driving even at lower speeds 35 and below here a slight "rattle or clunking" noise. maybe even "popping" sound (not like a balloon. more like metal tapping noise. the sound doesnt really change depending on road surface, its pretty constant...my wife insists she hears a "grinding" noise also...which I know could be breaks.2) car pulls to the right slightly when holding steering wheel, and more so when I let go.
3) the car was in a accident by previous owner and front bumper is loose, he tried tying it up w/coat hangers around tie rod. so I sorta got it a little more secure by using nuts and bolts ( where original ones where) but it is still a little loose and the noise is still there. previous owner says there was no other damage done but Im starting to think this is not the case because the noise has gottin a little worse since we bought a few weeks ago...we've only put about 300 miles on it.I wish I could record the sound for all to here.......LOL
what could problem be (I know these symptom could probably be a lot of things ) but maybe someone could gimme most likely problem.......I was told tappin/poppin/rattling noise sounds like ball joints or struts/ tie rod??
how can I tell if the ball joints are bad?? tie rod?? The shocks I know need replacing because the car bounces several times when I push down on front end....and probably needs an allignment. the breaks are fine, I"ve inspected them and there is plenty of meat on the pads and the car stops good... I was hoping someone could give me instructions on testing ball joints...could greasing them perhaps help if they are the problem? or is it too late for that now that the noises have started and have been goin on to long????
P.S. sorry the message is sooo long but my daughter is primary driver and cant afford mechanic to do work especially considering most wont even give free estimates...thankyou