Strange clunking/creaking sound revisited +question on lowering

** I hate that big gap of fenderwell above the tires! Since ** I need to replace my front struts anyway, do I have to buy a special kind of ** strut made for lowering the car, or do I just need to replace the springs to ** get that done? What brands are good and which ones aren't? I'm using this ** car as a daily driver so I don't want something that's so stiff I can feel ** it if I drive over a penny, but I'm not looking for Cadillac comfort either. ** I like a somewhat stiff suspension, just not TOO excessively stiff.

It sounds like the '01 Bullitt Suspension was made just for you. It's inexpensive and though a vast improvement over stock GT systems, it is very civilized around town. More information on my website.

If replacing individual OEM parts, stick with OEM parts that are matched properly. Installing 'performance' struts or springs alone will adversely affect handling.

-JD

________________________________________________________ | | | 1998 Laser Red GT RAMFM Member Since 1997 | | M-5400-A Suspension http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams || Subframe Connectors & Seat Bracing, Strut Tower Brace || 4-point K-frame Brace, Tremec T-45 & OEM 3.27:1 Gears ||________________________________________________________|

While you are at it, check the tie-rods also for wear (check for play in wheels by trying to move the wheels. I had a 95GT and one of the inner tie-rods went bad roun 60 or 70K miles. Easy to replace yourself (especially the outside rods), just make sure it gets an alignment asap after you have changed them. If you do the lowering thing you need an alignment anyways. Remove NO-SPAM from email address when replying

Hey James.. I'm glad you found your problem :)

I have had a suspicious 'clunking' for about 6 months now. It seems to happen when I accelerate and decelerate at lower RPMs. Yesterday I turned around in a bumpy parking lot and noticed it really clunking. It sounds like it is hitting just at the bottom of the firewall in the middle.

I have had it checked, transmission mounts, driveline & harness, u-joints and no and on. I have climbed under her several times and found nothing. I am going to check my struts. I sure appreciate you posting your findings, it gives a starting point to look.

I never posted the problem to the group because it always seems that diagnosing a rattle, a clunk, a wheeze or any other sound would be so difficult if you aren't able to see/hear it first hand.

If I find it.. I'll holler.

Kate

| > -- | > James, '94 GT | > remove "NO-SPAM" from email address to reply | >>

| >> I would say jack the car up and look underneath it. | >> turn the wheels hard in both directions and while they are out | >> check out the plastic fender liners for tire rubbing and the little | >> plastic air dam in the fromt under the bumper. Both of these items | >> are held on by plastic clips, one may have come loose in a hard to | >> see area. | >>

| >> Kate | >> 98 Cobra Drop Top | | Thanks Kate... I jacked it up and found there was nothing that appeared to | be loose or rubbing. After I lowered the car back down I pushed down on the | front driver's side fender to bounce it a few times and noticed some | excessive lateral movement after I let go. To make a long story short, it | looks like the FD strut is busted so I just need to replace it (along with | the FP strut as well of course). I've been thinking of lowering the car for | about a year now; I hate that big gap of fenderwell above the tires! Since | I need to replace my front struts anyway, do I have to buy a special kind of | strut made for lowering the car, or do I just need to replace the springs to | get that done? What brands are good and which ones aren't? I'm using this | car as a daily driver so I don't want something that's so stiff I can feel | it if I drive over a penny, but I'm not looking for Cadillac comfort either. | I like a somewhat stiff suspension, just not TOO excessively stiff. | | -- | James, '94 GT | remove "NOSPAM" from email address to reply | |

Kate Et Al

A lurker here...

I've been trying to find the front end clunk (same symptoms as James) in my '89 for several months. Its a rebuilt rack, new inner and outer tie rod ends. New FRRP lowering springs (it had factory lowering springs in it, but 135k miles old), new FRRP A-arms, new Koni Struts, urethane spring isolators, Flaming River steering shaft upgrade, alignment after front end upgrade. Still clunks. Had it on the rack a few times trying to find something.

I'm still trying to find what it is.

Hank Phoenix

How dare you drive a gas guzzling race car! You should IMMEDIATELY trade it in on a "Honda Prieses" !!

Thanks JD, but I can't get to your site. I get a Forbidden error when I try to load it. Can I get a direct link to the html file for your site index? I tried index.html, index.htm, default.html and default.htm and none of them worked (at least then I got a 404 error instead of forbidden!)