Help Front of car is going to fall off. - Focaljet

**chrisislost86** · 07-03-2008, 03:26 PM

Hi there

I am not sure this is the rite place to post this but hear it goes. If I drive along a bumpy road (which is all the roads in the UK) there is a loud clunk / rattling sound coming from the front of the car. It only happens when I am pressing the clutch in or am on light throttle. I have jacked the front of the car up and had a look but can not see any thing that looks amiss I have also pulled and pushed on things to see if they are loss but no luck. Can any one help me with this problem as I think the front of the car will fall off soon.

Kind regards

Chris

**Z63R** · 07-03-2008, 03:31 PM

Without witnessing the issue first hand, I'd say that one or more of your motor mounts are broken and need replacing.

**MichaelXi** · 07-03-2008, 07:12 PM

Motor Mount is a Good Possibility.
Swaybar endlinks, a loose Front Crossmember, or a deranged Ball-joint or outer tie-rod end might all give the sort of feeling that you seem to be describing.

**chrisislost86** · 07-04-2008, 09:53 AM

It is a 2001 2.0L zetec ESP. I thought if it was the mounts but it would do it on tick over as well which it don't. but i know sod all just word of mouth lol. I have had the whole car power flex poly bushed and a eibach antiroll bar fitted about 3-4 months ago. would they of seen the drop links on there way out or do they just brake and you can not see them wearing?

**MichaelXi** · 07-04-2008, 03:59 PM

Please translate your last sentence?
I was with you up until then.

**JEEPers** · 07-04-2008, 05:15 PM

He replaced the swaybar and prob needs new endlinks or needs to re-tighten his existing ones to check to see if they are tightened correctly.

**SVTADAM** · 07-04-2008, 08:50 PM

Id check the anti sway bar end links. Take them off and look for excessive wear. Since you recently installed anti roll bars, i would also check the mounts to see if they are loose, or if the bar traveled.

While you have the car jacked up, check the ball joints and tie rod ends. If you dont know how to do that, grab the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and try wiggling it back and forth. If you have excessive play, then you probably need new ball joints. If you grab the wheel at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, and you have play, then you could have bad tie rod ends.

Re-inspect the power flex bushings. Make sure all bolts are torqued to spec.

Hopefully you will find the problem. Good luck.

**Hal** · 07-07-2008, 07:36 PM

Was the Eibach bar put on the front?

If "Yes", did it have washers/collars welded on to fit against the bushings?

If "No", your problem is probably that the sway bar has shifted and is hitting the frame.

This was a common problem with the early Eibach front sway bar. Later models had a washer/collar welded on to prevent this.

I used some rubber pipe connectors and hose clamps to keep mine from shifting.

Eibach made some poly clamps to do the same job but they did not work as well as my "ghetto" fix.

07-03-2008, 03:26 PM	#1
chrisislost86 Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Derby UK Posts: 17	Help Front of car is going to fall off. Hi there I am not sure this is the rite place to post this but hear it goes. If I drive along a bumpy road (which is all the roads in the UK) there is a loud clunk / rattling sound coming from the front of the car. It only happens when I am pressing the clutch in or am on light throttle. I have jacked the front of the car up and had a look but can not see any thing that looks amiss I have also pulled and pushed on things to see if they are loss but no luck. Can any one help me with this problem as I think the front of the car will fall off soon. Kind regards Chris

07-03-2008, 03:31 PM	#2
Z63R Official [FJ] Distinguished Advisor Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 19,791	Re: Help Front of car is going to fall off. Without witnessing the issue first hand, I'd say that one or more of your motor mounts are broken and need replacing. __________________ . Vacuum Vulture Racing - We've got it down to a science. "SCIENCE. It works, bitches!" 2.3 Duratec ZX3 + some bits

07-03-2008, 07:12 PM	#3
MichaelXi Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Venus Via Knoxville, TN Posts: 23,618	Re: Help Front of car is going to fall off. Motor Mount is a Good Possibility. Swaybar endlinks, a loose Front Crossmember, or a deranged Ball-joint or outer tie-rod end might all give the sort of feeling that you seem to be describing.

07-04-2008, 09:53 AM	#4
chrisislost86 Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Derby UK Posts: 17	Re: Help Front of car is going to fall off. It is a 2001 2.0L zetec ESP. I thought if it was the mounts but it would do it on tick over as well which it don't. but i know sod all just word of mouth lol. I have had the whole car power flex poly bushed and a eibach antiroll bar fitted about 3-4 months ago. would they of seen the drop links on there way out or do they just brake and you can not see them wearing?

07-04-2008, 03:59 PM	#5
MichaelXi Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Venus Via Knoxville, TN Posts: 23,618	Re: Help Front of car is going to fall off. Please translate your last sentence? I was with you up until then. __________________ On Capitalization: Proper capitalization is the difference between helping your Uncle Jack off a horse and helping your uncle jack off a horse. My Myspace... http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...did=530 59019

07-04-2008, 05:15 PM	#6
JEEPers TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Paramus, NJ Posts: 298	Re: Help Front of car is going to fall off. He replaced the swaybar and prob needs new endlinks or needs to re-tighten his existing ones to check to see if they are tightened correctly.

07-04-2008, 08:50 PM	#7
SVTADAM Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,904	Re: Help Front of car is going to fall off. Id check the anti sway bar end links. Take them off and look for excessive wear. Since you recently installed anti roll bars, i would also check the mounts to see if they are loose, or if the bar traveled. While you have the car jacked up, check the ball joints and tie rod ends. If you dont know how to do that, grab the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and try wiggling it back and forth. If you have excessive play, then you probably need new ball joints. If you grab the wheel at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, and you have play, then you could have bad tie rod ends. Re-inspect the power flex bushings. Make sure all bolts are torqued to spec. Hopefully you will find the problem. Good luck. __________________ Black Aria...#1211 built in 2002 Rain...1990 Ford Escort Wagon "Dear Diary...Jackpot!" Giggity Giggity Goo!

07-07-2008, 07:36 PM	#8
Hal Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 1,555	Re: Help Front of car is going to fall off. Was the Eibach bar put on the front? If "Yes", did it have washers/collars welded on to fit against the bushings? If "No", your problem is probably that the sway bar has shifted and is hitting the frame. This was a common problem with the early Eibach front sway bar. Later models had a washer/collar welded on to prevent this. I used some rubber pipe connectors and hose clamps to keep mine from shifting. Eibach made some poly clamps to do the same job but they did not work as well as my "ghetto" fix. __________________ 2001 Street Edition Sedan See it at Hal's Homepage

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