jonlabree Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 I hope someone can help me with this.I have a strange sound coming for the front end of my 90 Reatta.It is hard to describe, but I will try.It does not seem to be related to the front wheels, as it occursnot in sync with them. The closest I can come to describe it is to say it sounds like something is loose inside of something else. It occurs only when the car is moving and some times is related to bumps in the road and other times not. It is coming from the front. (Not rear brake pads) The Buick dealercould not duplicate the sound on the rack and was stumped. One mechanic said it"might be struts" but he was not sure.Anyone experience this problem. The car has 100,000 miles on it and I do not know the repair record on it.Thanks in advanecJON... [color:"blue"] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reatta Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 Could be upper strut <span style="font-weight: bold">mount</span> or wheel bearings?TestDrive, listen for noise, then turn right.If wheel bearing problem the noise will increase or decrease as you load the outside bearings and unload the inside wheel bearing?Turn left.If wheel bearing problem the noise will increase or decrease as you load the outside bearings and unload the inside wheel bearing?A wheel bearing noise will increase when turning one direction and decrease the other direction.Final test. Sometimes when the front is jacked and the wheel spun you can feel/hear a slight noise. The other side will be quiet. Strut mount is more of a squeak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibby Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 Lower Ball Joints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawja Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 If its a low, soft, intermittant kinda like a "b bb bbb bb" replace the stuts. I had that for a while (and with a relatively new set of struts no less). Replacing the RH strut fixed it, but only after I had checked every other possibility, thinking "hey, the struts are new, can't be them". You might wanna replace the strut mounts as long as you're there if they haven't been replaced recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc11003 Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 i had tht , and changed struts and mounts. could be tht Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 My experience with strut mounts is that they make a really penetrating squeek randomly but mostly over 40 mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted September 3, 2005 Share Posted September 3, 2005 My guess is the strut mount as well. If the car still has its OEM struts, they are most likely shot and need replacement. I'm assuming the sway bar bushings were looked at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ESTAVER Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 I have similar problem. It started right after I changed out the link bushing sets for the Control Arm to Sway Bar point. My noise is kinda like heavy dice rattling around in a shaker cup. Seems to be located on drivers side only. Running over pot holes or large bumps doesn't cause it. Small washboard patches make it happen most often. It also appears when I decel. or coastdown.The very minor wheel balance I have also brings it on at about 50MPH. No CV joint symptoms and recently inspected. I have just about settled on the strut now because I have looked at sway bar bushings and tie rod ends and A arm piviots. Pulled, tapped, pried and cussed every component in the front end, even the E brake cable. I'm taking it to my local trusted shop (not dealer) and will report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manikmekanik Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 Check the sway/torsion bar end links. They look like bolts with washers and rubber bushings at the ends. They can make inconsistant noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ESTAVER Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 My problem was the front left, strut, upper mount. I replaced struts and mounts on both front and now have quiet smooth ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I had a sway bar mount wornout. It always made a dull thud with a metal undertone over soft bumps, and I could never get it to make the sound other wise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 The upper strut mount as noted can be a problem as well as the sway bar mounting bushings.The sway bar problem is fairly easy to isolate by pulling one side of the mounting. On a '90-'91, pull a wheel and remove the link between the "A" arm and sway bar. Drive the car and see if the problem goes away. If it does, the problem is probably one of the sway bar mounts. It could be worn out, loose, or the clamp might be rusted away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Reatta1 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 With 100k on the car and not being able to duplicate the sound on the rack I'd go with the struts. Specialy if they have never been replaced. You can't duplicate the symptoms of worn out or weak struts with the car sitting on a rack. Did your service advisor test drive the car before they put it on the rack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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