Need reference - Eibach sways

[OneIota]

In short: had my power steering go out and developed some sort of clunk in the front suspension after replacement particularly when getting load only on one side, like when going over a pothole with one wheel, but it happens with both sides. It sounds to me like the sound a component would make if not tightened fully. Took it back to dealer that did replacement and they couldn't isolate the sound. Took it to a local shop known for their Stinger work and they took down the sway bar and greased it a ton but the clunk remained. Took it to a different dealer I bought the car from and they said they checked the connections, commented on the crazy greasing and said it might be the eibach sways (and so wouldn't really touch it) and made a comment about spacer plates that might be contributing. Admittedly I have not looked under the car since getting the sways installed way back, before the steering motor problem, as there was never a concern, so I'm just wondering if the unpainted plate I'm seeing came with the eibach sways as I can't recall the hardware. Any help?

 

[MerlintheMad]

The only thing that could *clunk* related to the sway bar is a loose or unconnected end link. The bushings only creak. I spray mine occasionally with dry silicone spray, which knocks back the creaking a lot (don't know why normal greasing doesn't keep it quiet; service people said that they couldn't see any cause for creaking). If the *clunk* isn't sway bar related, it must be something to do with the install of your power steering replacement.

 

[ShannonC]

In short: had my power steering go out and developed some sort of clunk in the front suspension after replacement particularly when getting load only on one side, like when going over a pothole with one wheel, but it happens with both sides. It sounds to me like the sound a component would make if not tightened fully. Took it back to dealer that did replacement and they couldn't isolate the sound. Took it to a local shop known for their Stinger work and they took down the sway bar and greased it a ton but the clunk remained. Took it to a different dealer I bought the car from and they said they checked the connections, commented on the crazy greasing and said it might be the eibach sways (and so wouldn't really touch it) and made a comment about spacer plates that might be contributing. Admittedly I have not looked under the car since getting the sways installed way back, before the steering motor problem, as there was never a concern, so I'm just wondering if the unpainted plate I'm seeing came with the eibach sways as I can't recall the hardware. Any help?

Yes the part you refer to as a plate came with the bar and appears to be correctly fitted. Whoever greased the bushings had no idea as there's no sign of using the nipple and also the wrong grease. It should be a silicone based grease as originally supplied. I doubt there would be a need to remove the sway bar for power steering repair and as the noise wasn't present prior to repair it's puzzling it persists as you stated dealer checked everything over again. I would go back to the original dealer.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Make sure the Endlinks at the end of the Swaybars have been torque up correctly, if they come loose it can also cause a clunking sound.

 

[Snowwhite]

second on the endlinks. definitely makes a clunking noise. I've had it happen twice on my front bar. they really need to be torqued down hard.

 

[ShannonC]

If the bar wasn't removed as part of the power steering repair then it won't be endlinks.

 

[Snowwhite]

If the bar wasn't removed as part of the power steering repair then it won't be endlinks.

the power steering pump is right behind the swaybar, I could see them doing that. or they might have loosened the endlinks to get more clearance on the tie rods.

again- it's happened to me 2x on the front- even if they 'look' tight, tighten those suckers to 80 ft-lbs. it's not easy because of the hex key/wrench combo you need to use to keep the bolt from rotating while you tighten the nut. spinning it fast with an air tool won't get enough torque on it.

 

[ShannonC]

the power steering pump is right behind the swaybar, removal would make the job way easier, so I could see them doing that.

But op stated bar was subsequently removed and greased by third party and then dealer checked all parts so if dealer did r&r then one would think end links were checked.

 

[OneIota]

Thanks for the input everyone! I'm not sure how much actual checking my purchase dealership did beyond I'm suspecting mostly visual and maybe some hand moving of components. Even after talking with the tech and advisor, it seems they didn't want to touch much. I had gone to the non-purchase dealership when my power steering went out because I was hopeful they'd be more successful at fixing my separate headlight issue than my purchase dealership. They weren't, and it's just ended up making things more complicated. I think the outside shop greased everything crazily because I had made notes of a grinding sound at times with the same situation, which I haven't heard since they greased it but if it's not the right grease, I'll have to bring it up with them.

 

[Snowwhite]

if it's a grinding noise, it's the lube points. If it's a clunk going over any road imperfections, it's the links. you can easily grease the front attachment points without touching the links.