Upper Control Arm thud and pop
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Junior User
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Upper Control Arm thud and pop
After replacing all both upper control arm bushings and ball joints myself, I am having a problem on with thud/pop noise that I can't figure out. It is only happening on one side (the driver side) and not the other. I did the same thing on both side. The noise comes on when I backup or when I go forward from backing up and when I apply my breaks a little hard. I thought it was the ball joint, but that is not it because I replaced the one I got from AutoZone with one from PepBoys that looked a little different. 
Thank you all in advance for your suggestions.
Thank you all in advance for your suggestions.
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Junior User
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Thanks for the insight, I will retorque the bolts again and will inspect the lower ball joint as well this weekend. QUESTION: Since I took the van for wheel alignment afterward could they have loosened those bolts? Can they do alignment without loosening them?
No, I did not have that noise before replacing ball joint and the upper control arm bushings.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
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From: Washington state
yes, alignment techs can get interupted and leave a tie rod clamp bolt loose or an upper control arm adjusting bolt loose
if you find one loose, take rig back to shop and demand an alignment recheck, safety issue
loose tie rod clamp bolts can strip rod adjustment threads
if you find one loose, take rig back to shop and demand an alignment recheck, safety issue
loose tie rod clamp bolts can strip rod adjustment threads
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96_4WDR,
Thank you. It was the upper control arm bolts, they were very loose. I tightened them and now the noise is gone!
Do you think it was the alignment technician's fault that they were loose? I tightened all three bolts.
Thank you. It was the upper control arm bolts, they were very loose. I tightened them and now the noise is gone!
Do you think it was the alignment technician's fault that they were loose? I tightened all three bolts.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern California
Originally Posted by jhjandal
96_4WDR,
Thank you. It was the upper control arm bolts, they were very loose. I tightened them and now the noise is gone!
Do you think it was the alignment technician's fault that they were loose? I tightened all three bolts.
Thank you. It was the upper control arm bolts, they were very loose. I tightened them and now the noise is gone!
Do you think it was the alignment technician's fault that they were loose? I tightened all three bolts.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Washington state
which bolts?
the 2 horizontal nuts that tighten the horizontal upper control arms to the control arm shaft mounted in the bushings? these hold in the camber adjusting shims, comes from factory with a 2mm and a 6mm shim at the forward arm and rear arm
or the large long bolts holding the upper control arm mounts to the frame?
the 2 horizontal nuts that tighten the horizontal upper control arms to the control arm shaft mounted in the bushings? these hold in the camber adjusting shims, comes from factory with a 2mm and a 6mm shim at the forward arm and rear arm
or the large long bolts holding the upper control arm mounts to the frame?
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Junior User
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Final solution -- impact wrench
I finally had to have it fixed after the bolts kept getting loose. I would tighten them by hand as hard as I can with the bead breaker and they would still loosen up after a little bit of driving. I took it to the shop where they told me the only way to tighten those bolts permamently where they don't keep getting loose is by using the impact wrench. The did that plus another alignment which cost me $110. Still, I am happy I did it myself. I figured I still saved about five hundred dollars considering the ball joint replacement.
Oh by the way, the van drives beautifully now.
Oh by the way, the van drives beautifully now.
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