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Eric91Z
02-21-2007, 06:46 PM
OK, time for some "professional" input from this site. As you know, I was in an accident almost 2 months ago now. Mostly mechanical damage to the driver's front suspension.

I slid in to a curb, hard, with the steering wheel turned to the right. They replaced both wheels on the driver's side, front upper and lower control arms, steering knuckle, and sway bar end link on that side. All that replaced and an alignment done.

I then got the car back and drove it for a couple of weeks. Drives straight, no pulls or anything. Brakes straight and true with no vibrations or anything.

Then one day I heard this noise coming from the front left. Kind of a whump, whump, whump noise that was speed sensitive. Faster you went, faster the noise was and vice versa. Noise would go away when you put the brakes on. And then it had this "catch" on left turns. Only happened when slowing down, but not stopping and starting to turn left. The car was also having some weird noises now and then from the front left.

Took it back to the shop and they figured it was the hub since that was the only part the insurance company did not authorize for replacement, but the shop had wanted to. So, back it went, the insurance company authorized an addendum to the original claim and the hub was replaced. With the bad weather we had, they did not get to do a good test drive.

Well, I have had it back for about 2 weeks and it is still doing those two things: speed sensitive noise from front left that goes away if you brake and still catches on the left turn only and only at the beginning of turning the steering wheel. Also, sometimes when the steering catches on the left turns I can feel it in the brake pedal. It has been catching under 2 situations:

1) When braking and slowing down for a left turn, but not coming to a complete stop

2) When turning left from a complete stop and accelearating - like at a left turn lane when you have the arrow.

So, any ideas? Anything to suggest they look at when I take it back? I am taking it in to have a spoiler installed, some scratches repaired, and S55 taillight and backup light treatment and want them to finally fix these issues when it is there. Want it done before my trip out there.

Any and all input appreciated.

DeadVic
02-22-2007, 01:14 PM
You got mud in yer tire. We're famous for our mud.

Might be a problem with the Caliper. maybe you somehow bent or binded one of the capiler pistons in the incident.

FordNut
02-22-2007, 01:46 PM
I'd say rotor or caliper.

Do you have headers? My steering shaft slightly contacts the rear header tube when turning left. I've gotta get that fixed.

MercModifier
02-22-2007, 01:56 PM
Lube the slides in the caliper and see if it goes away.

MercModifier
02-22-2007, 01:57 PM
I'd say rotor or caliper.

Do you have headers? My steering shaft slightly contacts the rear header tube when turning left. I've gotta get that fixed.

Are you gonna notch the steering shaft of dent the header?
The sterring shaft has plenty of meat on it to be altered.

Eric91Z
02-22-2007, 02:00 PM
Currently all stock exhaust. Thanks for the other ideas. A stuck caliper piston or pad problem should cause the catch when turning, though, should it? That seems more like a bind somewhere in the steering: steering rack, bushing, something catching....

FordNut
02-22-2007, 03:06 PM
Are you gonna notch the steering shaft of dent the header?
The sterring shaft has plenty of meat on it to be altered.

I already have notched it once. Got a little more to work with though. Gonna loosen the steering column and try to pry it over a little bit the re-tighten. That works sometimes.

Not gonna dent the header.

cyclopsram
02-22-2007, 03:58 PM
Could the steering rack have been damaged at lock when you hit...? Jack up the front and feel for the "spot" when turning lock to lock.