What else could it be ????

[scippy]

After replacing the front sway bar end links today I was sure I'd
eliminated the noise (click sound) from ever returning again.
Oh well, not to be though, but I'm not giving up just yet.
This noise (click sound) persists only when I brake to a stop and
again when I first drive off..............never happens when I'm
driving........just the quick brake "click" and then again "click" when
I first drive off........................... ..thinking suspension?????

[blackhueys]

check the caliper mounting hardware yet?

[scippy]

check the caliper mounting hardware yet?

Ya, everything seems to be secure and tight - I removed the rotors and
caliper's to get at swapping out the old end links.
This problem or noise (click sound) has persisted for many years thru a few brake changes, so I don't think it's something hanging up in the calipers or it's hardware.
It's a pronounced "click" in the left frontend that only happens. when the
car brakes to a stop and then only when you drive off.......puzzling!!!!

[justbob]

Ball joint starting wear? You had an alignment lately?

[scippy]

Ball joint starting wear? You had an alignment lately?

I had a frontend alignmemt when I purchased my second set of tires
20K miles ago, but I had this click before and still after that.
I just turned 60K on the car and had Mercury check the frontend for
this problem and everything said to be OK, Also no uneven tire wear.
It's frustrating to start changing out parts (end links) without actually
getting to the problem.
It started when the car had roughly 20K on her, could ball joints be
starting to wear with that low milage ???

[Glenn]

Tighten the Front sway bar bolt clamps.

Glenn

[justbob]

I had a frontend alignmemt when I purchased my second set of tires
20K miles ago, but I had this click before and still after that.
I just turned 60K on the car and had Mercury check the frontend for
this problem and everything said to be OK, Also no uneven tire wear.
It's frustrating to start changing out parts (end links) without actually
getting to the problem.
It started when the car had roughly 20K on her, could ball joints be
starting to wear with that low milage ???
Not with that mileage. I find most noises like you mentioned in the sway bar system, next up ball joints. I second the sway bar clamps next. Make sure the bushing hasn't slipped a little or is starting to weaken.

[Matt In Detroit]

Had this exact same issue on a towncar, after a lot of frustration it ended up being the u-joints.

[scippy]

Had this exact same issue on a towncar, after a lot of frustration it ended up being the u-joints.

Can I check for this when I jack the car up? What U-joints and where are they located? at this point I'm willing to run down any possibility to get at
this problem....................... .............................. ...........Thanks

[4play]

mine did this, drive me crazy, replaced the rear wheel berrings and parking brake shoes, never heard noise again.... not sure which one it was tho.

if your going to jack it up, take the 4 bolts off your pinion and pull out your driveshaft, move the yokes arund in a circular motion and it should feel smooth if you feel grinding or binding, replace both of them.

[GordonB]

Remember,before taking off the driveshaft, to make alignment marks for re-installation of the driveshaft, Front & Rear!!!!
GordonB

[Stoneblue]

At 22K mi replaced the front struts, car was making a click when stopping and one click when taking off. The struts had visible leaking. After Merc replaced them its been quiet ever since. Seems like L-M dealer would have spotted that on yours during inspection so it's probably not your problem, but it's just an idea.

[4play]

our cars have no struts

[scippy]

At 22K mi replaced the front struts, car was making a click when stopping and one click when taking off. The struts had visible leaking. After Merc replaced them its been quiet ever since. Seems like L-M dealer would have spotted that on yours during inspection so it's probably not your problem, but it's just an idea.

That's exactly the noise (click when stopping and one click when taking
off) , but as 4play says: "We have no struts" so now I'm completely
confused!

[4play]

struts are on front wheel drive cars like taurus's

[blazen71]

That's exactly the noise (click when stopping and one click when taking
off) , but as 4play says: "We have no struts" so now I'm completely
confused!


Marauders have coilover shocks in the front. I'm sure Stoneblue had the shocks replaced. Springs are usually reused, but maybe they were replaced in this case because of the click?
The u-joints are at each end of the driveshaft.

[Stoneblue]

I was looking at the dealer invoice and it said struts, so not being a gearhead (damnit) it just went with their (incorrect) terminology. Sorry for the confusion.

[scippy]

Marauders have coilover shocks in the front. I'm sure Stoneblue had the shocks replaced. Springs are usually reused, but maybe they were replaced in this case because of the click?
The u-joints are at each end of the driveshaft.

What I've noticed hearing also out of this whole combination of "clicks"
and such, is when I purposely move the car slowly over different grade
changes in the road, i.e. curb in the driveway. I can here a pronounced
squeaking from the front end. My car sounds like an old jalopy with rusty hinges!
Could all this be related to the coil spring area? I don't know, but looking at the
limited possibilities now, cause I just tightened the sway bar bolts
for the bushings and last week changed out the old end links, What's left?
"Do coil springs squeak (Try to say that 3 times) when they lose tension?
-Or is it because lack of tension (in the coil) causes rubbing from not being
seated properly and thus "clicks" and "squeaks" are the results???

[4play]

probably dry bushings.

[twin03]

My Marauder does the same thing..

[justbob]

Forgive me here, but you have addressed the dreaded hood squeak that all Marauders have right?

[ImpalaSlayer]

Forgive me hear, but you have addressed the dreaded hood squeak that all Marauders have right?

i finally god rid of mine! just sprayed some good ol wd40 on the hinges

[scippy]

Forgive me here, but you have addressed the dreaded hood squeak that all Marauders have right?

Mercury replaced the whole hood latch mechanism back in 04' when the squeak/click appeared. (gotta hand it to them,
they didn't slack in trying to get at the problem, even went as far as spraying some lube at the sway bar bushings and
everything else that might be the cause)
I was thinking of loosening the bolts on the SB bushings (since I already tightened them with no results) and move the car
forward slowly to see if the noise (squeak/click) gets louder, then maybe I would isolate the noise to this area...........
anybody else with some diagnoisis on this problem??..................... .Thanks