Popping Suspension Noise

[gabkwong]

I have this popping noise coming from the right front when I go over minor uneven surface (no noise from the big bumps) or moderate slow down. It is not rhythmic and goes away once gets up to highway speed. It started after I put in the new struts last year and is getting worse over time. It is too cold to go out to start tearing up my car. Can this be from the strut or the sway bar end link or.... I also hear sweaky noise from the suspension, more so when coming to a stop. I grab the right front tire/wheel and it feels solid and is no sign of falling off !

[blackzx3_13]

Check the sway bar endlinks, mine was making a clunk and I had a loose endlink. Could be other things though.

[icepenguin66]

Most likely your problem is the strut mounts based off of your discription. Looks like we're in the same ship on this problem. My Christmas present to myself is gonna be new front struts mounts! Amost 268k miles on them so they're past due for replacement.

[cam76034]

Sounds like the latest noise coming from daughter#1's 96 Corolla with 212K on the clock. Jacked it up and checked cv axles, balljoints, suspension, exhaust, etc..,finally decided that most likely it's the strut mounts.

[altiain]

Most likely your problem is the strut mounts based off of your discription.

Twenty bucks says you're wrong. Blackzx3_13 got it right.

[channelmaniac]

More like $1000 he's wrong.

Miatas don't have struts.

[POS Racing]

Twenty bucks says you're wrong. Blackzx3_13 got it right.

It pains me but I am going to agree with Altiain and Blackzx3_13....

Had a simmilar issue with the Yellow car a while back - LINK

[icepenguin66]

Twenty bucks says you're wrong. Blackzx3_13 got it right.

Majority of the time when you hear an actual "pop" it is a strut mount on most cars. Ask any certified mechanic. Of course it's hard over the net without driving it to verify.

[icepenguin66]

More like $1000 he's wrong.

Miatas don't have struts.

But it still has strut mounts! or shock hats or shock mounts, whatever you want to call them or depending on what parts vendor you are using. Either way at shock hat and strut mount are nearly identical. Plus coil over shock setups like on the Miata are often refered to as "struts" when dealing with repairs because they require disassembly of the shock hats and spring in order to replace the shock, just like a real strut. Unlike basic shocks, like on a truck, that simple come off with just 2 bolts.

[SirHustlerEsq]

get wrenches and tighten everything.

[gabkwong]

To settle the mystery of the century, I will jack up the car, pull the wheel, look for any that is/are loose and tighten it/them up and report back. We will than know who got it correct!

[sammm]

What about the alignment bolts? Aren't they famous for popping?

[POS Racing]

To settle the mystery of the century, I will jack up the car, pull the wheel, look for any that is/are loose and tighten it/them up and report back. We will than know who got it correct!

Wow your actually going to do something other than post on the forum!

What a novel idea!

[icepenguin66]

What about the alignment bolts? Aren't they famous for popping?

Interesting, I've never heard anything about them other than they can get rusted and have to be replaced like I had to do with mine a couple yrs ago.

[altiain]

It's much more common in cars that are autocrossed heavily and run a bigger front bar.

[icepenguin66]

It's much more common in cars that are autocrossed heavily and run a bigger front bar.

You're refering to the alignment bolt problem right? Just making sure. I've heard of people breaking/bending the sway bar mounts.

[altiain]

You're refering to the alignment bolt problem right? Just making sure. I've heard of people breaking/bending the sway bar mounts.

Both are issues common to Stock class Miatas that get autocrossed a lot.

[gabkwong]

I just pulled and inspect every bolt and not finding any suspect! :=( Everything is tight and no sign of moving or loose! I spray some silicone spray on the spring b/o I run out of thing to do. It is more than likely not from the sway bar, end link and alignment bolt. As for the strut mount, can one of you tell me how to check this! I kind of grab the spring and it seems solid.

[gabkwong]

Drum roll please! .... The answer is ...





NETHER! The popping noise is gone! Therefor, it is not the sway bar, end link etc. or the strut mount. I believe the spring was not seating on the upper mounting plate properly and made that popping noise. I sprayed the silicone spray on it yesterday and somehow the spring is now seating properly on the mounting plate.

[channelmaniac]

It'll come back. I think the noise is in your front turn signal.