Current Classifieds

1978 Squire wagon 6 Cly
Date: 02/16/2020 05:42 pm
72 pinto

Date: 06/23/2016 12:40 pm
1972 Runabout 351 Cleveland V8

Date: 11/05/2016 09:03 pm
1971 Pinto (survivor)

Date: 05/15/2022 04:42 pm
'79 Ford Pinto, Green,

Date: 10/29/2019 11:50 am
Wagon hatch letters
Date: 12/31/2023 04:24 pm
Oddsnends
Date: 12/20/2016 10:52 am
Looking for Pinto manual shifter parts
Date: 01/28/2021 03:49 pm
1978 PINTO PONY FOR SALE 17,000 ORIGINAL MILES !!!!!!!
Date: 10/10/2019 09:42 pm
1975 Pinto bumpers
Date: 10/24/2019 01:43 pm
Pinto Watch

Date: 06/22/2019 07:12 pm
Bell housing
Date: 08/23/2017 05:41 am

Author Topic: clunk in front suspension solved...  (Read 2406 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline LongTimeFordMan

  • PCCA VIP
  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 450
  • FeedBack: +182/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • 1973 Red Pinto Wagon

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Fifth year Anniversary Topic Starter Signature Windows User Linux User Mobile User
clunk in front suspension solved...
« on: March 09, 2017, 01:49:06 PM »
Clunk in pinto front suspension...

If you have a clunk in your front suspension and have checked all the obvious things like ball joints, tie rod ends, bushings and the clunk is still there, check the bolts that secure the lower shock mount in the lower control arm.

This connection has no rubber bushing, is solid metal to metal, and if the bolt is not tightened enough, it allows  just enough movement between the lower shock mount and the bolt when encountering a bump or pothole to cause a clunk. This clunk is transferred to the control arm and to the vehicle frame.. which amplifies it like a drum.

I replaced the shocks about a  year ago and started noticing the clunk several months ago. I struggled to find the clunk for about a month before I thought to check the shock mount,

This morning I checked the bolt and sure enough it was tightened at about 30 ft lb.

I re torqued it (probably excessively) to about 60 ft lb and now no clunk..

hope this helps..

Ed
Red 1973 pinto wagon DD, SoCal desert car, Factory 4 speed, 3.40 gears, Stock engine, 14" rims and tires, 60 K original miles

Offline dick1172762

  • Vintage Pinto Racer
  • PCCA Management Board
  • Pinto Sr. Master
  • ******
  • Posts: 2623
  • FeedBack: +362/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • I'm a llama!

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: clunk in front suspension solved...
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2017, 04:56:40 PM »
If the rubber bushing inside the lower shock mount goes away, it'll do the same thing. Been there / done that.
Its better to be a has-been, than a never was.