Catfood

so my driveway has a slight drop off and when I back up and crank the wheel to the left as I go over the slight bump there is a popping noise coming from the passenger side front wheel well. Do I have a bad bushing or something? how long will it last?

KuHL 951

Rotted front right sway bushing, ball joint popping, or loose strut mount.

Catfood

I know its not the strut mount, they have not been taken apart since 1987, but I did loosen the sway bar and retighten it this summer during some repairs. Do you think something got messed up on it? How long will this last do you think?

KuHL 951

If you ever had a power steering leak that right sway bushing can soften up pretty quick. Mine would clunk coming into the driveway or under heavy braking while turning. The rubber part was split and squeezing out of the bracket.

Catfood

I have zero leaks on my power steering however my bushings have never been changed, will they last till next summer?

KuHL 951

Who knows? It might be something else if the bushings look OK. Have the balljoints been replaced? How about the struts or other suspension bushings, are they original also? Is the car lowered?

Catfood

car is stock height. as far as I know now bushings, or rubber supplementals have never been changed. My estimate is ball joints, will they last for a year? Their only 15 years old.

KuHL 951

I have no idea how long original ball joints will last especially not knowing how many miles on the car or previous owner habits. You really need to get under the car and pry on them a bit and see if they move around. And yes, rubber bushings have a limited lifespan on any car...15 years is pushing it in most cases. Usually a popping noise like you describe is a suspension component not liking being in a given position.

Catfood

The car has 209k on it. The bushings are dying I was just waiting for a response to tell me to get my butt in gear. Im also working on a buddies 944s that is dying as well. Wish me luck!!!!!

drift a 944

in my car's case it was the strut top mount bearings that were siezed.

Catfood

Mystery solved!! I had some oil buildup around my sway bar bushing and when I was backing up it was shifting back and forth. Doesnt seem to be damaging anything at the moment. However dirt will build up and get me so Im going to have to replace it sometime soon. The bushing got dirt in it when I removed it for some routine work.