It started out as a small rattle - and now it's turned into (with in 10 miles) a popping and cracking noise on every bump and left hand turn. Could it be a ball joint? Car drives and rides fine but I can go to the drivers side and push down on the fender and it squeaks and pops like an old screen door. Any ideas on what it might be?

I thought you checked ball joints by pulling on the top and sides of the tire and if there was a lot of play in the tire the ball joints were bad. What should I look for? I'm usually pretty good at tracking things like this down but, this one is driving me insane :mad:

I had the same noise,only did it backing out of the driveway. Tried every thing simple,even checked ball joints my self. Turned out to be a ball joint that popped in and out of place on a certain angle.Thats why it was ok when I checked it.

Am I checking the ball joints right? Or is there another way to check them your self?

I was taught to put a bar under the tire when it was jacked up and check for play or motion that way.

Thanks Gary I will try that in the morning.

Maybe it's something a little more simple... loose shock absorber? Worn shock rubbers?

I would have thought that also but we just had Air Ride installed on it with all new shocks. I have looked the Air Ride stuff over and it all looks good. We put about 100 miles on it after the kit was installed and didn't have any issues.

Heres the top of the upper control arm, you see the cast iron side bar and the big siver maybe gray looking washer on the end of it.

Take some wd-40 or pb blaster and give that area a good soaking and it will go away for a few weeks, then just hit it again.




http://www.1969supersport.com/047.jpg
Rob

I was looking at that area today thinking that is where it was coming from and then I talked my self out of it. I will give that a try also, Thanks!

Your welcome, let us know if it works, my sons 70 chevelle did the same thing, thats how I know it works.:thumbsup:

when was the last time the ball joints were greased? dry ball joints will make all kinds of noise.

Less than 500 miles a go. I'm planing on greasing them today and looking over all the other things. I will post up what I find. Thanks guys!!

It probably wouldn't hurt to do one thing at a time, then you will know what it was.
Let us know because that question has been asked before.

I had the same noise,only did it backing out of the driveway. Tried every thing simple,even checked ball joints my self. Turned out to be a ball joint that popped in and out of place on a certain angle.Thats why it was ok when I checked it.

I believe he was refering to a car suspension not your HIPS ! l:)

I believe he was refering to a car suspension not your HIPS ! l:)

:sad::p

I think I found the problem, I started with the easy stuff first and didn't have any luck. So I jacked the car up and this is what I found

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_21631.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2164.jpg

Looks like the seal blew out. The good news is the Ball Joints are bolted in.

My next question is how hard is this to fix ? I did upper and lower Ball Joints on a car back in High School votech (20 years ago) and I can't remember what all it involved. I'm not even sure I have all the tools I need to do the job. Is this going to be a costly repair if I take it some place to have it repaired ? Should I just buy the tools I don't have and do it my self ?

I don't think the ruptured seal is your problem, you can leave them like that, just grease it every couple thousand miles it will go forever.

Back in the late 60's and early 70's I would hang out at the local service station, I was working nights at the time.

I would see a lot of cars on the hoist getting grease jobs and oil changes, and most of the rubber boots on the ball joints were blew out or tore.

Back then we had a lot of gravel roads and snow and salt in the winter, if you greased them every couple thousand miles they would be fine.

Check your cross shaft bolts that bolt to the frame. Had the nuts pop off once but was lucky it happened while turning around in a driveway after getting off the freeway.

I know this is off topic of the thread, but do you have any pictures of the stance with it on air?

Matt

If found the popping, it was the sway bar in the front. Some how it was lose.

Matt : I have some pics of it but they are a little dark. I just took them tonight and it was just getting dark. I post some up

New ride height
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2195.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2196.jpg

All aired up
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2198.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2199.jpg

No air
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2202.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2206.jpg

Controls
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2197.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m143/sg5492/IMG_2208.jpg

I really like it, I can slam it back down as low as it was (or lower) for the cruise nights and car show and then put some air to it so we can drive it and not worry about knocking any more holes in the oil pan and the front tires don't rub the inner fender wells anymore.

I will clean it up and take some more pics of it in the day light.

Very cool!! thanks for taking pics for me John I appreciate it.

It looks real good!

Thanks Matt!! I'm not too sure about the ride height I have set. I might change it around a little and go about 1/2" or so lower. I would like to keep the same stance I had before just a little higher.