Scrunch sound on front right when going over bumps

I'm guessing this is a bad strut mount but not 100% sure. A better description is that it makes a scrunch sound when it hits a speed bump and then makes the noise again after it goes over it. Really annoying. Anyone else have this problem?

DEMonte1997 wrote:

I'm guessing this is a bad strut mount but not 100% sure. A better description is that it makes a scrunch sound when it hits a speed bump and then makes the noise again after it goes over it. Really annoying. Anyone else have this problem?

Yes.. turned out to be my strut mounts.. Easy fix if you have done struts before

You need a spring compressor tool to do them, right? I might get a set of them from rockauto and take care of them by the end of the week.

DEMonte1997 wrote:

You need a spring compressor tool to do them, right? I might get a set of them from rockauto and take care of them by the end of the week.

Ya your best bet would be to get some KYB GR2's.. and some strut mounts.. rent the tool from Autozone or oreileys... good luck..

Check out your anti-sway bar bushings, too. If they've been replaced with poly, they'll make this noise after about 6 months. One way to be sure is to disconnect sway bar links and test (less work than replacing struts and finding out it's the bushings).

That's a great call Aaron. I put in poly endlinks a few months ago. Makes me wonder if that is making the noise. Hmmmmm

Put some grease on them and see if it helps. I used to grease my poly bushings twice a year, but I used hard rubber links. I replaced them with Energy Suspension hard rubber w/grease fittings - no more noise.

In replacing my front control arm bushings, I replaced the sway bar links with new AC Delco links. They have blue bushings which I assume are poly?

I think that is the source of the scrunching sound I now have.

I've seen blue, black, and red rubber link bushings before. I thought AC Delcos were rubber. You can tell a rubber bushing by its soft material. Poly bushings are a harder plastic. They won't flex as much under load. You can tell the difference just by touching them.

Also check your sway bar end links - sometimes they break and can make some noise.

AA wrote:

I've seen blue, black, and red rubber link bushings before. I thought AC Delcos were rubber. You can tell a rubber bushing by its soft material. Poly bushings are a harder plastic. They won't flex as much under load. You can tell the difference just by touching them.

I'm not sure what they are made of quite frankly. They seem harder than what I know of the black rubber bushings.
Not sure why they would be blue to begin with. I do know they are noisy.
I had first tightened them by feel, then after finding they were noisy went back and torqued them to the spec in the book which was 18 ft lbs IIRC.
That was just a waste of time.

The other day when driving in the rain I went over a speed bump I go over everyday and they didn't make noise.
I imagine they were lubed by rain water.

I've never had a set of these that I have replaced over the years make noise when they were black rubber.

Are the anti-sway bar bushings made of rubber?

What if you remove the links and try driving - does the noise go away?

AA wrote:

Are the anti-sway bar bushings made of rubber?

What if you remove the links and try driving - does the noise go away?

I don't know for sure what they are made out of. Not rubber as I know it.
Maybe a synthetic rubber. Nylon? They have a glossy smooth finish.

This is the part #.
AC Delco Part #45G0000

I don't know that I want to take the time to remove them and drive the car.
Then put them back in.
I'm 100% positive they are what is making the noise.
It's only over speed bumps that I hear it. If it was noisy during normal driving I would have more of an issue with it.

So it rained today and the sound was completely gone. Dried up tonight and the sound came back. We still on the swaybar bushing trail? That's what I'm guessing. What would you guys grease endlinks with, bearing grease? It's going to be a PITA to get between those pieces so I guess I'll be taking all that apart and putting it back together. Wonder why it's only on one side and not the other...

I'm kinda thinking dried out strut mount, or a bad strut, but it's really hard to just keep guessing...

If you disconnect the and links on both sides, the bar will not move as the car rides. If the noise goes away you've narrowed it down to to something on the anti-sway bar. If the noise continues, you know it's not related to the ant-sway bar.