Ford Tech Tip: Low-Speed Strut Noise

Main Navigation

Advertisement
Social Connect
Resources
Our Brand Family
Brake & Front End
Technical Resources for diagnosing and servicing undercar components
Chassis

Ford Tech Tip: Low-Speed Strut Noise

Some Ford vehicles built before 8/5/2008 may exhibit a popping, rubbing, grunting, squeaking, crunching or creaking type noise from the front strut mount when going over bumps, while driving at 1-10 MPH and/or during parking lot maneuvers. Typically, the noise is heard in the front outboard wheel while turning at low speeds. This noise may be caused by the jounce bumper rubbing against the dry strut plate.

Brake and Front End Staff
By Brake and Front End Staff
Ford Strut

Ford StrutMODELS:
• 2006-2009 Fusion
• 2007 Zephyr
• 2007-2009 MKZ
• 2006-2009 Milan

Related Articles

Some vehicles built before 8/5/2008 may exhibit a popping, rubbing, grunting, squeaking, crunching or creaking type noise from the front strut mount when going over bumps, while driving at 1-10 MPH and/or during parking lot maneuvers. Typically, the noise is heard in the front outboard wheel while turning at low speeds. This noise may be caused by the jounce bumper rubbing against the dry strut plate.

Solution:

1. Remove front shock absorber and spring assembly.
2. Disassemble the shock absorber and spring assembly.
3. Apply silicone brake caliper grease and dielectric compound around the upper and lower contact surfaces of the shock absorber piston bounce bumper.
4. Repeat the procedure on the other side of the car.

Courtesy of Mitchell 1.

You May Also Like

Chassis

Finding Damaged Suspension Components

If camber is off on one side only, a close encounter with a pothole or curb may have bent a spindle, control arm or strut.

Andrew Markel
By Andrew Markel

Normal driving usually won’t knock the wheels out of alignment or damage the suspension. However, normal driving also involves encounters with the unexpected, which often include potholes, curbs, parking lot speed bumps and other things that jar and stress the suspension.

Take a bent steering arm, for example. A bent arm will change toe alignment. Only 1/8-inch of toe misalignment produces scrub equivalent to dragging the tire sideways 28 feet for every mile that’s traveled. So if you see a feathered wear pattern on the tires, or what looks like camber wear on the inside or outside shoulders of both front tires (radials primarily), toe is probably out of alignment. Shoulder wear on both outside edges can be caused by toe-in while shoulder wear on both inside edges can result from toe-out.

Read Full Article

More Chassis Posts
Springs Are The Foundation Of Stability

One spring rate might be great for controlling body lean, but it could be too hard to provide a comfortable ride.

By Andrew Markel
High-End Ride Control Rehab

Electronically adjustable shocks and struts use conventional mono-tube and twin-tube oil-filled dampeners.

By Andrew Markel
The Complete Shock And Strut Swap

One mistake to avoid when replacing struts is reusing the bearing plates or upper mounts.

By Andrew Markel
How To Answer Customer Ride Control Questions

Presenting your customer with inspection results and benefits of replacement will help sell the job.

By Andrew Markel

Other Posts

Albemarle, Ford Form Strategic EV Production Agreement

Albemarle will supply more than 100,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide for future Ford EV batteries.

By Brake and Front End Staff
Locking Hubs and Axles

The leading cause of IWE failure is water finding its way into the vacuum lines under the hood and in the wheel well.

By Andrew Markel
Broken Springs

What is the cause for the failure? Why does it occur with specific vehicles? The answers might surprise you.

By Andrew Markel
ADAS Module Programming

Reflashing and reprogramming is a necessary service for repairing vehicles.

By Andrew Markel