Rattling clunking noise with new D&D adjustable upper rear controll arms

Flamedstang · 06-11-2002

Ok fellas here we go, I installed a set of D&D adjustable upper rear controll arms and now sometimes when I go over bumps I get this rattling/clunking noise. At first I thought it was the upper part of the controll arm moving and smacking a bolt that was too small for the hole, wrong. Next thing I did was crank the bolts down hard, I actually broke a socket doing this, still there. Next I checked the exhaust pipes for smacking on the car, found a few spots and fixed those up nicely, noise is still there. Next was tighten all brackets in the back and check for cracked or pulling away torque boxes, all look good and all brackets have been retightened, noise still there. Im at a loss on this one, im starting to think that its the shocks or u-joints but I want some oppinions here, so thanks in advance.

GT50 · 06-11-2002

Noises from upper or lower control arms,especially with poly bushing, will generate some noise. This is normal. Greasing the bushings when installing them should help

Flamedstang · 06-11-2002

There are no bushings, these are the heavy duty ones with the brass colored inserts that go into a little rotating ball, but the arms are not making the noise, ive checked that over and over, this is driving me up the wall, if I cant stop it imma sell these arms.

GT Dan · 06-11-2002

If they (D&D AURCA's) have a turn buckle and can be adjusted without removing one end from the car, perhaps I'll purchase them from you....just kidding.

Mine was making noise too, but with the stock parts. Mine ended up being the driver's side upper control arm bushing. The end that goes up into the torque box. The noise drove me nuts for a while too.

I swapped out both the upper and lower control arms. Upon doing this I noticed that the original pilot bolts had worn and that even with new control arms with new bushings, the old bolt had some play and would shift and rattle with the new control arms just as the old ones did.

On my mustang, the original inner bushing on the control arm was a smooth except for some round, uniformly positioned bumps inside (not sure of the exact engineering term here). These bumps were consistent inside both inner bushings, they rode right on the pilot bolt and were the cause of the premature wear on the pilot bolts. New pilot bolts were a bit pricey from the dealer. I purchased some bolts of a higher grade of steel, of sufficient length, but were not "piloted" on the end at the hardware store. I had to be careful not to damage the threads and getting them lined up and on the car was a little tricky, but they worked well and saved me a good chunk of change.

To diagnose mine, I had a guy shake and move the car to generate the noise while I crawled under and listened (the car was not on a jack nor a set of jack stands and not running). See if you can carefully shake the car and assimilate the noise. If you can only produce the noise while driving, then its gonna be tougher to diagnose.

Was the noise there before you installed the D&D arms? If not, then its probably the arms and you will need to check for movement on either end of each control arm. Perhaps someone with the D&D arms can provide some input here.

I would be careful overtightening these bolts. I would also recommend a self locking nut. Did you check to see if your bolts were worn? Did you check to see if the bolts by themselves (with no control arm installed) had any play in the car or had any play in the just the control arms?

GT Dan · 06-11-2002

A couple of other questions. Have you lowered the car? What kind of springs did you use and have you looked for any clearance problems with the new control arms? Is your car a coupe or conv? What is the rating on your springs?

Flamedstang · 06-12-2002

car is a coupe and it is lowerd with bbk springs, I had the bolts out a couple days ago and they looked like they tapered a bit after the head and still had a little play in them but I really didnt think it was enough play to make this much noise. No clearence problems, no rub marks etc.. I can actually get it to make the noise when I close my doors hard enough, so that led me to exhaust pipes, but they are all clear, not anywhere near anything else, but I will try getting a new bolt tomarrow and keep you all posted. Oh and the noise wasnt there before the install, I expected a little noise beacuse they are solid uppers, with no possiblility of binding beacuse there are no bushings. I will keep you posted.

Flamedstang · 06-13-2002

well, I finally gave up on those controll arms. I took em off and put the stock ones back on, and wow, imagine that, no more noise. So if anyone wants them they are D&D double abjustable upper rear controll arms, the heavy duty style with no bushings. Drop me a line at www.rickmazurek@hotmail.com

Fast1 · 06-13-2002

So do they have sperical bushings????Is so what is the asking price???

GTRaptor · 06-14-2002

My GW LCAs clunk a lot, but the performance makes me forget theres any

**ScottHalliday** · 06-14-2002

Rob thats a common issue with GW rear lower control arms after they have been installed for awhile. You can get the GW bushings replaced or upgrade to adjustable rear lower control arms with a panhard bar.

GTRaptor · 06-14-2002

I think im buying MM LCAs next year, i had a set and sold em to a friend (Ronk you lucky :ooh::ooh::ooh::ooh::ooh::ooh::ooh: hehehe)

Flamedstang · 06-14-2002

yeah they have the spherical ball set up with the little brass colored pieces that fit in the ends, since they were on the car so short a time and basicly are brand new I would like to get $125 for em. let me knwo here or email me.

Fast1 · 06-16-2002

If you'd get me a pic I"d b really interested just wannna make sure theyre what i'm thinkning of..I have a set of Metco uppers right now..also do they come w/ bushings?