it is definetly the UPPER strut mount!. Hae someone turn the whee for
you and open he hood and listen for yourself
wrote:
> Thanks Lane.
>
> I asked my mechanic today what he thought it might be and his first
> response was the strut mount. I am 99.9% sure it is not that so the
> other two things off the top of his head he mentioned was a Tie Rod and
> a very remote possibility of a Ball Joint. I have had others mention
> the CV/Axle too. I am probably going to have him diagnose it soon.
>
> Thanks again and I like you car mods!
>
>
> Lane wrote:
> > I'd suspect a wheel bearing, or a CV/axle. But don't guess - take it to a
> > Saturn retailer's garage. They're the experts and the diagnostic fee is
> > worth every cent if it saves you from replacing one part that the car didn't
> > need.
> >
> > Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]
> > ---
> > Visit my Saturn Car Audio and Performance Page at http://www.evilplastic.com
> >
> >
> > > wrote in message
> > oups.com...
> > >I purchased a 1998 Saturn SC1 today with 135,000 miles on it. The car
> > > drives great, the engine is strong, no leaks. It is a 5 speed and it
> > > shifts perfectly. One thing happened after I got it home and started
> > > driving it around town for a few errands.
> > >
> > > Basically, when I turn hard to the left whether for a U-turn or just a
> > > really sharp left turn (More than 90 degrees), I hear a loud clunk or
> > > clanking noise. It does not do this with an extreme turn to the right.
> > > Only an extreme turn to the left. I noticed it can be exacerbated over
> > > bumpy roads or uneven gravel drives.
> > >
> > > I went to a junk yard to pickup a part, and when I had to leave I
> > > backed up and then made a hard left before making a hard right out of
> > > the parking lot. It made the loud noise when I was in the parking lot
> > > turning left, but not right. What was realy strange is when I pulled up
> > > to the stop light about a mile down the road, I caught a yellow light
> > > and had to brake harder than normal. It made a "light" clank as if
> > > whatever was goofy in the steering was shaken a bit by the hard stop.
> > > While waiting for the light to change I decided to turn the wheels to
> > > the left and it made a louder "Pop" or clank than what it did when I
> > > stopped. I then made a left turn at the light and had no problems. As a
> > > matter of fact I made two more lefts on the way home, but they were
> > > "moderate" lefts and so there was no Clank or Pop.
> > >
> > > My dad and I changed the Drive Belt, so while I had it up on the jacks
> > > I cranked the car and turne the wheels both ways and there was no
> > > noise. My dad did a basic inspection of the steering and axle and saw
> > > nothing unusual. So obviously the weight of the car is playing a role
> > > in the popping noise.
> > >
> > > We did a basic look at the strut mount and with the car sitting still
> > > bounced the car up and down on the right side (Audibly where the noise
> > > seems to come from when I am turning hard to the left). The strut is
> > > good and the strut mount appears to be solid. It is definitely not
> > > torn.
> > >
> > > The CV Boots on the car appear to be good.
> > >
> > > Is this something in the Rack and Pinion steering system? I am worried
> > > to death that I bought a great running car with a great transmission
> > > and I am going to have to replace the whole steering system!! I am
> > > probably just over exagerating, but I get really paranoid when a car
> > > makes loud noises, especially under stress. It makes me think I am
> > > going to pull a U-Turn and the whole front axle is just going to come
> > > off in the middle of the street!!!!
> > >
> > > Any info would be great!!!
> > >