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By stlroken - 9 Years Ago
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I'm at a loss and thought someone here has had the same problem and could offer some ideas. '56 Victoria no power steering. I keep hearing a "cracking" or "popping" sound somewhere in the front suspension. It will do it with just a little forward or reverse movement, with or with out the engine running. It will not do it with pushing up and down on the front (like checking shocks). It will not make the noise when the front is off the ground, only with the weight on the front end, I know this because we have a alignment rack in the shop and have checked it on that. Shocks are nearly new, new tie rods and ball joints, wheel bearings. I've even taken the front wheels off to make sure the lug nuts aren't the problem or that the hub caps aren't "walking". The people in the shop have tried 2 or 3 times to find the noise and even with the stethoscope (?) can't locate it. They tell me that everything is tight and completely safe but the noise is embarrassing with driving at slower speeds in town. I have "sprayed" lube on all the bushings without much luck. The shop said that there is a small amount of "play" in the drag link or center link but nothing to be alarmed about. To me it sounds like it needs greased somewhere but everything has been several time with no missed zirks. Just hoping for some ideas, I just don't want to start throwing parts at it. Any ideas are really appreciated. Thank You
Jim Dahl
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By 2721955meteor - 9 Years Ago
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did you check the idler arm,on non PS they where rather crude and hard to great.also is steering box full of oil. god luck cliff
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By stlroken - 9 Years Ago
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I've check the steering box and its full of fresh lube. I lubed the Idler arm bushings but maybe I should take a closer look. Thanks.
Jim
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By mjs - 9 Years Ago
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Check your upper control arm bushings.
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By stlroken - 9 Years Ago
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Control arm bushings are new....I'm going to try the Drag Link rebuild kit .... but can't find anyone who has them. They are "back-ordered" and not available for quite a while. anyone know where I can get one of these kits???Thanks
Jim
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By Pete 55Tbird - 9 Years Ago
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Have you checked the front cross member rivets?
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By 62bigwindow - 9 Years Ago
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X2 on the crossmember. Is it in good shape? As far as the drag link kit I think there is a couple on ebay right now. I bought a NOS kit there a while back. What parts places have you tried to get the kit? There may be one you missed?
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By 62bigwindow - 9 Years Ago
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One more thought. If you changed the lower control arm bushings did you put the "washers" back in that go in between the bushings and crossmember in the front?
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By miker - 9 Years Ago
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One more long shot in the dark, and I might be thinking of an OT car I just did. When you replaced the control arm bushing, put everything back together, did you tighten the control arm bolts with the weight off the wheels? At least on front end I did recently, you had to put the weight back on the wheels before the final tightening of the upper and lower control arms "pivot" bolts. Otherwise, the rubber in the bushing takes a big preload.
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By stlroken - 9 Years Ago
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I really appreciate all of you help and thoughts: The crossmember was installed about 2 years ago, the one from Oklahoma. I will check the washers on the a arm bushing but I'm just positive they are on there and I'm not so sure about having weight on them when they were tightened so I'll check that. As far as the Drag link repair kits I tired: Macs, Bob Drake,Kanter,Midwest early ford parts,Carpenter and a couple of others...all of them were out and didn't know when they would have more in. I did make a 2nd call to concours in Nevada and this time they said they have them so I'm having one shipped $86. plus a little high but it was the only one available and needed it. Now we'll see if that takes care of the "popping and cracking"...
I debated several days about putting this on the forum, it seemed like a minor thing but as always everyone was very helpful
THANKS AGAIN
Jim
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By 62bigwindow - 9 Years Ago
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Too bad you didn't check ebay. There is a NOS drag link assembly on there. Also 2 sellers with the rebuild kits.
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By aussiebill - 9 Years Ago
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62bigwindow (8/3/2016)
One more thought. If you changed the lower control arm bushings did you put the "washers" back in that go in between the bushings and crossmember in the front?
I,m with you on the front lower bushs as the noise area? if the spacer washers arnt in, the circular stone shields in front of bush can rub on x member at times emitting noise???????
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