Re: alfa-digest V7 #1257 - Milano Verde Clunk

[AlfaNeely@domain.elided]

    To check the ball joints, you need to support the car under the lower A 
arm with the wheel off the ground.  Put a tire iron, wrecking bar or other 
lever under the tire and observe things as you move the tire with the lever.  
You need to have the weight off the ball joints to see them move.
    The same with the tie rod ends.  Leave one wheel on the ground and move 
the other tire around while looking at the tie rod ends.  The inner end of 
the tie rod is fitted with a ball in a socket.  This wore out first on my 
Milano.  The inner end screws onto the end of the steering rack.  I replaced 
the tie rod and both tie rod ends.
    The upper front link at the fender had two rubber washers per side.  
These may have gone away.  The bushings at the inner ends of the A arms may 
be bad.
    Just looking will not tell you much.  You need to figure out how to take 
the pressure off the joint and then attempt to move it.
Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City


In a message dated 01/02/2000 10:25:04 PM Central Standard Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

<<  
 Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2000 01:03:17 -0800
 From: "Ted Williams" <tedw@domain.elided>
 Subject: Verde clunk
 
 Well, now that I am keeping this thing..I mean, nice car...I should fix some
 of the problems that I have noticed, before they get too big to deal with.
 
 I am experiencing a weird vibration, coupled with a low rattle or clunk, in
 the front end. It happens when I drive over any bumpy roads. I took off the
 front wheels and took a look around, but couldn't find anything loose that
 would be causing the sounds.
 
 Any ideas what could have come loose, or broken under there? I check the
 caster rods, and the shocks. I looked at the front sway bar...it looks fine.
 I can't find it, but it seems to be getting worse.
 
 <snip> 
 Ted
  >>

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