Hey folks,

I want to be a good samaritan to my neighbor, but I want to be sure I give hr some good advice before I go talk to her. Our neighbor has an 02 or 03 XC-70, and each morning when she leaves for work, (I leave at the same time) I hear a kindof a"pop" or slight clunk coming from the front end, but only when she turns the wheel. I have heard it a few times when she is turning into her driveway as well.

I'm thinking CV joints, but I want to get an opinion before I go talk to her.

Thanks for any help,

Glenn

 

I have no advice, but I appreciate your spirit. Good for you.

 

I would look at thespring seatsand sway bar links first.

 

Tech,

I replaced the sway bar end links for her about 4 months ago with new ones. Can you give me the scoop on the spring seats and what can go bad/what I need to look for?

Glenn

 

Also look at the a-arm bushings and ball joints.

Very doubtfull that the CV joints are an issue

 

Try turning the top strut nut. If the nut spins then they are bad. If the nut feels rubbery they are good.
Has the steering stops been lubbed lately as well?

 

Thanks as always Tech. I have offered to do an oil change for her in the next week, so when I get to look more at the car I will check the top strut nut and lube the steering stops as well. I'll also check A-Arm bushings and ball joints as well.

Glenn

 

Keep us posted.

 

All

Well, as luck would have it, our neighbor came over to visit with the wife today, so I asked her about the car. She said she has heard the light pop for about 2 weeks now. She says it only happens at low speeds like when she is turning into or out of a parking space. She also noted it does it in drive or reverse, but never does it at highway speeds and it does not cause any handling issues on the road. Anyway, I asked her if I could look at it and she said yes.

I only got to check the end links and the top strut nut before the rains came again, but here is what I know. The end links look fine, sort of just like they came out of the box (actually they pretty just did about 2K ago). I grabbed them and tried to move them around, but there is no play on them.

Next, I popped the hood and put a socket and wrenchon the big nut on the top of each strut. Both nutswould turn about an eighth of a turn in either direction before the rubber force made them want to return to their original position. In short, they feel tight and the rubber is springy when the nuts are turned more than an eighth of a turn.

Before I could check more it started pouring and has not let up. Also, the torque mount bushing on top of the motor is a newer IPD unit and it looksfine as well.

Any ideas based on this new info or do you folksstill think possibly ball jonts or A arm bushings? Also, I confirmed the car is a 2002 with 75K on it.I'm wondering if it could be one of the lower engine/transmission mounts gone bad?

Thanks in advance for any help

Glenn

 

I would look at the balljoints next and control arm bushings.
Also make sure it doesn't only happen at full turn. If it does then try lubbing the steering stops.