Thread: New front end problems

As some of you might know from my build thread I put in new lca, Dorman front sway, and a driver side tie rod end. The old end link was wedged into the old lca and wasn't letting the lca to move up and down over bumps. Evidence is the end link being stuck on the lca and leaving a dent in its place on the lca.
So the problems:
1st.I've noticed when I get above 20 or so mph there is a ticking noise... It's not LOUD but when I role down my window I can hear it pretty well. It seems to be going with the speed of the car... I'm not sure of it could be something rubbing, rattling, or the drive shaft. It seems to be more intense when I am turning to the right which is putting the weight of the car on the driver side where the ticking is comming from.

2nd. The car seems to be kinda all over the road. It still handles amazing in the corners but when I'm at Highway speed and hit pothole repair spots it's flat out scary. It jerks pretty violently to one side or the other. I'm not sure if this is just the result of having a bigger sway and me being use to really sloppy because of the horrible bushings I had before or what... But it just doesn't feel right.

3rd. This may have to do something with number 2. I might just need an alignment. Reason why I say this- we had to put in a new tie rod end on the drivers side. Which may have messed something up.
Also when I was getting off the highway today I noticed my driver side tire was squealing comming off a medium bend off ramp at about 40-50 mph... That didn't seem right either.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. BTW 04 gt2

As you can see the end link is wedged in the lca... Broken right off the sway... This was the old set up obviously. If pictures of the current setup would help I can upload those too. Thanks

Get an alignment asap, before you ruin the tires.

Any time you remove the struts, control arms, tie rod end you mess the alingment toe out. Thats why it pulls and darts on the road.

How much do those run now a days?

70-90 bucks.

Thats an avg price for a 4 wheel alignment

make sure they do a pc alignment. and have a warranty. places like Firestone offers a life time warranty for like 170 ish.

just make sure theres a warranty, i was back 5 times in a month having them re do it over and over again....lazy muther f ers at my local shop, but thats another story.

I'll admit, when someone comes into my work for an alignment and all I need to do it spend 2 minutes adjusting the right side toe because thats the tie rod they did, and I don't do anything else it does feel like you getting away with something there.

But other times, they can come in with new parts and every ****ing thing under the sun it out. Rear toe and camber, both caster/camber up front etc. Then once you correct all that you need to swing toe to re-center the wheel and then correct that, then in the end they still only payed 80 bucks but it took you 30-40 minutes fighting the car.

i came to find out they were ignoring the rear 1/2 of the car, not telling me the bars were locked up. once i freed the lock nut up they were able to do a better job. this was the 3 rd time back i find out they cant do the back, wtf it was the same guy every time, speak up you damn lazy looser. write a note on the paper work, something.

Thanks for the input fellas. I will see how much it is at my work... And I did the driver side and one I freed the lock nut I didn't move it. I just spun the tie rod end out and then screwed the new one in. Today at work I will ask how much one is... I'm probably not going to get the life time right now because we are moving somewhere and I'm not sure where I'm going to end up... It's probably pretty good to get this done before I put my summer rims on.

Should I get all four alignment? Or just the front two

get a 4 wheel alignment, you need it. parts wear out over time and need to be re aligned.

dont think they would do just the fronts for any cheaper either, nor is it proper to do so.

Alright... I've never gotten an alignment before so this is my first time. I'm not sure what people usually do with them

older rwd cars had a fixed solid axle, no way to adjust the rear at all, so they just did the fronts.

now your car being fwd, the back tires are adjustable. change the front it can throw the back off. why you want a 4 wheel pc alignment.

Oh alright. that makes sense. Learned something new today. I talked to a mechanic today at my work and they said they should probably be able to hook me up for free when they have a non busy night they could do it for me which is cool.

Get a printout of before/after specs too... I've found this keeps them honest making sure they make alignment within spec.

: )