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wolfey2k -> 2007 Front Suspension Thunking Noise (11/22/2006 12:59:55 PM)
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I own a 2007 Mustang V6 Pony.
I've already had the dealer attempt to fix the problem by replacing both front strut assemblies including the strut bearings at 1200 miles ;-), (great dealer! They gave it a shot and tried to fix it at least and I didn't even buy the car from them.) Covered it under warranty of course.
The problem is an anoying thunking noise coming from the front end suspension when going over small humps or bumps in the road at low speeds. Say 1 to 45 MPH. It's a subtle dull metalic 'thunk' that comes through loud enough to disturb my idea of a quiet ride and anyone who can discern between regular road noise and suspension noise can tell something strange is going on.
I and my mechanic both drove two other pony's and they make the same sound. It seems to me that Ford would or should have set it up so the darn front suspension isn't so bloody loud in the first place as you can hear everything the road has to offer!
It seems that the thunking noise is common even though when you drive a new near 0 miles stang you can hardly hear it, in fact it's not audible at all from what I recall. After a few hundred miles though, thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk,,,every bloody bump or ripple in the road. The thunk isn't real loud but it's noticeable and if you pay attention to it too much it will agrivate the crap out of you.
The GT's do it too but it's a bit less noticeable.
Has anyone noticed this thunking sound in their '06 / '07 stangs?
I'm really curious as to if you do/did and what you did about it.
Just so you know, the front end has been thoroughly inspected/re-torqued and all that jazz. Like I said in the beginning, both left and right front struts have been replaced including the bearings.
Now one thing. The bearings do have just a tiny bit of vertical play in them. Anywhere from 1mm to say 3mm. This is stock. They say 'and it makes sense' that the spring load up against the bearing will keep that little bit of play from being a problem. I tend to disagree in that when the vehicles weight is on them plus the pre-compressed weight which has to be at least a couple hundred pounds or pressure pushing against the bearing keeping the bottom rotator pressed up against the bearings,,,should keep it from rattling or thunking. I am still willing to try some aftermarket strut bearings that have no play and see if the thunking noise abates 'goes away for you lamen ;-)'.
The only other thing it could be is something in the body cavities is lose and or the cavities tend to amplify this particular frequency of sound. When you sit in the passenger side when someone else is driving (in this case it was my mechanic during our test drives) the sound is less obvious. Not much but it is less. Weird!
Anyway, I decided to live with it. I like the car so much! It rides great, gets it for a V6 (a lot like the old 289 2bbl stang I had) and it sounds like a small block V8 too. That is until one throws in a cat back exhaust system then it will sound like any other V6 with duals.
If I do add a cat back dual exhaust, it will be a cat back X pipe exhaust with tuned and quiet (sleeper) mufflers on the end. I don't need loud, just good exhaust flow when I have my foot in it. Yes I'll probably reprogram the MCU too and add a cold air intake. Why not. Better power, better gas mileage and a stang should be all it can be anyway.
Still the V6's power is enough for me. I could use another 90 HP as the 4.6 V8 produces but hey, it's only 90 more HP and I don't need it anyway. Don't need the extra weight or the lower gas mileage. Geesh, I have my foot in my 6 banger enough as it is! As anyone should know, the V6 is capable of up to 350HP with a blower on it. More if you dual turbo it but then you have to rebuild the engine to handle it not to mention the transmission. Stock, with what one has on hand, one can increase it's power to around 250 RWHP or more.
That's plenty for a light car as it is.
I didnt' buy it to race tini-boppers or to be able to say "who has the baddest stang in Virginia?". Those testosterone laden high school days are long gone. I like it because it's stylish, takes me back to the good ol' days and IMHO, it's a REAL MUSTANG! The retro's closed me. I never liked the almost rice burner FOX etc. body's. To me they are just cars with Mustang tatoo'd on them! I own a REAL Mustang. The REAL MUSTANGS ARE BACK!
So has anyone had the same thunking noise coming from their front end on the late model stangs? Sure would like to know what the fix is before I take the time and money to figure it out on my own.
Thanks!
Wolfey
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