Just bought a 02 Strat RT with 87k. While driving over rough roads I hear a clunk coming from front passenger side. I think its a sway bar end link. Could it be anything else? Car also needs wheel bearings, any recommendations?

 

How about worn shock or coil spring isolator?

 

Jacked the car up this weekend, found a loose sway bar link. I replaced both sides and the rattle is there. Thinking of replacing lower control arms and hubs now. Has anyone done lower control arms on their stratus RT?

 

Are the ball joints alright? I bet you if you replace your upper control arm (ball joints included) and your hub assembly you would be fine.

Also, this might sound like a stupid question but have you check to make sure all of your tires are the same size?

 

Can you just replace the ball joint, or do you have to replace the entire control arm?

 

If you have access to a press, you can replace just the ball joint. I believe the entire lower control arm needs removed to do so though.

 

What I did when I replaced only the ball joints was I took a chainsaw file (a round file) after I took the old ball joint out. I filed the metal burs and gunk that was inside the hole of the control arm. You will notice the hole has crap in it. Then I greased the ball joint and inner of the hole and had a friend take a piece of wood and put pressure on the control arms so they weren't flimsy and I took a 2x4 and placed it ontop the balljoint (with the grease fitting out) and hit it HARD until it went all the way in.

I learned the hard way you need to use the board to hit, and exert the pressure to the ball joint becauseif you take the hammer directly to it (which I also did) you won't get your grease fitting in. If you don't care about the grease fitting (because you can still get your grease in the hole) then it is much ease to just hit the bugger dead on with a hammer and nothing in between.

Let me know how it goes. There is nothing for a press to grasp onto and the control arms are too flimsy for that to work.

You could also taked the control arm off and do the work, and place it back on. That will give you a hell of a lot more room.

 

Sounds like replacing the lower contol arms is the way to go. Am I correct is thinking this car doesn't have upper control arms? I had the wheels off last week but dont recall seeing them. I was pricing out lower arms, seems like the cheaper ones run about 125. Any reason to spend more than that?

 

Tie Rod Ends???

Ive had to replace both sides twice in my 05