[30036]

64 Bonneville Sport coupe, 389. Problem plaquing me for about a year.
Getting a thump in right front, when going over a bumps or right turn.
Replaced both upper and lower ball joints, replaced shocks, replaced all bushings, replaced wheel bearing. Last change with a friend noticed the noise is gone with passenger in the car. But with just the driver the noise appears. Body off restoration done 7 years ago. I am lost what is the cause or remedy
Tony
kruzn60@yahoo.com

[Scott Thelander]

body mount bushing ??

its usually a more fun drive when your with someone anyways

[30036]

Body bushings were put in new about 7-8 years ago when the body off resto occured

[Sirrotica]

Having worked at a Pontiac dealer on the grease rack in 1970, there are 2 possibilities that we would run across close to what you describe.

One is the pigtail on the springs would make a snapping noise on some cars as the spring turned while it was being compressed. This would happen no matter the steering position of the wheels, suspension compression is the source of it. The cure was to spray the ends of the pigtails with any lubricant as the cars wheels were hanging on the lift. We used ATF to lubricate them. but most any spray oil would work. It's usually the upper spring seat that makes the snapping noise. Of course the lubricant does eventually wash away if you drive in wet weather, so a reapplication is necessary if the noise returns.

The second one is the steering stops on the lower control arm. With the wheels turned against the stops (such as entering, or exiting a driveway) the loading and unloading would make a snapping noise as you traversed the approach to a driveway from the road. The cure was to swab some chassis grease on the stops. This noise would only be heard with the wheels cut all the way to the stops, if not cut completely, there is no snapping noise from the stops. Same goes for reapplication, when it gets dry, the noise will return.

[30036]

Thank you for the information, I will lift front up Friday, pull the shocks and make sure I get a lot of lube on both ends.
I had thoughts about body bolts abut see they used cage nuts, wonder if those can get out of alignment where bolts are not seated, that was my next thought.
Tony