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Sway Bar Rattle Over Bumps

13449 Views 20 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  brougham, 
NTL1991
I've got a rattle noise coming from the front of my '97 Eldorado. It sounds like it's low near the floor, and in the center of the car. It happens when I'm driving from 10-40MPH over bumps in the road.

I've replaced both upper strut mounts as per TSB 53-33-04B, "Rattle/Loose Lumber Noise when Driving Over Bumps" as well as both sway bar links, as they were shot.

I drove the car with both of the links off when I was waiting for the new links to be delivered, and the noise went away completely. When I installed the new links, the noise came back.

One link (Raybestos "Service Grade" Link) was defective as there was too much play in one of the ball joints. A replacement Raybestos "Professional Grade" link (much thicker, heavier duty, with grease fittings and larger ball joints) was sent as a replacement.

Removing the links determined that the problem is not engine mount related, so the only other thing I can think of is the sway bar bushings... Should I try to replace the other "Service Grade" link with a "Professional Grade" one to be sure it's not just another bad link?

Thanks,
Nick
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N
The sound is not so great to discern what it is but if you have some play in the links then you hear it loud and clear.
I replaced both my links in the last 3-4 years twice, I use a craw bar between subframe and the bottom of the link. If it moves then that's where the noise comes from.
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N
I am aware of two different sway bar thicknesses for Seville/Deville/Eldorado, the thinner one is the most common, the thicker one is the so called "sport" sway bar. FE1 and FE3 makes no difference when discussing sway bar diameter, some FE1 cars have the thick sway bar, and not all FE3 cars (not by far) have the thicker sway bar.
Only a vernier or the dealer can tell you witch sway bar you have.
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