2005 Dodge Stratus pop clunk and now quick squeak noise

ASHLEYHENRY1986

MEMBER
2005 DODGE STRATUS

Ok I have been having this
ongoing crazy agrevating noise
coming from my driver side.
Replaced lower control arm and
ball joint. Changed upper strut
mount and bushing. New
struts. The thing thats
happening is everytime I go
over bumps in the road or dips i
hear a quick pop or clunk. Only
sometimes when I go over a
bumpy rail road track or bumpy
wooden bridge its constant.
Like metal rattling. Yesterday it
started having a quick squeek
noise when taking off from a
stop like the same noise as if a
rusty bolt or bushing was
passing through a hole. Thats
the best way I can explain it. I
have brought it to mechanics to
check it out and they keep
telling me there is no way that it
can be a ball joint. Upper or
lower or tie rod or wheel baring.
Tonight when I got home I was
determined to find the noise.
So I turned my wheel all the
way to the right and started
looking under my car with a
flash light while rocking the car
back and forth. I could hear
the squeek noise I was talking
about. And it looks like the
sway bar bushing may be
moving back and forth. Is that
normal. Also I get a clunk
noise in the wheel and see the
cv axle jerk from me rocking
the car back and forth. No play
in it. I felt around it. And there
was no play just jerking back.
There was no play in the upper
or lower ball joint while hearing
the squeak and no play in the
inner or outer tie rod. Nor the
control arms. The only thing I
seen that was slightly moving
and sounded like the squeak
noise could be coming from
was the sway bar bushing.
Other then the clunk from
maybe the cv axle being rotated
from the wheel being rocked
back and forth. And by back
and forth im meaning front and
back

5 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,922 POSTS

A clue to the anti-sway bar links and bushings is you'll hear a dull thumping at real low speeds, like in a parking lot, and that noise will stop when you turn the steering wheel either way a little. That's because doing that raises one corner of the car and lowers the other corner. That puts all those parts under tension and holds them from rattling.

There is a tool you might be able to borrow or rent from an auto parts store that borrows them called the "Chassis Ear". It is a set of six microphones, a switch box, and headphones. You clip the microphones to suspect points, then drive around while listening with the headphones. You can move the microphones around to zero in on the source of the noise. Be aware that many mechanics have never seen or even heard of this tool. Suspension and alignment mechanics use it to find rattles, squeaks, and other noises.

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Friday, May 22nd, 2015 AT 12:48 AM

ASHLEYHENRY1986

MEMBER
14 POSTS

Ok driving on a smooth road.I can hear a very dull constant clunk. Only can hear it with radio all the way down. The road is not completly smooth. But mostly. When I go over rail road tracks or a bumpy bridge its a clacking popping rattling sound. Really loud. When I take off sometimes u hear the clunk. And now you can hear a rusty faint quick squeek when taking off or turning. What else could it be. I appreciate your feed back. Read whats going on good in my previos question as well. Thanks. Could a cv axle make this noise if its bad going over bad bumps.

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Friday, May 22nd, 2015 AT 12:56 AM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,922 POSTS

CV joints will make a clicking noise when turning, particularly when backing up. If there's more play in one than that, you'll have a noticeable vibration at higher speeds.

You might also consider a loose brake pad. If that is causing the noise, it will stop when you hold light pressure on the brake pedal.

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Friday, May 22nd, 2015 AT 1:05 AM

ASHLEYHENRY1986

MEMBER
14 POSTS

Would that exain the squeak I get kinda like a squeak of something loose when shaking car back and forth. It sounds like a rusty sqeak. Like rubber or maybe a bold or bushing. Now looking under the car I can reproduce the squeak noise and not see anything moving except for sway bar. I put my hand on wverthing to try to feel for vibration. The only slight movement or vibration I feel from rocming the car back and forth is the sway bar bushing. You know where the link meets the lower control arm. You can actually see that have some movement. The link going back and forth. Also os it normal for the cv axle to jolt and clunk when car is in park and off and rocking car back and forth. Like a circular jolt not side to side jolt

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Friday, May 22nd, 2015 AT 1:13 AM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,922 POSTS

I'd have to see the movement in the CV joint, but they do move around a little. They will cause a vibration long before they cause a noise, other than that clicking I mentioned.

The outer anti-sway bar links can make a clanking sound but that's from excessive play. A squeak is caused by insufficient free play, usually from rust buildup. If you suspect the inner bushings, spray them with "Spray White Lube" from the Dodge dealer's parts department. That stuff runs into places, then the juice evaporates and leaves the grease behind. It works well for door hinges too. You can also use "Silicone Spray Lube" from the dealer or any auto parts store or hardware store. That goes on like water, then evaporates and leaves a film of "slippery" behind. It won't last nearly as long as the White Lube, but either one will make the noise go away long enough to determine if you found the source.

You can also find a stethoscope at the auto parts stores. Since you can reproduce the noise without having to drive the car, it will be real obvious when you're listening next to the cause of the noise.