- #5 of 13
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Re: Town and Country Front End Clunking Noise [joepeterson56]
by smorris3
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Mar 17, 2009 (7:22 am)
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Replying to: joepeterson56 (Mar 16, 2009 9:51 am)
I have the same problem on my 2001 T&C. I have replaced the struts, mounts and the sway bar links and still have the knocking noise on bumps. You say to replace the bushings on the control arms will fix this?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
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- #6 of 13
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Re: Town and Country Front End Clunking Noise [joepeterson56]
by 48fatherof5
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Mar 17, 2009 (8:49 am)
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Replying to: joepeterson56 (Mar 16, 2009 9:51 am)
Joe: since I have already replaced the strut to sabalizer bar links, do I need to drop the entire bar or just go straight to the bushings in the middle of the bar. The Haynes manual says I need to take the cradle plate down and remove the link from the ends of the bar. Can I just remove one of the two bushings in the middle of the bar (at a time) to do this successfully?
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- #7 of 13
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Re: Town and Country Front End Clunking Noise [smorris3]
by joepeterson56
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Mar 17, 2009 (8:57 am)
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Replying to: smorris3 (Mar 17, 2009 7:22 am)
You said you replaced the sway bar links.
Did you check and or replace the 4 bushings on the sway bar itself, where it bolts to the cross frame and the bottom of the lower control arms yet?
Did you check and or replace the ball joints yet?
The contorl arm bushings would be the last resort after all the other possible causes, as it is the most difficult replacement to do. Unless of course, you can visibly see that they are worn out and misiing, or if you can grasp and shake the control arms and move them in any direction. The parts should all be checked for abnormal movement in all directions, both under the vehicles natural weight, as well as while lifted off the suspension. The easiest way to check all of these items under weight load, is to drive the vehicle onto a set of ramps so that you can get under the vehicle, and grab and shake the parts to check for movement, while the full weight of the vehicle is where it should be. To check them with the weight unloaded, put the vehicle on jack stands under the frame and do the same.
None of the parts should move in any direction other than the normal one, and none of them should make any kind of rattling noise either. Let me know.
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- #8 of 13
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Re: Town and Country Front End Clunking Noise [48fatherof5]
by joepeterson56
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Mar 17, 2009 (9:09 am)
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Replying to: 48fatherof5 (Mar 17, 2009 8:49 am)
Hi, unfortunately as I recall, you will need to drop that annoying craddle plate which has quite a few bolts, and nut/bolt combos to get all the clearance you need to do the job. As I recall from doing mine, I tried the way you want to, and it ended up being much easier and faster to just drop the whole bar down and rebolt it. I believe you can do the job without disconnecting the bar from the end links tho. Sorry if I seem a bit confused, as I have owned no less than 7 minis from 2 84's to my current 2000 & 97 and have done this type of work on most of them. I had momentarily forgotten that after 94 or 95, they went from a 4 bushing and bracket system, to a 2 bushing and bracet system with 2 end links connected to the struts. On the earlier models, I do not recall having to drop any craddle plates, but on the later ones, you do. SORRY IF MY MOMENTARY BOUT OF CRS CONFUSED ANYONE ! Please let me know how you make out and ask me anything else you need too. JP
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- #9 of 13
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Re: Town and Country Front End Clunking Noise [joepeterson56]
by marinecorpsski
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Mar 17, 2009 (12:13 pm)
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Replying to: joepeterson56 (Mar 16, 2009 9:51 am)
Joe, thanks a lot for these 4 problematic areas. I have bought the parts to deal with all 4, just waiting on the postal service to send it. I had found the answer elsewhere as well on chrysler minivan forum
They answer all kinds of questions, they even show in a post pictures of exactly how to replace the sway bar bushings.
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- #10 of 13
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Re: Town and Country Front End Clunking Noise [marinecorpsski]
by 48fatherof5
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Mar 18, 2009 (10:28 am)
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Replying to: marinecorpsski (Mar 17, 2009 12:13 pm)
marinecorpski: I went to this forum following your suggestion. Can you tell me where you found the pictures and steps to change various parts? Where are you getting your parts from?
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- #11 of 13
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Re: Town and Country Front End Clunking Noise [48fatherof5]
by marinecorpsski
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Mar 18, 2009 (1:07 pm)
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Replying to: 48fatherof5 (Mar 18, 2009 10:28 am)
I usually hang out in the 4th gen 2001-07 section because I have an 04. the pictorial is at the end of the second page, or here sway bar bush repl. pic post. I do reccommend you go on this forum and read, or at least scan though the titles of the posts for your particlar generation van and read what you find interesting, or whatever strikes your curiosity.
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- #12 of 13
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Tow package/load level suspension worth it?
by nursekev
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Mar 21, 2009 (3:15 pm)
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We don't plan on towing anything but I've heard that the load leveling suspension included in the package makes for a cushier ride. Is it really all that noticeable or is the package only worth it if you plan on towing a trailer behind you?
Kevin
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- #13 of 13
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Re: Tow package/load level suspension worth it? [nursekev]
by srs_49
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Mar 22, 2009 (2:51 am)
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Replying to: nursekev (Mar 21, 2009 3:15 pm)
I don't know about the cushier ride (something I would not be interested in anyway), but towing packages usually include a cooler for the transmission which has got to help transmission life. I would get it for that reason if no other.
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