Alignment & "Clunking" Noise
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
Alignment & "Clunking" Noise Two questions:
1) Alignment: I am assuming my alignment is off. When on the highway, or under heavy braking, the car tends to pull a fair amount. Enough to annoy me on some roads. The alignment shop I'm taking my Trans Am to can dial in precise 4 wheel alignments (numbers, not just "in the green") if I want. Should I look into anything specific or just leave the stock specs in place? The car is at stock height, will be "split daily driven" during warmer months (Competing with my bike), will hit the drag strip a few times, as well as race tracks (road courses) a couple times.
2) Clunking noise: The past couple days I've started the car (Mainly in the morning) I have heard an odd clunking noise. It's coming from the driver side, engine compartment area, near the firewall. It makes the noise at idle. I cannot hear it while driving (I assume the motor & wind noise is too loud at that point). Any ideas what to check/look for?
Thanks...
1) Alignment: I am assuming my alignment is off. When on the highway, or under heavy braking, the car tends to pull a fair amount. Enough to annoy me on some roads. The alignment shop I'm taking my Trans Am to can dial in precise 4 wheel alignments (numbers, not just "in the green") if I want. Should I look into anything specific or just leave the stock specs in place? The car is at stock height, will be "split daily driven" during warmer months (Competing with my bike), will hit the drag strip a few times, as well as race tracks (road courses) a couple times.
2) Clunking noise: The past couple days I've started the car (Mainly in the morning) I have heard an odd clunking noise. It's coming from the driver side, engine compartment area, near the firewall. It makes the noise at idle. I cannot hear it while driving (I assume the motor & wind noise is too loud at that point). Any ideas what to check/look for?
Thanks...
Last edited by HibachiZ28; Mar 12, 2012 at 05:17 PM.
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
I wonder if this and my warped brake rotors have anything to do with one another? I'm sure they don't, but I guess it could be my hub assembly, ball joints, etc. Will be doing the brakes tonight so I'll find out what's going on with them at least.
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what do your front tires look like?
just for the hell of it, swap the front tires side to side, see if the pull changes directions. if it does, then the tires are the cause.
generally, caster is what will cause a pull. whichever way it's pulling, you'd want to add positive caster to that side, or negative caster to the other side.
caster will not generally create any visible tire wear, whereas camber will. camber also can cause a pull, but it has to be WAAYYYYY out to do this.
toe cannot cause a pull, although it can and will create a "feather edging" on both front tires.
also, when you brake, does the pull continue in the same direction as when you're just driving? you could have caliper or other brake problems causing the pull too.
before just asking for an alignment at your shop, have them look into what's causing the pull.
just for the hell of it, swap the front tires side to side, see if the pull changes directions. if it does, then the tires are the cause.
generally, caster is what will cause a pull. whichever way it's pulling, you'd want to add positive caster to that side, or negative caster to the other side.
caster will not generally create any visible tire wear, whereas camber will. camber also can cause a pull, but it has to be WAAYYYYY out to do this.
toe cannot cause a pull, although it can and will create a "feather edging" on both front tires.
also, when you brake, does the pull continue in the same direction as when you're just driving? you could have caliper or other brake problems causing the pull too.
before just asking for an alignment at your shop, have them look into what's causing the pull.
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
Thanks for the info, LT!
The "pull" is all over. Left & right. It definitely tries to follow the grooves in the road. It does this much more when I am hard on the brakes, as well as shaking the steering wheel (as if the rotors are warped). Front tires looked fine when I installed 'em about 1000 miles ago. I'll check 'em again today.
Once I do the front rotors & pads tonight I'll take it out on the road and see if anything changes. I also need to put it in the air, do some 3 & 9, and 12 & 6 shaking to see if there is movement.
The "pull" is all over. Left & right. It definitely tries to follow the grooves in the road. It does this much more when I am hard on the brakes, as well as shaking the steering wheel (as if the rotors are warped). Front tires looked fine when I installed 'em about 1000 miles ago. I'll check 'em again today.
Once I do the front rotors & pads tonight I'll take it out on the road and see if anything changes. I also need to put it in the air, do some 3 & 9, and 12 & 6 shaking to see if there is movement.
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Thanks for the info, LT!
The "pull" is all over. Left & right. It definitely tries to follow the grooves in the road. It does this much more when I am hard on the brakes, as well as shaking the steering wheel (as if the rotors are warped). Front tires looked fine when I installed 'em about 1000 miles ago. I'll check 'em again today.
Once I do the front rotors & pads tonight I'll take it out on the road and see if anything changes. I also need to put it in the air, do some 3 & 9, and 12 & 6 shaking to see if there is movement.
The "pull" is all over. Left & right. It definitely tries to follow the grooves in the road. It does this much more when I am hard on the brakes, as well as shaking the steering wheel (as if the rotors are warped). Front tires looked fine when I installed 'em about 1000 miles ago. I'll check 'em again today.
Once I do the front rotors & pads tonight I'll take it out on the road and see if anything changes. I also need to put it in the air, do some 3 & 9, and 12 & 6 shaking to see if there is movement.
the pulling both ways with the grooves in the road.....is this new? if so, tires are stock size?
you may be able to help that issue a little by setting caster higher.
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
Went to install my brakes, they were mispicked from the manufacturer. No worries though. New set on the way.
From what I looked at yesterday, passenger side was all tight. I didn't get to the drive side due to the above issue. I did shake the driver side front wheel a bit and seemed like there was a MINOR amount of play, at least compared to the stout passenger side.
The pulling has been an issue for a while - I can't recall when it started though. I want to think it was after I added the new wheels & tires, but don't quote me on that.
From what I looked at yesterday, passenger side was all tight. I didn't get to the drive side due to the above issue. I did shake the driver side front wheel a bit and seemed like there was a MINOR amount of play, at least compared to the stout passenger side.
The pulling has been an issue for a while - I can't recall when it started though. I want to think it was after I added the new wheels & tires, but don't quote me on that.
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Went to install my brakes, they were mispicked from the manufacturer. No worries though. New set on the way.
From what I looked at yesterday, passenger side was all tight. I didn't get to the drive side due to the above issue. I did shake the driver side front wheel a bit and seemed like there was a MINOR amount of play, at least compared to the stout passenger side.
The pulling has been an issue for a while - I can't recall when it started though. I want to think it was after I added the new wheels & tires, but don't quote me on that.
From what I looked at yesterday, passenger side was all tight. I didn't get to the drive side due to the above issue. I did shake the driver side front wheel a bit and seemed like there was a MINOR amount of play, at least compared to the stout passenger side.
The pulling has been an issue for a while - I can't recall when it started though. I want to think it was after I added the new wheels & tires, but don't quote me on that.
is this happening anywhere you drive, or just where there's ruts in the road? some cars with larger tires, you're gonna have that in rutty roads. there's one spot just off of rt 295 here in nj, where even my 012 gt does what you're describing.
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
It happens more on certain roads, and certain parts of those roads than others, but it definitely wanders 85% of the time on the highway. I've driven the same roads in my former Wrangler (33x12.50x15" tires front/rear) and didn't wander like this. That's why I am curious. I only have 245/45?R17's up front; With the 315/35R17's in the rear.
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It happens more on certain roads, and certain parts of those roads than others, but it definitely wanders 85% of the time on the highway. I've driven the same roads in my former Wrangler (33x12.50x15" tires front/rear) and didn't wander like this. That's why I am curious. I only have 245/45?R17's up front; With the 315/35R17's in the rear.
the car in question is the 98 trans am in your sig? i'll look up specs for stock for you tomorrow when i et to work.
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
ok. it sounds like it's gonna be a tire related problem...even if it's as simple as that the tire change threw off your alignment. i'd have a good alignment shop check it out. ask them for readings before and after.
the car in question is the 98 trans am in your sig? i'll look up specs for stock for you tomorrow when i et to work.
the car in question is the 98 trans am in your sig? i'll look up specs for stock for you tomorrow when i et to work.
Just have to wait 'til the correct brakes show up, install them, then get the alignment. Correct, '98 Trans Am. Thank you much! 
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
So the rear driver side wheel is bent. It was balanced out and took care of 85% of the vibes. The car still wanders a bit. Waiting to install my brakes (had the wrong ones shipped) then will take care of an alignment and see how it goes from there.
The clunking is still occurring at random startups. Still no idea what it is. ...
The clunking is still occurring at random startups. Still no idea what it is. ...
I just told you how. BOTH camber and caster are both adjustable by moving the control arm. I'm hunter certified. Don't ask questions you don't know the answer too and tell someone else they are wrong when they provide you with the correct answer.
