Re: 88 Camry stabilizer mount problem.....


"geronimo" <Jamesw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:9idan31iagcjgelerenjrp33rh014f4d3a@xxxxxxxxxx

The car makes metallic popping noises from the left front. The
struts/springs are good, have both been recently replaced without
stopping the popping noises. From a stand-still, if you hit the
accelerator just a little, when the car starts to roll, it makes a pop
sound or two. When you are rolling and let off the gas, it will also
make a pop. If you just push down on the front of car and release,
letting it come back up....no matter how hard you do it....there is no
noise. Seems to be a fore/aft thing, not up/down, on the suspension.

I found that the left stabilizer bar mount bolts won't tighten up
all the way. So I tried to remove the mount bolts....they won't
UN-screw either. So apparently this nut plate that is supposed to be
welded in place is spinning, and of course there is no access to the
nutplate, as it is inside of a hollow chassis part cavity. Both ends
of the stabilizer where it connects to the lower control arms are OK,
not loose. I have a suspicion that the mount is moving very slightly
fore and aft causing the popping sounds...it drives me up the wall as
it sounds like something major is wrong.
If I have the mount arc-welded to secure it, then I cannot replace
the mount rubber, which doesn't look too good. Migh be possible to
arc-weld it....ox-acetylene torch would surely melt the rubber.
I depend on this car, so I don't want to die-grind the heads off,
replace the rubber, and then find that I am foo-barred...maybe it is
not driveable with the stabilizer mount not bolted on at all?
Any ideas what can be done about it? (no, the junkyard is not
an option right now! ;-)


If the bracket that holds the sway bar bushing is loose enough, can you push
the bushing sideways to get it out and replace it? If not, then I would
grind off the bolt head, replace the bushing, and arc-weld the bolt bracket.
It doesn't go through that much stress, so a tack in 1 spot should be
enough.

The car is drivable without the sway bar bushing mount attached but it may
handle a little differently and be noisy.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)


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