pin pointing new noise
 

My clunking noise is louder than ever. I have a new and improved intermediate shaft I was hoping to eliminate all my low speed noises, guess what still there. I put the car on jack stands on the frame. I had a friend turn the wheel when running, I can feel the clunking in the pass. and driverside spring. I used my stethoscope and could hear a popping/clunking noise mostly in the pass. side spring but also on the drivers side. I also tried to pry with a crow bar at the control arm/ lower ball joint with little movement though there was some. Does anyone know which one is more common or what types of noise would point to which one being the culprit?- Thanks for any help- Ron

My guess is both the upper strut bearings are going toast. The clunk you hear while turning may be related to the bearing binding up. Once the binding is overcome by spring wind-up tension the bearing lets go and you get that pop! If one is going the other is sure to follow. I'd replace both if you narrow it down to the bearings.

Any better ideas out there?

Nope - I was thinking the same thing. We seem to have more of those bearing problems starting to show up. Sounds like the passenger side is worse.

Can you give me a quick idea on how to replace? Do I need to compress the spring with the car sitting on a jack stand on the frame?

<<Do I need to compress the spring with the car sitting on a jack stand>>

You bet. You can rent a spring compressor at some auto parts stores. Be VERY careful. You can break a wrist, or worse, if not very careful. Once you get over the fear of compressing the spring the rest is very easy. The hardest part to compressing the spring is positioning the fingers on the springs so they do not slip off.

Unfortunately, nothing that easy. You'll have to remove the strut from the car, get spring compressors to compress the spring, then take the top mount off.

Edit - In the previous generation Bonnevilles, they've has some luck squirting some oil into the top mount. We don't have the extra room that they do, but you could try and give it a shot.

I thought the strut would come out by just unbolting the three bolts under the hood and the two that pierce the steering knuckle? I was thinking by looking at the strut assembly that the strut limits the lower control arm downward movement.

I guess I should have worded that more clearly. Yes, as you have it listed is how the strut comes out. It comes out as an entire assembly, including the spring and top strut mount, where the bearing is. The spring, is compressed between that mount, and the spring seat on the strut. If you remove that top mount from the assembly without compressing the spring, the spring and mount will come flying off with dangerous, if not deadly, force.

I wanted to try to grease the bearing if possible. My question is can I do this without removing the assembly? I need to buy myself some time before I replace them. I was also wondering if I normally need to replace the the whole bearing plate and all or if I could save some $ and just replace the bearing itself?

You can try to lube the bearing, but I think it will be tough to get to, and it's buried between the strut mount and the spring seat. You should be able to replace the bearing separate from the mount. This is the parts breakdown.
Attachment 43296