# Got new struts installed, sound like crap. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225 "2008-02-12T00:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/1 "2008-02-12T00:29:55Z")
I had a friend who owns an auto shop install new front struts on my 1997 Pontiac Grand Am. He didn’t charge me for labor and I got the struts at cost so I can’t complain. They seem to work fine, but the sound they make going over man-hole covers and such is not fine. They make a sound that I can only describe as hollow. The car doesn’t have that solid sound that you’d expect from new struts. I’m a shade tree mechanic myself, but I don’t mess with front suspension parts. Is there something I can do myself to check for faulty parts and/or installation. I took a look the best I could when I was replacing brake pads and everything looked kosher. One thing I can mention is when I replaced rear shocks myself, I initially didn’t have them aligned properly and they made a sound not unlike the sound of the questionable front struts. I straightened the shocks and everything’s fine now. I looked to see if there was any play in the installation of the struts, but I couldn’t see any. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/2 "2008-02-12T04:37:32Z")
If it is a replacement cartridge, if the nut is left loose at the top of the cartridge, or if there is a spacer that was left out of the bottom, you can get a knocking sound. If the top spring plate is mis-assembled you can get a number of interesting noises. Is the noise on just one side, or both? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/3 "2008-02-12T14:42:16Z")
I don’t have an answer for you, just wanted to tell you that I miss my little 97 Grand Am. ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/4 "2008-02-12T15:15:24Z")
Did you replace the bushings between the frame and the strut? I neglected to do that on my Mazda. It turned out the struts were fine. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/5 "2008-02-12T16:38:44Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] I don’t have an answer for you, just wanted to tell you that I miss my little 97 Grand Am. [/QUOTE] 160K miles and runnin’ like a champ…well, except for the funky struts. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/6 "2008-02-12T16:42:20Z")
[QUOTE=gravitycrash] Did you replace the bushings between the frame and the strut? I neglected to do that on my Mazda. It turned out the struts were fine. [/QUOTE] I don’t have that answer for you. Would that be at the bottom of the strut or at top up under the hood? [Quote=Rick] Is the noise on just one side, or both? [/Quote] I hear it on both sides, but it’s more pronounced when the left wheel goes over something. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/7 "2008-02-12T16:50:13Z")
Maybe this will give you some ideas… > **[How I Fixed The Famous Rattling Sound From The Front](https://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/35502-how-i-fixed-the-famous-rattling-sound-from-the-front/)** > > My 97 ES300 had the famous fornt end rattling noise problem. The noise was very obvious when going over bumps or uneven roads when the car was cold. The noise was less obvious when the car warmed up. I read many posts in LOC and concluded the culprit... ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/8 "2008-02-12T17:32:27Z")
Good news! I just remembered that the same weekend I had the struts put on, I installed a new pair of sway bar links. I just went out and loosened them a little and the obnoxious noise is gone. I’m going to check for a manufacturers torque setting for them, but I doubt there is one. Must have over-tightened them. :smack: Hallelujah! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-new-struts-installed-sound-like-crap/437225/9 "2008-02-12T17:50:25Z")
[QUOTE=King Friday] Good news! I just remembered that the same weekend I had the struts put on, I installed a new pair of sway bar links. I just went out and loosened them a little and the obnoxious noise is gone. I’m going to check for a manufacturers torque setting for them, but I doubt there is one. Must have over-tightened them. :smack: Hallelujah! [/QUOTE] Take them loose and add some thick silicone lube between the bar and links. Then retighten.