On-car inspection of rear pillowballs?
#1
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
On-car inspection of rear pillowballs?
Is there a way to tell if your rear pillowballs have any play in them with the arm on the car?
I have a bit of noise from the rear suspension, but I've replaced the pillowballs that obviously had free play. I can't really just from pulling on the tire if any others have free play.
I have a bit of noise from the rear suspension, but I've replaced the pillowballs that obviously had free play. I can't really just from pulling on the tire if any others have free play.
#2
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
It's been a few years but as I recall it helped having someone else rock the wheel while I held on to the different suspension arms. I had noise but none of mine were obviously sloppy...seems like that was how I finally found them. I could feel it, but couldn't see it. The thing is, once I confirmed it was indeed a couple pillowballs I just change them all. Figured if two were gone the others wouldn't be far behind.
Last edited by Sgtblue; 04-24-17 at 08:58 AM.
#4
needs more track time
iTrader: (16)
Is there a way to tell if your rear pillowballs have any play in them with the arm on the car?
I have a bit of noise from the rear suspension, but I've replaced the pillowballs that obviously had free play. I can't really just from pulling on the tire if any others have free play.
I have a bit of noise from the rear suspension, but I've replaced the pillowballs that obviously had free play. I can't really just from pulling on the tire if any others have free play.
#5
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
That has been my experience, but I just had it aligned (which is a huge PITA since my car isn't road legal) and would prefer not to take the suspension apart again.
#6
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
#7
Rotary Freak
If you mark the cam bolt and washer to the subframe and don't adjust the toe link length, you should be good.....unless everything is truly flogged out. I can't imagine how you'd get a good idea of the condition of the components disassembled - on the hoist rocking the wheel with someone behind is the way you'd see a mechanical workshop checking them.
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#8
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
If you mark the cam bolt and washer to the subframe and don't adjust the toe link length, you should be good.....unless everything is truly flogged out. I can't imagine how you'd get a good idea of the condition of the components disassembled - on the hoist rocking the wheel with someone behind is the way you'd see a mechanical workshop checking them.
I will give the two-person technique a try at some point.
#9
Rotary Freak
You have a rather large lever with a wheel. All I've ever been able to determine with an arm off is if the dust boots are rooted and if the spherical moves more freely than a new one.
#10
Senior Member
Grab the tire at 3 O'clock and 9 O'clock and rock back and forth with bad pillow ***** you'll see it move and will feel it's not tight and clunks. Also replace the inner and outer toe control rod bushings when doing the pillow ***** as they tend to need it at the same time.
you will be amazed how tight the rear end feels after the new bushings are installed.
you will be amazed how tight the rear end feels after the new bushings are installed.
#11
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
Grab the tire at 3 O'clock and 9 O'clock and rock back and forth with bad pillow ***** you'll see it move and will feel it's not tight and clunks. Also replace the inner and outer toe control rod bushings when doing the pillow ***** as they tend to need it at the same time.
you will be amazed how tight the rear end feels after the new bushings are installed.
you will be amazed how tight the rear end feels after the new bushings are installed.
#12
rotorhead
iTrader: (3)
for what it's worth, previous owner had installed aftermarket toe control links, and car had original pillow ***** (about 50k on them). Replaced toe control links with originals + new OEM bushings, and replaced all pillowballs, and clunk went away. I mean that's over $500 in parts but they are basically a wear item on these cars. if you want quiet and smooth you've got to go new OEM.
#14
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
Thread Starter
I'm starting to wonder if the noise isn't from the springs or the sway bar joints. Having no interior means I hear every little noise that isn't masked by the exhaust noise...