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Bad strut

Old 01-05-2016, 08:38 AM
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Bad strut

2009 LS with 41K. Recently started to notice, when I hit this small dip in my neighborhood I will hear a scuffing sound almost as if something turning or rotating is hitting some part of the car. Also seems to be rougher sounding from the front right. That is the side scuffing sound comes from. This is not a klunk or rattle. Yes there is klunking and ratteling on a rough road. I'm thinking the strut has gone by by and the tire or axle is scuffing something? Was 14 degrees out today will have to pull in garage to examine. Just checking to see if anyone ever had rotating parts make contact before? Thanks.
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Old 01-05-2016, 10:33 AM
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hub/bearing?
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Old 01-05-2016, 10:58 AM
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The tire or axle won't(shouldn't) scrape because of a "bad" strut. IF, you have a tire or axle scraping, that could be a serious or even dangerous situation.
Best bet is to take a look and see what the problem is.
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Old 01-05-2016, 11:04 AM
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Could be or would be, the only way to be sure is Jack it up and support with Jack stands , remove the wheel and have a good well lit visual inspection.
Please let us know what you find.
It could be a broken sway bar end link.
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Old 01-05-2016, 12:12 PM
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Or maybe the sway bar rubber bushings.
I notice that mine make a crunching sound at dips in the road when the temperature drops well below freezing. Just a thought.
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Old 01-05-2016, 03:25 PM
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Well with only 41K on this car it all looks clean. Pictures below are of passenger side strut. Looks to be leaking. Worse when first driven. Driver side looks wet also. I did not find anything else loose or signs of rubbing. I did notice the axle seems to wiggle a bit near the trans in an up/down degree of freedom. I've replaced struts on my 04 impala before and it did not even need an alignment afterward. Last image is drivers side. Lower air dam is scuffed up on passenger side maybe that is sound I'm hearing. It hitting the ground?




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Old 01-05-2016, 04:38 PM
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Yup, wet struts, time for a replacement set, might want to replace the rear shocks while your at it! KYB's are a great replacement, I've got 120,000 miles on mine no leaks no bouncy ride.
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Old 01-05-2016, 04:51 PM
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I was wondering what brand to go with thanks oldblue. Kind of a die hard chevy guy and sad to see this kind of stuff at 41K. I know it's 7 years old, but only 2 with me. Might as well do brake pads. Passenger rotor is smooth but has a lip on the back, reuse or replace? In the past I just bought the complete spring/strut. I guess these springs have 7 years of gravity on them.
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Old 01-05-2016, 05:02 PM
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You can go with Monroe Quick struts .
New rotors , Napa , AC Delco, LUC , all good brands
New pads I have had good luck and service from AC Delco over the GM dealers counter.
Premium Ceramic pads
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Old 01-06-2016, 09:40 AM
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Compiling a list of parts. I measured my sway bar link and it was about 9.875 on Rock auto the short one is FE5 Performance And Handling Suspension. Is this just the standard suspension for a LS? Even though my link bars are not bad yet at 41k I was thinking about putting the Moog on while I'm in there.


You think I'd be better off with KYB and new springs or the quick struts. Quality wise?
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