Hi everyone, Earlier this week I noticed a clunking noise when I turned the steering wheel hard right or left. I took it to a local shop to have it checked out and the mechanic said the problem most likely looked like the bushing to the lower control arm. He backed out the bolt and slid the control arm over to show me the bushing. Sure enough it looked like it was cracked. The mechanic said that he did not have much experience with Probes but that many other control arm bushings like the Probes are not just pressed into the control arm but are actually vulcanized into place. If this is the case then just getting a bushing and pressing it into the control arm will not do. He called the Ford dealer service dept. to ask them if the bushing came separate and could be replace or if purchasing the whole control arm was necessary. The service dept. could not answer our question and said that they would check for an answer and call us right back. Well Ford never called us back and I had to leave the shop. Can anyone verify if this is true or not? Can the lower control arm bushing be replaced by purchasing a new one and pressing it in or do I have to replace the whole control arm? -Lino Sacman SCPOC, Rio-Red '93 PSE, 5-spd >eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/2literprobes >http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications > > > > >

I recently have encountered the same sort of sound... only when turning hard, regardless of direction (forward or reverse). I assume it is something with the bushings, as I have not touched them and the car has almost 80,000 miles now, though I do have the standard Eibach's, Tokico struts, and upper strut brace... hopefully I can get mine up on the rack and check through it soon. If I do that before we get any other responses, I'll be sure to let you know what I find.. michael

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. It was the steering rack not the lower control arm bushings. My experience on other cars is that when lower control arm bushings are in need of replacement one hears a creaking or clunk when going over bumps. I would check the steering rack, I seem to recall that this is not an uncommon problem, the clunking when wheel is turned to lock. Hope this helps. Chris

This make sense to me. If you have a noise that was only triggers under hard turning, I would have a hard time believing that the problem was in a control arm bushing. Heck it may be, but I would certainly look into the steering rack as suggested by Chris. Bryan >

I suspected that it was the rack in the power steering also and asked the mechanic about it. He said that if it was the rack ( or rather a broken tooth (gear) in the rack that there would be a very small but noticeable "slip" in the steering as you turn it. This slip was not happening in my case so it eliminates the rack. -Lino Sacman

Lino, Unless you really know this mechanic, I would get a second opinion. There was no slip with mine, only a clunk. I still think it would be the rack. Cracks in rubber bushings are common as rubber hardens over time, if you have chunks of bushing missing or a lot of play than they would need replacing. It may be the control arms, but I would first suspect the rack and definitely get a second opinion. Chris

Thanks. I will get a second opinion from another shop this weekend. How much did that power steering rack cost you to replace it anyway? -Lino Sacman

I do not remember the cost as it was under warranty. I know it is not cheap, at least a few hundred dollars. Chris