Chrysler-noisy front end

I own a Chrysler Town and Country minivan with 41,000 miles. It is making
a rattling/thumping noise in the front end (It feels like it is under my
feet) when I hit even the smallest of bumps and especially when I turn
corners. I feel that it is a result of my hitting two large holes on
separate occasions while I was traveling county roads. Does this sound
like a problem with shocks?

 

I had a similar noise years ago. Turned out that my motor mounts were
shot. When I replaced them, the problem got worse! It was then I
discovered that the passenger side half-shaft was actually BENT in the
center section! (This was shortly after I purchased the van used in a
private sale).

Check those. Also, check your front sway bar bushings.

hth

 

It's almost certainly worn sway bar bushing and/or links.
Their design is rather poor. Clunking begins after the slightest wear.
They've been replaced twice on my 2002 Caravan with 71K miles.

It bugs me that this is a known problem for several years and Chrysler
has done nothing to solve it...

Even one of their dealer mechanics has admitted to me that it's a poor
design. Other owners ahve posted similar complaints on this newsgroup.

Mine are about ready to be replaced for a third time. I'm hoping
aftermarket bushings are better.

Doug

 

If the noise is persistent as you drive in a straight line and sway the
vehicle from right to left really fast the sway bar bushing are worn out
causing the noise.
If you hear the noise as you hit a bump or hole, its normally the sway bar
links.
The bushings wear out before the links but the links will be next.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

It's your links and bushings. I have found very good replacements from NAPA.
The bushings are made of a better material. They are a little harder but
I've found it makes the van more stable. THe links are a little more robust
and have grease fittings. Half the cost too.
Larry

 

Based on similar parts for the LH cars, I suspect they are the same
parts (Moog/TRW) that the other regional chains carry. Usually cheaper
at the other chains. The Moogs (their 'Problem Solver™' line) are
greasable, the TRW's are not. One owns the other (IIRC TRW owns Moog?),
but I have found that regardless of which one you have the store order
from the warehouse, you could get either one (Moog or TRW) in the exact
same box under the exact same part number (the only difference in the
box being a label of 'Made in USA' (TRW part) or 'Hecho en Mexico' (TRW
part) - you might order two and get one of each.

Here is an "expose" on the LH aftermarket end links:
http://300mclub.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8050 - not sure how similar
the situation is for the T&C.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

 

no
take it in and have the sway bar links and bushings inspected and also the out
tierods these parts have a high failure rate