Front Suspension

[PaulyGXP]

How problematic has everyone found the front suspension to be in the GXP's? So far I've had the normal intermittant shaft problem, but also have replaced the stabilizer links. Now I have a feeling the driver side ball joints are going as there is a clink noise at almost every bump. Could be something else too, but thats my guess as of now. I'll have to check this weekend when I change the oil.

[sethjamesrimrodt]

How many miles do you have?

[repinS]

Nothing out of the ordinary for any car at the expected age and mileage. I just had to change out inner tie rods for the second time recently - but the catch is that I don't know what kind the original owner put in. If he had gone with bargain basement cheapies, they were due for replacement again.

[pontiacivan]

I have 143K. Did passenger side wheel bearing, new one is noisy after one year. OEM driver side is loose and needs replacement but quite as a mouse. Upper strut bearings are stiff and creaky. My '02 had all the same issues by 180k. Overall, no complaints, everything else is tight.

[PaulyGXP]

I'm at 98,000 miles now. Ball joints looked good and tight, I did grease them though. Everything looked good underneath, meaning all was tight and free of rattles. I wonder if something is just loose and rattling such as a heat shield or something along that line...

[Gagger14]

I have the same things going on with my GXP; bought mine off some farmer and noticed missing stabilizer links, minor intermittent shaft "clicking," and ball joints that ride extremely hard (haven't had time to get under the car yet). But I guess I wasn't completely surprised considering I don't know the farmer's maintenance habits and my car now has 101k on it as I drive all over MN for work.

[00Beast]

How did you grease them? Did they have zerks?

[PaulyGXP]

How did you grease them? Did they have zerks?

Yes, lower ball joint has a zerk.

[00Beast]

Are they bolted in? I know our GXP doesn't have zerks, along with my 03, making me wonder if yours haven't already been replaced once...

[sethjamesrimrodt]

Are your ball joins bolted on or riveted? If they are bolted they are for sure aftermarket. Mine too don't have zerks.

[PaulyGXP]

Hmmm... I'll have to take a peak on that one...

[PaulyGXP]

Well took a peak under the car, they really do look factory. Hard to believe the lower ball joint on both sides of the front of the car were replaced. They have 1 zerk right on the top.

[yourgrandma]

Could be replacement co.trol arms.

[L82shark]

Did you check the sway bar bushings? Mine just rolled over 30k miles and had a clunk, changed the end links and it helped but there was still some noise there. Got it back up and looked at the swaybar bushings and you could see daylight between the swaybar and the bushing. Put the Energy suspension bushings in and problem is gone. Got some pics somewhere....

[CMNTMXR57]

I had none. This is one area I never had to mess with. Most OEM suspension parts no longer use zerk fittings, so if you see them, it ain't stock most likely!