2006 Dodge Stratus Squeaking and knocking

BBBOUDOIN

MEMBER
2006 DODGE STRATUS
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC

The other day I started to hear a squeaking by the front drivers side tire. About two days ago I started to hear a knocking on top to the squeaking. Someone informed me that it may be the motor mount, and it was ok to drive till I can get it fixed. Yesterday I was going to the store and was turning onto a street and herd a loud crunch, followed by my tire coming off. On closer inspection, I found that all of my tire studs had broken completely off. I had to get my car towed home and I put new tire studs on and got the tire back on. I thought it may have been that the lug nuts were loose but now that I have the tire back on and know the lug nuts are tight, the sound is still there. I have no idea what it could it be other then the cv joint? What do you thing? Please help!

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,754 POSTS

First you need to have the steering and suspension systems inspected at a tire and alignment shop. Some of the more common suspects are a worn lower ball joint and lower control arm bushing. If the ball joint separates, you'll lose control of the car and the tire will flop into the fender and damage it.

The wheel studs broke because the last person to install that wheel failed to use a click-type torque wrench. Over-tightening a lug nut can lead to peeled threads. That shows up when the next person tries to get that nut off. Tightening the nuts unequally leads to uneven clamping forces. That puts most of the stress on one or two studs. Those will snap first, then the others will have all of the stress and they will snap too.