Strut Popping Sound

[NAiLs]

I wanted to get an opinion on what may be going on with my front driver side spring/strut...

After I got my car back from Goodyear (See my thread about my experience at Goodyear with my wheels) to do a tire install and alignment, my front driver side strut has been making a popping noise.  Basically when the wheel is on the ground, you can turn it and you can hear the spring snap into place.  I jacked the car up in the air and when the strut and spring are relaxed, you no longer hear this noise.  Dropping it back down it occurrs again.  Being a little redundant... After physically watching it, you can see the bottom of the spring basically snap back into place, making the noise that I've been hearing.

The passenger side does not do this.

I notice it all the time while driving, so no matter what direction I turn the wheel, the noise happens.  I also mainly notice this noise when driving at lower speeds, such as under 20MPH.

Could there be something that I can easily pop back into place?  I'm honestly clueless where to begin troubleshooting, since the suspension is one thing that I've never really played with much on a car.  I'm not an idiot given direction, though.

Any ideas?  Or am I up for a repair at the dealership?

If my description of the issue sucks, let me know and I can clarify or get a video. 

Thanks!

-Brian

 

[glock-coma]

I would check the top strut mount. It has bearings inside allowing the wheel/strut assembly to rotate. Also check the spring to make sure its seated properly. 

 

[NAiLs]

I would check the top strut mount. It has bearings inside allowing the wheel/strut assembly to rotate. Also check the spring to make sure its seated properly.

I'll definitely double check the first one, but what am I looking for in terms of the spring being seated properly?  That could be all that my issue is, but I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for.

 

[glock-coma]

This should help. 
http://www.aa1car.com/library/strut_suspensions.htm

 

[ShoBoat]

The strut mount at the top of the strut has a bearing in it. If the bearing is really dirty, damaged or not seated properly it can cause what you are talking about. It happened to me. I think I did a how to, I'll see if I can find the link.

 

[ShoBoat]

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=2759

 

[NAiLs]

This should help. 
http://www.aa1car.com/library/strut_suspensions.htm

Thanks!  I'll read over that website to learn more!

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=2759

Danke!  I'll read through your post there and see if it's exactly what I'm experiencing.  If I get a moment this weekend, I'll even check it out on my car.

 

[NAiLs]

So I'm revisiting this since I finally have time to actually work on this while working on my car this weekend.  I was sick for two weeks after posting this, then the weather has sucked since.  I can grab the spring and rotate it counterclockwise and it'll pop in my hands.  It pops up top, not on the bottom.  I am pretty sure this isn't normal and this is the symptom that I'm seeing when all four wheels are on the ground.

So if I wanted to check the upper mount, am I just removing the four nuts up top?  Is there anything else special that I need to do?  I'm not a complete idiot with cars, but suspensions are one thing that I've never really learned.  I just wanted to make sure I don't botch something. 

Thanks!

-Brian