Should there be any play in the frame mount bushings on the lower control arm or the rack and pinion frame mount bushing?

Sway bar bushing, Ball joints and Strut Mounts make these noises. See if the ball joint have grease fittings then get them greased. Check if Control arm bushings have play and can they be pumped with grease. If Control arm bushings have play then change the complete Control arm which will be economical in the long run. Please check and get back to me with more information.

Unless the rack is moving side to side due to loose bolts or warn bushings it is almost impossible for it to make any type of noise at all,
if poping noises can be heard turning the wheel while the car is parked you have one of a few different problems,
1, worn ball joints
2, warn control arm bushings
3, worn tie rods
4, worn upper strut mount bearings

The rack and pinion can usually be rejuvenated by flushing the system and adding Lucas rack and pinion sealer, this seals it internally also making it work much better.

Check the upper control arm and make sure that it is tight at the frame. The bolt can work loose. tighten and use a nut lock glue to prevent return of problem. Spent a lot of time and effort on this one.

Many bushings all over in cars and all are pressed in. Which bushing are you referring to?

Well there are stabilizer bar bushings, control arm bushings and strut mount bushings. The stabilizer bushings are usally bolted around the the stabilizer bar and attach to the frame. The control arm bushings are usally pressed into the control arms. The strut mount bushings are on top of the struts. Normally they are replaced as needed. The strut mount bushings are good to do when replacing the struts.

the lca does serve a big purpose. and to check the play you have to put the jack under the lca and check for play. if you don't have anything except the boot. You can buy them at advance auto parts or any other one under help brand name.

Removing the rack and pinion assembly from a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am Se To get the old rack and pinion off of the car for replacement involves lowering the sub-frame, removing the stabilizer bar, and pulling the rack out from the driver side of the vehicle.

• Start by lifting or jacking up the car and removing the front wheels. Once the car is safely supported, disconnect both tie rods from the steering knuckles.
• The rear motor mount sits on top of the cross-member part of the sub-frame, and must be disconnected to allow the sub-frame to drop a few inches. Remove the three bolts attaching it to the center of the sub-frame - one in the back and two in the front near the back of the transmission.
• Loosen the two bolts holding the front of the sub-frame. Place a scissor jack or bottle jack under the rear of the sub-frame where the bolt for the motor mount was. Remove the two smaller bolts from each side of the rear of the sub-frame (total 4 bolts) and then loosen the two remaining larger bolts holding the rear of the sub-frame (these bolts go through the rear control arm bushings and are very long) until the bolts are only going through the control arm bushing, and not into the chassis. You do not need to remove these completely.
• Remove the stabilizer links from both sides.
• Next you must disconnect the steering linkage. This is done easily by lifting up the rubber boot to expose the small bolt holding the linkage. Remove the bolt and pry the linkage upward using a pry tool or screw driver.
• Near the passenger side of the crossmember, remove the bolt holding the power steering line bracket to the chassis. You may now begin to lower the sub-frame using the jack. The front bolts should have lowered the sub-frame about a half-inch or so, allowing you to lower the back of the sub-frame 3 or 4 inches.
• With the sub-frame lowered, you can now access the bolts holding the stabilizer bar in place. The right side has a nut screwed onto the top of it holding the power steering lines, remove this first, then remove both bolts. Pry or pull the stabilizer brackets up and out. Remove the stabilizer bar.
• Now you can get to both of the bolts holding the rack in place. Remove both of these, then begin to slide the rack toward the driver side wheel well until there is no more slack in the power steering lines. At this point you should be able to get to the nuts securing the lines on the rack. Loosen both nuts and be ready with something to cap the ends with. I used part of a plastic bag and a wire to tie it. You can now pull the rack out through the driver side.
• Be sure to replace the rubber o-rings on the ends of the lines when putting the new rack in. Replace everything in the reverse order. Put your tie rods on the new rack, making sure to count the turns or make a mark or measure to be sure your tie rods end up close to the same length as before.
• Bleed the power steering system.

Important: Get an alignment! Not only is it dangerous to drive with your steering out of align but it will also grate the tread off your tires in a matter of weeks or even days.

The bushings on rack-and-pinion steering mounts may have disintegrated and need to be replaced.
which will create slack in the steering when ever you drive it . The ball joints could and control arm bushings could also be worn inspect them for ware.

i don't think you have to do any repairs from the top end. I will list most fromFord shop manual. Please rate as Fixya if this answers your questions. Please report back. Good luck.

Section 04-02: Suspension and Wheel Hubs, Rear 1994 Town Car, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis. Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Spring Rear
Removal

1. Position a hoist under the rear axle housing, and raise the vehicle. Refer to Section 00-02 . Place jackstands under frame side rails.

1. Remove rear stabilizer bar as outlined.

1. Disconnect the lower studs of the two shock absorbers from the mounting brackets on the rear axle assembly .

1. Unsnap the RH parking brake rear cable and conduit (2A635) from RH upper arm retainer before lowering the rear axle assembly .

1. Lower the hoist and axle housing until the rear springs are released.

1. Remove rear spring and rear spring center mounting insulators (5741) from vehicle.
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Shock Absorber Removal
Raise the vehicle on a hoist. 1. To assist in removing the upper attachment on shock absorbers using a plastic dust tube, place an open end wrench on the hex stamped into the dust tube's metal cap. For shock absorbers with a steel dust tube, simply grasp the tube to prevent stud rotation when loosening the retaining nut.

1. Remove the shock absorber retaining nut, washer, and insulator assembly from the stud on the upper side of the frame. Discard nut. Compress the shock absorber to clear the hole in the frame, and remove the inner insulator and washer from the upper retaining stud.
2. Remove the self-locking retaining nut, and disconnect the shock absorber lower stud from the mounting bracket on the rear axle tube.
3. Perform Shock Absorber Checks. Refer to Section 04-00 to determine shock absorbers performance.

Installation

1. Properly prime the new shock absorber . Refer to Section 04-00 , Shock Absorber Checks.

1. Place the inner washer and rear spring insulator (5536) on the upper retaining stud, and position the shock absorber so that the upper retaining stud enters the hole in the frame. While holding the shock absorber in this position, install a new rear spring insulator , washer and nut assembly on the upper side of the upper frame. Be sure to seat the rear spring insulator in the frame attaching hole. Tighten nut to 34-46 Nm (25-34 lb-ft).

1. Extend the shock absorber , and place the lower stud in the mounting bracket hole on the rear axle assembly housing. Install a new self-locking retaining nut. Tighten nut to 76.5-103.5 Nm (56-76 lb-ft).

1. Lower vehicle.

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Arm Lower
Removal
Refer to the illustration in Description and Operation. NOTE: To improve rear axle assembly noise and vibration concerns, the rear suspension should be fastened to the frame and rear axle assembly at the curb height position.
NOTE: If one rear suspension lower arm requires replacement, also replace the opposite rear suspension lower arm .
WARNING: TURN REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH OFF (IF SO EQUIPPED).
NOTE: If both rear suspension arm and bushings and both rear suspension lower arms are to be removed at the same time, remove both rear springs as outlined under Rear Spring Removal. For air spring removal, refer to Section 04-05 .

1. Mark rear suspension shock absorber relative to protective sleeve with the vehicle in a static, level ground condition.

1. Remove rear stabilizer bar as outlined.

1. Raise the vehicle on a hoist, and place jackstands under the rear axle assembly . Refer to Section 00-02 .

1. Lower the hoist until the shock absorbers are fully extended to relieve rear spring pressure.

1. Support rear axle assembly under differential pinion nose as well as under rear axle assembly .

1. Remove and discard the lower arm pivot bolt and nut from the axle bracket. Then, disengage the rear suspension lower arm from the bracket.

1. Remove and discard the pivot bolt and nut from the frame bracket, and remove the rear suspension lower arm .

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Upper
Removal
SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL(S) REQUIRED Description Tool Number Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A1, A2 and A5 Rear Axle Control Arm Bushing Tools T86P-5638-AH
WARNING: TURN OFF REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED).

1. Raise the vehicle, and support the frame side rails with jackstands. Refer to Section 00-02 .
2. Support the rear axle assembly .
3. Lower the rear axle assembly , and support the rear axle assembly under differential pinion nose as well as under rear axle assembly .
4. Unsnap parking brake rear cable and conduit from upper arm retainer.
5. Remove and discard the nut and bolt retaining the rear suspension arm and bushing to the rear axle assembly housing. Disconnect the rear suspension arm and bushing from the housing.
6. Remove and discard the nut and bolt that secures the rear suspension arm and bushing to the frame bracket, and remove the rear suspension arm and bushing . If upper arm rear bushing is to be replaced, use Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A and Rear Axle Control Arm Bushing Tools T86P-5638-AH and the following procedure:
7. Place the upper arm rear bushing remover tool in position, and pull bushing out. Using Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A install bushing assembly into bushing ear of rear axle assembly.

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Stabilizer Bar
WARNING: TURN OFF REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED).
Removal

1. Raise vehicle on hoist, and place jackstands under the frame side rails. Refer to Section 00-02 .

1. Lower the hoist and rear axle assembly housing until the shock absorbers are fully extended.

1. Disconnect rear stabilizer bars from rear stabilizer bar link and bushing (5C488) . Remove bolts and stabilizer bar bracket (5486) retaining rear stabilizer bar to rear axle assembly .