Clunking Sound?

[Endopro]

Hey guys. I'm wondering if my strut mounts are going. I have been having this audible and feelable "clunk" quite frequently. It happens when the car is close to a stop. If i'm stopping, It will happen just as the car stops and the weight transfers from the front suspension back to the rear--no matter how lightly I roll to a stop. Sometimes i'll be sitting at a stop, and as I pull out I will hear the clunk as I begin to roll, as the weight shifts to the rear.

Sound like strut mounts? Bushings? Just looking for some input, thx!

[Endopro]

Wow. Nobody knows anything hey? I bet if I asked about body kits i'd get all kinds of responses.

[branchedout]

easy n00b... try a little searching.

[B3NN3TT]

Originally Posted by branchedout

easy n00b... try a little searching.

NOT HELPING.

FYI, this is the first I've seen of this thread.

Tell me - is the noise coming from the front? Rear? All around? Underneath? Happen any other times?

We really need more info than you're giving; at this point, it could be about 470 different things.

[Endopro]

Yeah I know, "clunk sound" isn't too specific. But it sounds like its coming from the front wheel wells. And it's sort of feel-able. Like you can feel a bit of a jerk when it happens. The only times it happens is just as the car stops and just as the car starts to roll. Thats it.

[B3NN3TT]

The obvious suspects, then, would be the ball joint(s), stabilizer link(s), strut mount(s)/bearing(s), or stabilizer bushing(s).

You can inspect the stabilizer bushings visually, by looking at where the stabilizer is shackled to the subframe. The rubber bushings can squeeze out of the shackles and the bar just bumps on bare metal.

The ball joints can be inspected by feel. Jack up the wheel off the ground, and pull in and out on the bottom edge of the tire. If there's any play, the ball joint on that side is shot, and should be replaced IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT MESS WITH BAD BALL JOINTS. THEY WILL KILL YOU IF THEY BREAK WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING.

The stabilizer links are a little harder to check. The easiest way to check those is to cut the wheel all the way right, then go to the driver's side and grab hold of the link. Then have a friend bounce the front of the car up and down, while you feel for play in the link. Cut the wheel the other way and switch sides to check the passenger's side.

The strut mounts can be inspected visually by opening the hood. When the wheels are on the ground, the rubber ring on top of the strut should sit pretty much flush with the strut tower, and it should not be able to be moved by hand. If there is a large gap between the rubber ring and the strut tower, and if the ring can be moved by hand, the mounts and/or bearings on the front struts are shot.

There are a few other things that MIGHT cause noise, like worn brake parts. But we'll eliminate the obvious suspects first.

[deliveryguy]

Sticky that post to the suspension faq...

[southsiderida90]

sway bar bushing,the stock ones are so cheap,get polyurathanes

[Turbo Zetec 'tour]

something else to look at is the roll resistors and the CV joints. both can make a clunk when you start/stop

[Jader]

Im having the same kind of problem. I had everything check out suspension wise when i brought it into a dealership. I had a shake problem then, but they fixed that. Any ideas what they might not have looked at that could cause a thud/clunk sound going over bumps at slow speeds? That comes from the front end. It almost feels like I dont even have shocks.