Clunking/Banging in driver front?? Strut??
12-05-2010, 06:09 PM
#1
Clunking/Banging in driver front?? Strut?? I put a post on here a while back and got some feedback saying that people thought my issue was most likely a strut or wheel bearing. I've had it up on a lift a couple times and haven't been able to lock down what the issue is. There is no noticeable slack or anything out of the ordinary in the front, but on bumpy roads I have a loose front left...I spent the weekend in the mountains, driving on the backroads and there was a couple times I thought the wheel was gonna fall off. Is there any way I can nail down what this may be without just starting to replace parts till I find the right one? I've taken it to 2 garages and neither time could I find a road that was rough enough to replicate the noises and overall loose feeling. It's a 04 with 93,xxx on the clock. Just wondering if someone has had anything similar or what parts typically go bad around 100k.
12-05-2010, 06:52 PM
#2
Have you checked your swaybar endlink(s)? I have a small clunk in the front sometimes myself and am thinking that is to blame. Problem is, you probably need to check it 'loaded' (weight down), so not sure easiest way. Irritating having little nuiasances like that on a suspension!
12-05-2010, 07:49 PM
#3
Have you checked your swaybar endlink(s)? I have a small clunk in the front sometimes myself and am thinking that is to blame. Problem is, you probably need to check it 'loaded' (weight down), so not sure easiest way. Irritating having little nuiasances like that on a suspension!
12-05-2010, 08:14 PM
#4
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I had a similar issue and similar diagnostic results: nothing. Then I decided to take a closer look at my endlinks. I removed the end that connects to the bar so I could examine the link better. Tight. Hmm. I put it back and did the same thing to the other side. Also tight. Double hmm. Then I got smart and pulled that one back off the bar and yank up and down on the sway bar. I tried this before and everything was tight, but with an end link disconnected I finally found my culprit. Both sides had worn sway bar bushings and the bar was clunking around but ONLY when one side of the car would hit a bump or a dip. If yours doesn't clunk over something like a speed bump taken evenly, but does over a single wheel bump or dip, do look into the above. Of course, the bushings are cheap but back ordered...
Oh and I have 101k on mine and I think the bushings are original. I noticed you're at 93k...but it could be a few other things in your case, like shocks, if this doesn't pan out.
Oh and I have 101k on mine and I think the bushings are original. I noticed you're at 93k...but it could be a few other things in your case, like shocks, if this doesn't pan out.
12-05-2010, 09:13 PM
#5
I had a similar issue and similar diagnostic results: nothing. Then I decided to take a closer look at my endlinks. I removed the end that connects to the bar so I could examine the link better. Tight. Hmm. I put it back and did the same thing to the other side. Also tight. Double hmm. Then I got smart and pulled that one back off the bar and yank up and down on the sway bar. I tried this before and everything was tight, but with an end link disconnected I finally found my culprit. Both sides had worn sway bar bushings and the bar was clunking around but ONLY when one side of the car would hit a bump or a dip. If yours doesn't clunk over something like a speed bump taken evenly, but does over a single wheel bump or dip, do look into the above. Of course, the bushings are cheap but back ordered...
Oh and I have 101k on mine and I think the bushings are original. I noticed you're at 93k...but it could be a few other things in your case, like shocks, if this doesn't pan out.
Oh and I have 101k on mine and I think the bushings are original. I noticed you're at 93k...but it could be a few other things in your case, like shocks, if this doesn't pan out.
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12-06-2010, 10:46 AM
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I'll check that. Thanks.
12-06-2010, 12:12 PM
#9
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Mine rarely does it on speedbumps or even the usual bumps on the road. It only happens when im on a rough road where the the bumps are abrupt and uneven. Its not horrible but its enough that i notice it. Im better a million bucks its my sway bar bushings since everything else in the steering/handling feels tight as it should. Ive just been too lazy to check it. About to do another oil change though so ill look at it when i get it on the lift.
12-07-2010, 07:45 PM
#10
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Mine seems kinda bad now. I'm hoping it's causing a weird side to side feeling over certain road surfaces. It feels so awful sometimes that I laid under my rear suspension for like an hour over the weekend. If it's just the front bushings causing the bar to have no resistance for a couple degrees of roll I will be THRILLED...still on back order....the stupidest **** for these cars is unavailable with no aftermarket vendor. Makes me so mad...
12-07-2010, 08:32 PM
#11
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My dealer ordered sway bar bushings for mine yesterday.... said it would be this week but we shall see. I have a feeling that they will call back and say they are backordered..pff
12-07-2010, 08:53 PM
#12
I'm gonna call tomorrow and see what they tell me. How much $$ did they quote on these if you don't mind me asking? I'd like to see how much they vary by dealers. I got the "next week" runaround for 6 weeks on my motor mounts till I got some from a guy on here.
12-09-2010, 01:02 PM
#14
@ the local dealer they are $15.99ea....Says it's a "special order" part and he's gonna get back with me on the timeline. I cut the wheel and it has about 1/4-1/2" of slack. Definitely a problem....Not sure if it's all the problem, but something that's GOTTA be replaced.
12-09-2010, 03:15 PM
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I have a similar noise over a bumpy road that seems like it's coming from the front struts. It only happends in cold temperatures though. When summer roles around I don't hear a thing...same road too.
12-09-2010, 03:35 PM
#18
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38500 miles on my 07 V. I must have over 3-4 pages of service history... Thank god I bought a CPO car with warranty through 7/2012.
Last edited by .Houdini.; 12-09-2010 at 04:59 PM.
12-11-2010, 12:43 PM
#20
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I think the front sway bar bushings get worse in cold weather because they shrink and harden. This makes the hole bigger and when the bar hits the bushing, it's louder. Mine is still driving me insane and I haven't heard anything from Luke on the status of the back order. I think I paid $12/ea or something.