Diagnose this front-end noise
 

Hi! It's been a while.

I'm having some front end clunking going on. It seems to happen at lower speeds (below 40mph) and sounds like someone is knocking on the undercarriage when it happens. Going over bumps initiates it, and it sounds like the front of the car is going to fall off. The steering also feels rather loose.

I also noticed sometimes the same clunk appears when I shift quick from 1st to 2nd, or if I am in 1st and let off the gas hard before pressing in the clutch. It doesn't always happen, but sometimes it does.

Parts replaced that didn't do anything:

Front struts, strut mounts, control arm bushings, swaybar endlinks, ball joints. I had a tire shop check out the entire front end and he said everything he could see/feel looked good.

I'm going to replace the intermediate shaft, since it's rusty and I think I replaced it with some POS Dorman unit like 3 years ago. I think the part was even recalled at one point, haha.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Chris

Look at the sway bar bushings. Known to be common cause of clunk.

I grabbed the swaybar by the bushings and shook it as hard as I could and I didn't hear any noise or feel any play. I also smacked the entire swaybar with a rubber mallet and everything felt solid, but who knows.

If the I-Shaft doesn't fix it, which it probably won't knowing my luck, I'll replace the swaybar bushings as I think they are relatively cheap.

Thanks,
Chris

Update!

I'm able to grab the I-Shaft from the drivers seat and turn the wheel back and forth. Not only can you hear the clunking, but you can feel it as well. Hopefully the new part fixes it.

Chris

bump for results.

By hand my sway bar felt fine but when i looked at the bushing i saw this. I ordered new prothane ones off Jegs for 10.99.

http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/mm...qxv5.jpg.html]Attachment 11759[/URL

Visually they look OK, nothing like yours.

I know this is an old thread but did you ever figure this problem out?

Nope. I think it's either the steering column, intermediate shaft, or gear lash in the power steering motor.

Was wondering cause I got the same issue. My buddy is a really good mechanic and we checked the intermediate shaft and he said it definitely isn't that. He said it could possibly be the rack(I guess it's called).

The steering (intermediate) shaft goes into the rack and pinion.

When we checked it we we're checking the joint area on the steering that kinda looks like a universal joint.

That's at the end of the steering shaft. If you see a ton of 'red' there, it's rusted and needs to be replaced. Mine was really bad, needed a hammer and a square head to pound it off.

I'm getting the same clunk and came across this thread. I'm thinking it's either the sway bar bushings or the intermediate steering shaft on mine. Good info, thanks guys.

well this is a different clunk, but if anyone has that trunk gremlin that's always making clunks from the trunk area, your exhaust hangers are worn out. took me like 5 years to find that little bastard. lol

Maybe someone can make a thread on all the clunks and rattles along with the fix....

Only other strange noise I had was the cowbell sound on acceleration..... turned out to be the factory resonator.

Check the balljoints, the steering knuckles and the bolts that secure the balljoints. I had the same issue for years and it was the balljoints. They had so much play that they damage the bolts that secure them and the steering knuckles too.