I have a 2008 Cobalt Sport. Last year the clunking started rear CAB's and sway bar end links fixed that. After winter this year it returned. I replaced the struts and it is still there. Had it into shop tonight and they can't find anything. They checked sway bar bushings, tie rods, ball joints, perhaps loose nut on new quick strut. I am now at a loss for what it could be. Any thoughts?
Thanks

 

Control arm bushings, nutorious on cobalts, just follow the control from the lower ball joint to the frame, it's a round donut looking rubber bushing, usually cracked and separating, under load you won't be able to wiggle it though.. easy miss if you don't know what you're looking at

 

He said he replaced cabs already.

OP there are like 1000 threads on steering clunk. Check ur intermediate shaft for play. Could be your rack also

 

Steering intermediate shaft
Steering rack
Sway bar bushings
Strut mount/bearings
Rear trailing arm bushings
Also if your struts were not aligned properly with the mount/bearing clunk city

 

guess I scanned too quickly lol

 

One hard winter can destroy the OEM CABs

 

The struts were replaced with quick struts so there should be a problem with them and the CAB's were replaced with MOOG one's.

How do I check intermediate shaft for play and as well as the rack?

I am finally getting the ignition recall done next week if I can't find it by then hopefully the dealership does.

Thanks

 

Shake ur steering wheel back and forth and see it u hear the noise

 

To check the rack disconnect the intermediate shaft and outter tie rods and move back and forth using the tierods checking for binding.
As for the shaft there is no fool proof way to check it in place removal and inspection of the u joints is really all to do also make sure the bolt is good and tight with red loctite mine would loosen of causing the intermediate shaft to move on the shaft sticking out of the rack causing a clunk

 

I had a similar problem in my SS. Loud pop when starting from a stop and during turns...replaced the whole control arm and the problem went away.

 

Im clunking now that I have my new wheels and tires on. When rolling at 30mph and juggling the steering wheel back and forth I can hear the clunks. Thinking sway bar end links, bushing should fix it

 

I put my summer tires back on today. I started with the rear and low and behold I had a broken driver side rear spring so I replaced both rears. I looked through the front end again didn't find anything that stood out. If I grab the intermediate shaft? (between steering wheel and steering rack) at the u-joint I can twist it a bit and move the rack back and forth a tad and hear a knock/clunk/click from the other side. When driving though and turning the steering wheel quick I can't replicate the sound it makes when hitting bumps.

 

Plastic gear in the steering column?
Mine sounds like the front end is falling out going over bumps 1 wheel at a time. Cant feel it in the wheel, but can feel it in the pedals for some reason.

 

Make sure the rack is fully tight. I had the bolts start to back out of the subframe and that was causing my clunking.

 

My toe was off.. like wayyy off.. since the alignment adjustments it went away, thankfully lol, appreciate all the help !

 

Had my car in for ignition recall today and got them to look at the clunk. The steering column needs to be replaced (backlash in gears) I can hear it but it isn't the clunk I am worried about. They say the quick strut I put in brand new 3 weeks ago is gone. The noise was there before the new strut and there after. Unless the original strut was blown and the new one I replaced it with was garbage it doesn't add up. I took their receipt to parts store and got a brand new right front strut under lifetime warranty and will have to swap it out and see if it's the issue.

 

I think I figured out my clunk as well maybe. Took the front wheels off and tried move all the components. Surprisingly everything felt solid in the swaybar, swaybar endlinks, control arm. I couldnt move any of it.

The right axle can slide back and forth (3-4mm) and makes a slight clunking sound but not at the loudness I hear it when driving. The rotors rotate in place a bit too banging against the studs. Not the same loudness of clunk I hear but similar.

So I bolted the wheels on as tight as I can with the provided lug nuts with the car on jack stands, the clunking is now nearly gone. Can still hear it some what. Im wondering if it has to do with how the aftermarket wheels sit against the hub assembly? Is that a thing?

 

IOW, are you saying that you think that tightening your lug nuts may have helped?

 

I dont think I was able to tighten them when they were on the ground because of the fancy tires. I was able to tighten better when the car was up. The clunking is still there, it was a figment of my imagination unfortunately

I cant find any clunking or banging in any of the suspension components when I give them a shake. I think I need to bring the car in to get checked out unfortunately.

 

Have you check the intermediate steering shaft?

If you take it in or otherwise figure it out, please let me know. Mine clunks when turning left and hitting a bump.