i have a 2007 cobalt ls 23600 miles...... for the past month every time i hit a small bump i hear a knock... its coming from the driver side front... it seems to be getting worse.... i took the wheel off and looked but i didn't notice anything broke.... only thing i could think of was it was my strut... i dont remember hitting anything...
what do you guys think? take it to the dealer?

 

hmmm maybe wheel balance is off ? did you torque it down correctly ?

 

If you hear anything that sounds odd and your car is under warranty always take it to the dealer! if you only heard the noise once i wouldn't worry to much about it but since it is something that is happening frequently then get it checked out.

 

it just stated all of a sudden... than i just got my winter tires on.. and they put the wheels on and it still did it...... so i dunno..

 

ahh then its dealership time bud

 

yeah i probabaly should just take it to the dealer... i just dont feel like driving there if its somthing dumb or little...

 

ehh true but its better early then late when it is a big problem. (if it is one)

 

Look under the car on the side thats making the noise.....look at the back part of the lower control arm where it goes into the frame.(youre looking for the lower control arm bushing) If you can see any of the bushings sleeve sticking out of the top or botom of the control arm this is your noise, control arm hiting frame. Thats the only common issue I can think of that youll be able to "see"

 

and while you're down there, grab the sway bar near the end and try to shake it up and down. you may have a worn end link (a problem that commonly causes a clunk on bumps) and you'll feel it click. it shouldn't click.

 

Otherwise if you've just lowered the car could be an improper seated spring. My bet is on the sway bar endlinks.

 

more likely drop links than flca bushing..IMHO Maven, Switt23 et al is right

 

Sometimes you just gotta throw out the stuff that noone else will



But seriously, this is an issue on FE1 vehicles.....

 

Sounds like a strut. Or strut mount.

 

I dont think you are wrong either Pysko, but the top mounts on the balt are pretty good/durable. Maven is right the FE1 flca bushings are really soft and crummy but i tawt i saw a puddy s/c cat FE5 ...not an FE1 I am such a snob....

 

100% sway bar end links. Put my OEM springs back on (car is going back soon) and replaced the D/S end link. If you are keeping the car replace both links with aftermarket links that use heim joints on the ends.

 

Uh huh....because Heim jointed suspensions are known for being quiet