clunking noise up front

[Stopsign32v]

Well a few weeks ago it only happened from the front driver's side when I was backing out of my driveway in the morning. Since then it has turned into both corners on the front end anytime I hit a bump. It sounds like a metal to metal clunk. My first idea is the struts. Everything suspension wise is 100% 1997 stock with 85,000 miles. What could it be? I'm thinking maybe the bump stops have deteriorated?

 

[96GSRteg]

If youre positive its the suspension then it sounds like struts maybe. But if youre still not 100% sure of the location, i had a rattle from my seat brackets haha. It drove me nuts for a while...

 

[Stopsign32v]

No it is definately the strut area. And the car does not bounce at all, infact the ride is very stiff. So I'm hoping the struts aren't blown.

 

[heykosal]

Does it only happen when you hit a bump? Or does it also happen when you're turning?

It could be the struts, but if they were blown your car would bounce like hell. Imagine hitting a bump and the springs compressing and rebounding with no shock to control it.

Ball joint maybe?

 

[Stopsign32v]

it is ONLY when I hit bumps, and bad bumps at that.

 

[Merlins Beard]

Does it only happen when you hit a bump? Or does it also happen when you're turning?

It could be the struts, but if they were blown your car would bounce like hell. Imagine hitting a bump and the springs compressing and rebounding with no shock to control it.

Ball joint maybe?

its not the ball joints, they have a horrible creaking sound, kinda like an old floor, every time the suspension has any change in it (turns, bumps, getting in the car)

im curious to see what this is too, its been happening in my car but there is also a creak, i have already replaced the ball joints to fix them cause they were bad and im thinking its the suspension bushings

 

[Rich-PMS]

make sure your lug nuts are torqued to proper spec

jack up the front of your car and see if there's any play in your wheel. vertically and horizontally.

 

[Merlins Beard]

make sure your lug nuts are torqued to proper spec

jack up the front of your car and see if there's any play in your wheel. vertically and horizontally.

my lugs are always on tight and i know what loose ones sounds like, the bearings are good and i know what those sound like, i have not tested the tie rods so it could be those. its about 15 out right now with a windchill at about 5 so dont know if im gonna check it today

 

[Stopsign32v]

make sure your lug nuts are torqued to proper spec

jack up the front of your car and see if there's any play in your wheel. vertically and horizontally.

The lugs are torqued to 80. Infact they were checked yesterday and were not loose. I just got new wheels and the sound started with the old original wheels.

 

[1/4milematt]

its your cv axle

 

[Stopsign32v]

Something I kinda noticed tonight was it seems that noise happens when the front suspension is unloaded on bumps. After getting up to speed the noise doesn't happen.

 

[bcartwright88]

if your wheel is turned does the sound happen easier?

could be axle. or tie rod..

 

[Stopsign32v]

if your wheel is turned does the sound happen easier?

could be axle. or tie rod..

No

 

[heykosal]

its not the ball joints, they have a horrible creaking sound, kinda like an old floor, every time the suspension has any change in it (turns, bumps, getting in the car)

im curious to see what this is too, its been happening in my car but there is also a creak, i have already replaced the ball joints to fix them cause they were bad and im thinking its the suspension bushings

That's right, ball joints do creak. But that's why I had asked if it also happened when the wheels are turned.

make sure your lug nuts are torqued to proper spec

jack up the front of your car and see if there's any play in your wheel. vertically and horizontally.

That would be simple to just double check.

my lugs are always on tight and i know what loose ones sounds like, the bearings are good and i know what those sound like, i have not tested the tie rods so it could be those. its about 15 out right now with a windchill at about 5 so dont know if im gonna check it today

I think he was talking to the OP, stop thread jacking!!:evil:lol jk

its your cv axle

Yeah it could be, my LS clunked and it turned out to be a CV joint.

 

[Stopsign32v]

LOL all of you guys were wrong. It had something to do with the struts. I changed over to Koni's and found NONE of my stock struts to have bump stops on them. Lowered to only 2" between the tire and fender on Koni/GC setup the car rides smoother and less harsh than it did with the stock setup. No more clunking now!!!!