Front end clunk

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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 01:16 AM
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Front end clunk

Yes, I've searched and read pages after pages of threads about this issue which seems to be somewhat common on our cars. BUT the problem is there is nothing definitive about what causes the front end clunking-rattle-sounds. From what Ive read is could be the sway bar bushing, coilovers, a arms, ball joints, control arms, list goes on. But I don't want to replace my whole front right suspension so I wanted to make this post to see if I could get a definitive answer on this issue.

The noise is coming from the front right corner of the car, and happens at slower speed more so than at higher speeds, and it's this very annoying "thump-thump" sound after I go over any bump or irregularity.

I jacked my car up, inspected the bushings and various parts for play, and everything looked tight, and all the bolts and nuts were tight as well. So I am lost...and ideas?

I have megan coilovers, but other than that suspension wise everything is stock.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 02:44 PM
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I just replaced my ball joint on my right front SPC control arm and it made a clunk type sound as you described and would do it around the same speeds. Once I replaced it, no more clunk lol. I would start with your ball joint first. My mechanic actually took off my control arm to help pinpoint the origin of the clunk and he said the ball joint had lots of play.
 

Last edited by Lone Wolf; Oct 22, 2012 at 04:28 AM.
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 04:31 PM
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i had the "clunk" from my front end after installing sway bars...i end up change out my endlinks and havent had the sound come back yet
 
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Old Oct 18, 2012 | 04:51 PM
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It could be anything, and you may have to take some components off to really see what it is. Most common are the sway bar links and compression rods.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2012 | 08:38 AM
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See my control arms and a arms and sway bars are all stock so IDK why Id have a problem.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2012 | 10:35 AM
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The stock components are more prone to wear out than aftermarket ones. The aftermarket ones will usually squeak a tiny bit though since most have poly bushings.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2012 | 11:02 AM
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If you are lowered, the sway bar end links are a likely culprit. Lowering puts a preload on the end links and it puts the bolts at an angle that will wear them out faster. Fortunately the sway bars (with end links) are the easiest suspension component to remove before a test drive. I wouldn't recommend driving at the limit without sway bars, but you don't need to drive at the limit to test for the clunking noise. Keep in mind that if you only remove the front bar, the car will have severe oversteer at the limit.
 
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Old Oct 20, 2012 | 11:29 PM
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I see, Im just going to go ahead and order spl end link and energy suspension sway bar bushings and hope that fixes. Ill post up the results of the install and whether or not it helped the clunking sound afterwards.
 
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Old Oct 21, 2012 | 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Lone Wolf
I just replaced my ball joint on my right front SPC control arm and it made a clunk type sound as you described and would do it around the same speeds. Once I replaced it, no more clunk lol. I would start with your ball joint first. My mechanic actually took off my control to help pinpoint the origin of the clink and he said the ball joint had lots of play.
Where u got your new ball joints? Did u upgraded them or just OEM.?
 
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Old Oct 21, 2012 | 08:13 PM
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The ball joint is the one that comes with the SPC control arms that I have on my G. I had my parts guy call up SPC to order another ball joint to replace the bad one.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2012 | 09:01 AM
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how loud is this clunk?

after i threw some coilovers on a few years ago, ive always had this loud *** clunk on the front passenger side after driving over anything less than flat.. i always thought it was the coilover bottoming out thinking there wasnt enough spring travel.

I really dont know much about coilovers. My coworker helped me install them and i had a shop do the height adjustment.. Is it possible to achieve the same ride height with different positions on the coilovers (this was always my best guest concerning the problem because the other side doesnt make any noise) , or is there only one way to set the ride height?

I was going to dig into this next summer, so after reading this thread im wondering if its even the coilover at all?

what do you guys think?
 
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