My car is a 2003 with about 125K on it. It's a recent purchase.
I am still getting a Blunk K-blunk sound over pot holes and stuff. The noise is coming from the front. The car is clean, clean title, clean car fax.
I replaced the LCR, and the tension bar. That got rid of the creaking and metal on metal sounds. It handles OK, but I can't stand the noise. My S10 truck make less noise over bumps. What should I be looking at? Struts? upper control arms? Guys I need some direction here. PS I got the radio fixed by John over in El Monte. Sweet I hope it holds up.


KP.

 

Could be lower ball joints, lower control arm bushings, upper control arms, or struts. My bet would be bushings or ball joints

 

I replaced the lower CA. that include the ball joint right.

 

The sound you're experiencing could be many things. My best advice is to find a independent brake/alignment shop and have them put it on a rack. That's the noise my lower control arms were making so I replaced the whole arm rather than replacing the bushings. An experienced shop will find the noise and it won't cost you what the stealership would....Gary

 

No the ball joint is part of the steering knuckle. End links are notorious for clunking when they fail so make sure to check them as well.


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Thanks guys,
Wait, the steering Knuckle?
Are you talking about tie rod ends?
The lower control arm definitely has a ball joint on it.
The sound is not a metal on metal clacking sound.
It's more of a bunk bunk sound.

 

The lower control arm does not have a balljoint. The balljoint is on the knuckle. Could be a couple of things.

Sway Bar End Links
Balljoint
Hub
Bad Shock
Loose nut/bolt

You replaced the LCA and Compression rod, so those should be ok.

 

The ball joint you're talking about is on the compression rod.

 

I put it up on stands, I can get a little noise out of it by shaking the wheel on the passenger side (side to side). The drivers side is notable quieter. It might be the right sound,I'm not sure, so next I will find a puller that will work and pull the end to see if it's lose. Tie rod end are about $50 each.
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PS I got Royally screwed at the stellership today. I purchased the bulbs for the clock. Fing $28 bucksiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

 

The compression rod has one and there is another on the steering knuckle.

 

Correct, my comment was directed at the OP.

 

I pulled the drivers side outside Tie rod end off.
It's a little floppy, but it's not lose. It does not seem to have any slop in it.
I suspect it's not what I'm looking for. I'm thinking that I should not waist $100 replacing the outer tie rod ends. Maybe the struts are making the Blunk Blunk noise.
FWI the Harbor Freight tool does the job (larger size) on the tie rod ends.
The boots on the front struts are shot, and they are likely to be original with 124K on them.

Thanks for the assistance.

 

Nobody thinks it could be sway bar frame bushings?

 

I checked that as well.
I had the sway-bar links off when I replaced the tension bars.
They were a little floppy, but they did not seem lose or have any play in them.
The Sway bar bushing looked good.
I also pulled the pass side link off and gave it a 2nd look last night.

I'm not sure everything seems tight, the road feel is good, the steering seems tight and responsive. (except for that weird low speed power steering effect).
Should I pull the trigger on the front struts? What else should I check?
Maybe I can take it to Bear Frame & let them check it out.

 

Hey I looked up the steering knuckle!
That is assy that the brakes are attached two.
It is attached by an upper and lower ball joint.
The upper ball joint is attached to the upper control arm.
On most cars the lower ball joint is attached to the lower control arm.(Double wish-bone suspension).
On G35s it is attached to the tension rod.
On some suspensions there is an additional link to prevent lateral movement (compression rod).
At any rate there are only two per wheel.

How often due the upper ones get noisy? They seem fine, but there is the spring pressure to deal with.