Hey guys, looking for a few tips on a front end clunk. It's only over very small bumps. It's coming from the driver's side. But it happens even with only the passenger wheel hits small bumps and the driver side wheel is on smooth road.

This car has 160k miles. Within the past year I have done the following:

Driver's Side:
Lower Control arm bushing
End link
Upper Control arm (used one with 25k miles)
Wheel Bearing

Passenger's Side:
Compression Arm
Lower Control Arm Bushing
End Link and control arm mount

Yesterday I pulled apart the suspension to try and diagnose it. The tie rod ball joint seemed a little sloppy, but I didn't notice any play. Ordered a new one anyway. I don't think that's the issue though. I pulled the compression arm ball joint out, and it seems good and solid, I don't think it's the original, doesn't seem too old, maybe previous owner replaced it. Bushing seemed fine as well.

Not really sure where to look next? Thinking either ball joints or shock mount. When I am in my garage this coming weekend, I will pull off the spindle and see if the ball joint is loose. How would one diagnose the shock mount?

 

04X does it too. I always got paranoid that I messed something up when I replaced my compression rod bushings, front springs with H&R, front struts, CV boot, lower control arm inner bushings, and SPC upper adjustible control arm. I've had so much apart and replaced in there I always fear I left something loose !

 

Well you have the driver tie rod and compression rod to change....

If you jack you car up and try to shake the driverside wheel/tires do you feel a little movement and hear something hitting? If not then your tie rod is probably good. I'd look into changing the compression rod because the ball joints on the compression rod fail too

 

Thanks guys. I replaced the tierod end yesterday and got a little deeper into the suspension. All ball joints are good. Compression rod bushing is ripped. Bought a new one, so I will replace that later this week. Thanks!

 

Got the compression rod bushing done. Other than taking it to a shop down the road (that pressed in the new one for free) it was a half hour job. I think it must have been replaced before, the bushing was not seized to the stud like the other side.
Now for the bad news...

The clunk is still there. Seems to be less now. I'm going to order up new sway bar bushings because they are cheap and the OEMs are cracked and worn. I don't really think they are the source of the clunk though. I could be wrong. I think I will disconnect the sway bar and take it for a drive. See if anything changes. And inspect the shock mount.

 

Hey so did you get the clunk fixed eventually? I have the same problem and trying to get help before I begin diagnosis. thanks

 

Im betting 10$ its being caused by your rack and pinion unit... Happened on my friends 03 rwd sedan and changing the whole rack and pinion unit fixed it.

 

what was the issue with the rack was it something visible or something that went bad internally.

 

I've got an 06 g35x. Had the same problem at 70k miles, small bumps, a fast metal "clunk clunk" rattle on the driver side. Its just me and a lot of city driving... so more weight is on the driver side and the ball joint made a noise before the bushing. (my passenger bushing is squawking now at 100k miles)

Its the ball joint on the compression rod.. When I played with the ball joint, it easily pulled to the sides. So when you hit a small bump, it smacks the metal sides containing it. Clunk-clunk. Go ahead and give it a smack next time its out, you'll hear that wretched sound. I'm assuming its a ball joint rattle not being dampened enough by the grease. Ball joint was good up and down so it must have been the grease inside...

-Replaced the entire compression rod. Problem solved for 30k miles and counting.

 

Hey there I had a similar problem but my clunking was being done from the inner tire fender wall being out of place. This would than rub against the bottom of the suspension housing causing some major noise. I got lucky mine was an easy fix. Good luck!!

 

I have the same clunk noise on the drivers side at low speeds over bumps. Also when I tap my brakes at low speed.
I've replaced:
Sway Bar End Links
Inner/Outer Tie Rod Ends
Rotors & pads
Both struts and mounts
Both Lower Control Arms (& bushings)

Two different mechanics have diagnosed and replaced parts (they thought) to fix.
Wife is getting mad. Help please.