Front end "clunking"

[APEXi240]

My front end makes sort of a clunking/popping noise when I turn the wheel at slow speeds...it is also starting to clunk when I move in a straight line, going over small bumps, ect. My car is lowered and it being too low caused damage in the rear, so I assume that is part of the problem in the front.

I know "noise" questions are vague, but I got no clue what to even look for when I jack up my car (when the f***ing snow finally melts). Any help/guidance would be appreciated.

[s0ldats]

my guess is the shock mounts are dead.

[1dollar240]

T/C rod bushings. Its a very common problem with 240's. Whiteline makes poly replacements for just over 40 bucks

[APEXi240]

Good s***, I got a whole bushing set in my basement waiting for warm weather. Yeah, I meant to say that I can feel the clunking at my feet when driving, and the sound is kinda faint.

Either way the shock mounts and bushings are all getting changed this spring/summer.

[bp2ooo]

Maybe a wheel bearing? if it seems to get louder when you are turning, its a possibility.

[Tino]

whoa hey, got the same problem on the s13, when coming up to a stop the thump thump thump sounds like my suspension is gonna bend off or something, think it's the same deal, T/C rod bushings?

http://www.pdm-racing.com/prod....html

[MainEvent212]

haha or you're braking like the new girl at drivers ed and that's ur ABS showing off...

j/k, i couldnt tell ya what it is...tap around on ur splash guards in the wheel wells...i had a problem w/ those on my volvo (******* didnt tighten em back up well after he replaced the shocks)

[Tino]

nah, no abs, and im pretty sure it's not the mud guards, most def the suspension.

[Tino]

damnit, moved? this place isn't as active, oh well it's gotta be the bushings...

[Cyberkreig]

if you feel the clunking at your feet it could be your Downpipe striking the bottom of the car.. could be a sign of very worn motor mounts.. but suspension is more likely.

[Tino]

Its only when im braking coming to a stop, but its inducing force on the front end right so not possibly bad rotors with the new pads eh nay?

[Dorifto-King]

i remember when i got my new wheels there were some old tires on them, and one tire had this huge bulge out the side of it. and whenever i drove the bulge would hit the struts and make a nasty thumping noise. i don't suppoe because your car is lowered it's having any clearance issues with the wheels hitting stuff(fenders and such) underneath the car? I don't know.

i also had a similar thumping when turning with my 95 at slow speeds, but it seemed to have dissapeared when i got my new wheels...

[98TURBOKA]

I'm not sure of all you mods, but I have the suspension techniques sway bars, apexi coilovers and the epexi n1 dual exhuast. The exhuast doesn't clear the rear sway bar properly and it knocks in to it. It sounds like its just behind your seat.

[Tino]

hmmm I checked into those but im pretty sure its gotta be the front suspension tc rod bushings, or maybe brakes?

[trpower7]

Bushings most likely, sometimes a bushing gets so worn that it lets your front end geometry flex enough to hit something or bump past something. My old Toyota pickup used to do this, TC bushings fixed it right up.

[Tino]

ah great, needed another opinion in agreeance, thanks.

[i2ice4m3]

wow your problem sound a lot like my problem. It started after I installed my z brakes though. something is definitely moving around or hitting something in my case because I feel it, through the brake pedal too.

[WingsNThangs]

I had the same problem. Replaced shock mount, problem solved. I recommend you use a torque wrench and a service manual (I used Chilton's, borrowed from the local library). You can borrow one for free from your local Autozone if you leave a deposit.

[Fla S13]

cv joint maybe?

[danejah99]

mine makes a popping noise when I turn. It started after I changed my brakes, I thought a strut tower bearing but now I see this TC bushing can help. where do I buy them from?

[trpower7]

http://www.pdm-racing.com

[1dollar240]

My whiteline tc bushings just came in the mail today courtesy of pdm racing. just thought i'd share. Now i need a place to press them in for me. any suggestions?

[trpower7]

You can use table vice grips if you have them. Go to home depot and get one piece of metal piping the size of the TC bushing housing, and another smaller one the size of the bushing itself. Use the latter to push the old one out, former to brace the housing while you push the new one in. Or if you want most dealers will have a press, and a machine shop surely has them. My local shop charged me $20 to swap mine out.

[Ajax]

I just replace my TC bushings with whiteline as well as new outer tie-rod ends. I'm still getting a popping noise. Of course, the car is still out of alignment as I'm still waiting to put on the HICAS eliminator. But its slowly coming together. A previous shop told me my shock was leaking which could show a connection to the strut bearing theory. we'll see what happens in the coming months.

[lbrowne]

cv joint maybe?

I seriously hope you're joking, or if thats just dry humor...

[gtune4]

im getting the same clunk. sounds like it is coming from the rack. i just replaced the tie rods inner and outer, and the lower ball joints. I also tightend the swaybars alot more than they were. I just loosend them and am going for a ride. the car was aligned.

[lbrowne]

I have a clunk too, that I noticed after I put in new front struts. Thing is my passenger strut was so bad when I bought the car I don't know if the clunk was there before.

I get the clunk if I really crank the wheels to one side, and especially if i go a soft curb (the slope angled curb of sidewalks, not the sharp jutted edge kind)

I was thinking ball joints but man, it could be anything. I also replaced both TC rods and swaybar bushings as well.

[gtune4]

well i fixed mine. i have replaced t/c, lower ball, tie, and struts. what had happend was after installing the lower ball joints, one had popped out of its socket slightly. there was a small gap between the ringclip and lower arm. put them back in and welded them in place, now they arent goin nowhere! my t/c rods did make alot of noise as well as the old ball joints.