S13 Coupe "Clunking Sound in the front suspension"

[hapaboi39]

Whats up fellas!

I have a 93 s13 Coupe and i have this crazy noise coming from the front whenever im traveling at low speeds. For instance when Im backing out of my driveway it makes a sound like "da-dunk" and it feels like something is popping out. Or when Im driving in a parking lot and I turn into a space I hear the "da-dunk" coming from the front suspension. When I travel at higher speeds the car kind of shakes.

Sorry I dont have a better description of the problem but hopefully one of you guys will know what im talking about.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

[RB20DETodd]

I am assuming you pulled off both wheels and inspected everything?

[rbsileighty]

Ball joints maybe (inspect before just replacing)...

Or if you have coilovers... they might be loose

[rb20det_pwr]

Ball joints maybe (inspect before just replacing)...

Or if you have coilovers... they might be loose

I nominate loose coilovers, (if you have them), cus my brand new ones did the exact same thing before.

[hapaboi39]

Ball joints huh?Okay.Honestly im not even sure what a healthy front suspensions is supposed to look like.I will take pics and post em here.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

[crzycav86]

If it only happens at low speeds, perhaps your tie rod ball joint is the culprit.

You may need to have the ball joint regreased or, ideally, replace the tie rod end.

When you check the tie rod ball joint, it should slide side to side with ease.

[hapaboi39]

Thanks man.

Dude crzycav86 ur front end looks a lot like my front end.Almost exactly except your rims n tires R much better than what i have.

[BadMojo]

If it only happens at low speeds, perhaps your tie rod ball joint is the culprit.

Tie rod ends on my car are crapping out, and I have a low speed clunk on occasion. Got some Tein inner rods and tie rod ends, so all I've got to do is get off my *** and install them.

Anyway, I'd definitely check out the tie rods. Also, if the rubber boots are damaged definitely replace them. You want to keep the dirt, road grim, dead animal bits out of there.

[hapaboi39]

Tie rod ends on my car are crapping out, and I have a low speed clunk on occasion. Got some Tein inner rods and tie rod ends, so all I've got to do is get off my *** and install them.

Anyway, I'd definitely check out the tie rods. Also, if the rubber boots are damaged definitely replace them. You want to keep the dirt, road grim, dead animal bits out of there.

were the Tein inner rods and tie rod ends expensive?

[KA24Power]

I had a similar problem on my '90 hatch. Turned out to be the sway bar end link. A little washer broke, and was letting it move around freely.

i'd check that, its pretty easy to look for too: turn your front wheels to the left or right all the way, and inspect the suspension. then compare it to the other side, and just look for anything that is different

[ser2102]

i have that clunking sound too, its when im at veryyy low speeds. mostly i hear it at drive thru windows haha. but yeah i cant figure out what it is either. sounds like its coming from the front. and i have coilovers and tension rods.

[hapaboi39]

I found tha problem. Its a bad strut. IS this an easy job?I was told i need a spring compressor.Sounds difficult.Anyone done struts b4?

[wzntha]

.

[skydragoness]

Thinks to check:

--Inner and outer tie rod ends--T/C rods--shocks--swaybar endlinks (like someone mentioned already)--ball joints either in the lca's or the tie rods

Also, don't forget the upper strut mounts. They should be replaced along w/ new shocks (all the way around) on a vehicle this old. There is a bearing inside that can lose its grease and if its gets dirt inside will start to bind and make clunking or popping noises at low speeds (like pulling out of a driveway perhaps). Check all bolts on all components. I had a knocking sound when i touched my brake pedal on my first S13 and it turned out to be a loose bolt on a LCA (don't know how it happened it just did! Potholes can do that sometimes).

[wzntha]

.

[Broadfield]

I have the same issue, but have not had a chance to inspect/fix it. I will also let you know what I find.

Toby

[Repo Man]

I had the same symptoms in my s13 this past summer. Turned out that I had a blown wheel bearing. I mean BAD. You could move the hub up and down. Now I have nice new five lug hubs with buttery wheel bearings. Gotta love an excuse to upgrade!

[positron1]

Whats up fellas!

I have a 93 s13 Coupe and i have this crazy noise coming from the front whenever im traveling at low speeds. For instance when Im backing out of my driveway it makes a sound like "da-dunk" and it feels like something is popping out. Or when Im driving in a parking lot and I turn into a space I hear the "da-dunk" coming from the front suspension. When I travel at higher speeds the car kind of shakes.

Sorry I dont have a better description of the problem but hopefully one of you guys will know what im talking about.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

Check out the S13 Front Top Bearing Mount write-up about half way down this page. http://www.pdm-racing.com/products/suspension.html

[positron1]

were the Tein inner rods and tie rod ends expensive?

You can get a set of outer and inner on ebay for $144.

[positron1]

Tie rod ends on my car are crapping out, and I have a low speed clunk on occasion. Got some Tein inner rods and tie rod ends, so all I've got to do is get off my *** and install them.

Anyway, I'd definitely check out the tie rods. Also, if the rubber boots are damaged definitely replace them. You want to keep the dirt, road grim, dead animal bits out of there.

Dude let us know how you like those when you get 'em on because I'm looking to buy a set.

[naed240sx]

Dude let us know how you like those when you get 'em on because I'm looking to buy a set.

Tein tie rods and ends are pretty much exactly the same as stock. Buying them is a pointless waste of money, because they will not perform any differently than stock. Buy SPL or stay oem.

[positron1]

Tein tie rods and ends are pretty much exactly the same as stock. Buying them is a pointless waste of money, because they will not perform any differently than stock. Buy SPL or stay oem.

Thanks! That's the type of info I'm looking for.

[oki_bum]

Tein tie rods are definitly more beefier than the stock ones....they are not the same as oem. Performance-wise? Not sure, but they do advertise increase steering angle like all the other aftermarket tierods. The SPL ones do look pretty damm good though.

[positron1]

Any word on the quality of TC Sportline tie-rods or any of their products?

[naed240sx]

Tein tie rods are definitly more beefier than the stock ones....they are not the same as oem. Performance-wise? Not sure, but they do advertise increase steering angle like all the other aftermarket tierods. The SPL ones do look pretty damm good though.

Yes they are thicker, but it doesn't matter, because they perform just like oem ones with the exception of the steering rack spacer (That provides extra steering angle for drifting that only like 1% of the people here could actually use). Autozone tie rods are lifetime warrantied not to bend/break, so that negates the purpose of buying tein rods for the thickness.

[glitched]

my paranoia is showing through today, Even though I dont have much experience/knowledge with suspesion, I have noticed that almost anytime a thread comes up, naed is bashing another product and says get SPL.... not saying spl isnt good, but its a trend I have noticed with posts...

[hapaboi39]

Check out the S13 Front Top Bearing Mount write-up about half way down this page. http://www.pdm-racing.com/products/suspension.html

Jimminy christmas!!!!!Ur tha man!!!!

Thanks for that article, its very insightful and it describes my problem almost to a T.Too bad i already bought new kyb struts all tha way around. I had the problem diagnosed as a strut but it looks to be a front end bearing.Oh well another reason to buy stuff for tha 240

[naed240sx]

Even though I dont have much experience/knowledge with suspesion, I have noticed that almost anytime a thread comes up, naed is bashing another product and says get SPL.... not saying spl isnt good, but its a trend I have noticed with posts...

Whats your point?

The suspension links that SPL sells are the very BEST in the market. Anybody who knows their stuff will agree. I bash Tein's cheap coilovers, tie rods, etc because they suck. I'm just giving facts.

Trust me, I have no connection with spl at all, other than the fact that I buy their products. I have also met the owner in person, and he is a badass guy who stands behind everything he sells.

[positron1]

Jimminy christmas!!!!!Ur tha man!!!!

Thanks for that article, its very insightful and it describes my problem almost to a T.Too bad i already bought new kyb struts all tha way around. I had the problem diagnosed as a strut but it looks to be a front end bearing.Oh well another reason to buy stuff for tha 240

Don Nimi is the MAN!!!

[hapaboi39]

Okay im tha guy who started this thread.After many many hours/cusswords later I fixed the "clunkity clunk" sound...It was a bent strut rod. My buddy and I replaced the struts w/new kyb's and i also installed the S-tech springs. SOOOOO HAPPY!!!



Yay for me...

Anyways no more clunky clunky...

I jus hope my struts wont blow out quickly.I got gr2's and i just recently heard that they have a tendency to blow out kinda fast w/lowering springs.