I have replaced the struts, ball joins and tie rod ends (with the help from people in this group on the latter ). I have visual checked most of the bushings and they looked Ok for a 1991. My car still making a loud 'clunk' noise on the front passenger side when I drive over the speed bump at slow or fast speed. It only not make any noise only when I take the car over the speed bump very slowly (<5 mph). Any thing else I need to check and replace to get a better handling and get rid of the dropping clunking sound?
Thanks.
I was wondering if the strut mounts have any thing todo with this clunk noise. How do I test out the strut mount? I know it is not the strut bearing since turning are silent - no noise.

 

It still could be the strut bearing...The bearing may turn ok but still be loose in a up and down motion...It also may be your control arm bushings...

 

Good call. You have mentioned the two things left of my list of suspension/streering upgrade. 1) Wheel bearing replacing will require spring compression tools again. I can handle that. May be I just replace the whole strut mount while I am there.
2) Control arm bushing looks difficult with the huge bolts attaching to the control arm to the frame. I do not have a press to install the bushing. I just have to live with the clunk sound if replacing teh strut mount and bearing would not solve the problem.

 

Actually you will need the press for the wheel bearings. The control arm bushings are very easy to replace. Did mine in a day this past weekend and what a difference. The stickies will walk you through that one.

 

The whole control arm are sold new with bushings and a new ball joint from a guy on here....http://www.internetautomart.com/

 

I saw this thread and figured I'd drop my 2 cents in just to offer a completely different opinion. Whenever I take my car over any kind of bump when the rear end naturally depresses and it was causing the catback pipe to hit the rear axle causing a loud clunk. Had to put in a few more hangers and buy stiffer rubber exhaust mounts and whatnot. I'm feelin 99% that this is not whats happening to you.. but just in case figured I'd drop it in lol.

 

My car does this too, but mine feel's like it's bottoming out. I can feel the jolt. I have KYB struts and Eibach springs. Anybody have any ideas why that would be? Cant be a broken coil, the car sits flat and coasts fine on the highway.

<3 4 wheel independant suspension

 

pity the man with an old school solid rear axle, our more "modern" 3rd gens have an independant rear so the pipe doesn't go near a moving part

 

I don't know if the bushing is causing your problem, but here's the write-up I followed; one which I was very gratefull for.
http://www.4dsc.com/articles/suspens..._bushing.shtml

 

I also would suggest checking out the rear as well. Sometimes those rear sway bar studs (don't know actual name) that attach to the bar at it's most rear points at each side of the car, sometimes they break out of the then angle welded to underneath the car. I had to have two peices of angle iron (thick) welded in place of the oem. Issue related to lowering of car and other suspension mods which add strain to the overall suspension system of the car. I hope I made sense.

 

OK.
Just want to follow up with my result. Got the strut bearings and strut mounts from NAPA. Replaced it and the CLUNK noise (feel like the wheel bottomed out) is gone. Drove over couple bumps and smooth as silk.. Came back to the garage and repeat for the front driver side. Did not do the control arm bushing since visual inspection looks OK (well the original strut mount looks Ok too. No crack or visible damage/scar - but it got 200K miles). Any how I will need a wheel alignment tomorrow. The car is pulling. The strange thing is when I did replace the struts I did not have to do the wheel aligment. Now I do the exact same procedure except replacing the mount and bearing all sudden the car is pulling.

Thanks guys for your comments and help.