When im driving it really doesnt do it but when i apply the brake, it will make a quick knock noise...its really hard to explain..it also does it when i stop to go over a speed bump it, its realy aggravating it also does it while im turning....if someone can attempt to tell me whats wrong i would appreciate it, i know its kinda hard to explain..

 

Jack up your vehicle and do a visual along with a pry bar to inspect your suspension components! Look @ your brakes torque member and caliper to check security. Check your balljoints, LCA bushings, swaybar bushings and links, tierods inner and outer, front axle bearings, strut security to tower and steering knuckle....Good luck!

 

I get the same noise as the OP. I have inspected all of my front end components, and the only thing noticeably wrong is the outer tierod end bushings are a little cracked. However, I don't think that is the cause of my noise. I am leaning more towards my half shafts or motor mounts. Any suggestions?

 

my 02 max started doing this about 3 months ago. turned out that it was the struts. Its a relatively inexpensive repair. Hope that helps

 

Does braking or accelerating affect the car directional stability? Otherwords does this knock noise change the direction that your car is traveling?

 

no it doesnt affect any of that it jus does it sometimes when i apply the brake..and when i go over a speed bump or hit a bump in the road it sounds like its coming from my right rear strut..it jus sounds like my damn car is falling apart lol..it sounds like one of my struts are gone in he back and maybe tire rods or something in the front

 

haha sounds exactly like my car. the new struts should definitely help you out. it only gets worse as time goes on two. I let it go a few weeks and then my friend was riding with me and he said he thought he was going to see the wheels spinning in front of us on the parkway.

 

lol damn yea man its been doing it like bad for about two weeks now ima see when i can get to my mechanic so he can look under it and see what i need cuz its pissing me off

 

Have you inspected the top of the strut body (where the piston enters) for wetness/oil? How about doing the bounce test? Get that flashlight out and if you're stock height (not lowered) just look around the top of the strut body for any oil/wetness there should be none, if so, it's definitely strut (4) shopping time. You shouldn't need to jack it up if you're ride height is stock just look over the tire/wheel thru that big gap!

 

lol im going to do that when this weather clears up, its been raining for like three days straight but i would think its my struts they never been changed since ive had the car and iva had it since 04....

 

You can do the bounce test 24/7 have you tried that yet?

 

how does the bounce test actually work i know you bounce the car but what am i trying to recognize??

 

i took it to the shop today and no one can tell me whats the problem..how does the car react when your motor mounts are starting to go bad?

 

Just start by pushing down on the car and making the car jump up and down, keep the rythm going and stop and the car should stop and settle. If the car is still bouncing after you've stopped then it's time to upgrade to a new set of dampners/struts.

 

yea i gottta try that when i get back to the car im outta town right now but i hope that its the strut...everytime i go over a speed bumb it sqeaks and makes noises so i hope that its the struts maybe....someone give me some input..

 

i have that problem now and i replaced my rear struts but that didnt help. as i was changing the rear passenger side i had to have a friend push down on the hub to get the strut assembly back on any clues

 

You say it's coming from the right rear. Have you checked your exhaust? It's very common for the rear exhaust flange to break on these cars. It will make a metal-on-metal knocking sound each time you hit a little bump.

 

I've rode in his car and that is exactly what it sounds like. The sound is as if its coming from the right under the rear seat on the passenger side. You can feel it in the floorboard too. I'll check the exhaust next time I'm around the car with him.