ok so i took my wheels off and went back to stock for a while. i checked the wheel bearings before i took the wheels off to find that the passenger side was loose. so i tightened the bearing up, took the car down the road with the factory wheels and now im hearing a clunk every time that i turn the wheel. also it seems like the little clunks that i hear when i go over small bumps has seem to have gotten worse or louder. i'm in the process of replacing my struts when ever get back to work and was going top replace some front end suspension parts as well to fix the annoying clunk. i checked the ball joints while i was at it both sides seems to be pretty tight. so where do i start with the clunk over the small bumps? and what could the problem be with the clunk every time i turn the wheel? thanks in advance

 

check the boots on the front end, i had a torn one and it would clunk on right turns.

 

what boots? cv axle? those are fine thanks for the response though.

 

Have you tested your strut mounts for axial play?

 

i am not aware of how to test that.

 

I find the easiest method is to have someone turn the wheel from lock to lock while you look at the strut shaft in the middle of the mount under the hood. Then move over to the other side and repeat. The strut shouldn't move at all. IMO, it's best if the car is not running. It seems it makes the visual inspection more noticeable if the ps pump is not assisting the turning.

 

I think he might be referring to the Strut Boots, which are properly called "BELLOWS".
Mine are loose right now(not seated on the mounts) and causing QUITE a racket over uneven surfaces.
They'll be getting replaced soon along with the STRUT MOUNTs -- these can also be a source of clunking with up/down road surface undulation.

gr

 

I had the clunk too and it was my ball joint.

 

Clunk is probaly the Ball joint...jack up the car and see if theres any play.
Turning noise is probaly the cv boots check and see any wear/rips.

 

One or both ball joints.

My mechanic took a tire arm to each when the car was on the lift a couple of months ago. The passenger side didn't budge, but there was a tiny (and I mean small) amount of play on the driver side. I don't think I would have noticed it unless he pointed it out. Over the last 8 weeks, a slight "clunk" developed and became more prominent with each passing week.

Ball joints were replaced last week (along with LCA bushings). Clunk is gone. Front end feels amazingly solid.

 

Yea I underestimated mine too, I didnt think it was my ball joint but from the severity of the disgusting sound I had no idea that a ball joint would cause that much noise.


While we're on the topic of noises , what do you guys think is causing a click coming from my rear of my car , it sounds very familiar to the click you get from a dying ball joint and its very loud almost like there's a ratchet jumping around in the metal bed of my trunk happens when I pull into driveways or over any type of bump that flexes the chassis

 

Im getting a repeated clunk noise when making right hand turns it isnt 1 but a continous noise till i straighten the wheel. ive got a blown passenger strut and the strut mount needs replacement. besides the obvious what else if anything could the noise be? it sounds like its coming from the driver side when i turn

 

^ CV joint? They usually make a continuous "click" or "clunk" sound when turning.

 

I had the clunking, and it disappeared after replacing my struts. A loose upper strut bushing could be the cause, as well. I had my lower control arm bushings replaced at the same time. If you've go over 125K on the car, you might want to do that. What a difference!

 

What i don't understand is that the clunk when turning started after i tightened up my wheel bearing, after i took my wheels off and went back to stock.