My car has a clunk sound every time I initially take off after the cars been sitting for awhile, never to hear it again unless the car has been parked for a while and again on the initial takeoff.

I found countless thread on this issue but no one ever state what fix the problem.

I'm schedule next Friday to have the control arm replacement for this issue and I like to know if anyone actually had this issue solved by replacing the control arm?

I'm paying for half the repair and don't want to throw money out the window and not solve this issue.

 

Could be the abs system check

 

I read a little about that and I'm pretty sure that's not it.

 

You know I have the exact same issue. In the morning when I head off to work it'll clunk. When I leave from work it'll clunk. When I stop at the store for 30-45 minutes and go to leave it will not clunk. The car has to sit for quite a few hours for the condition re-occur.
I haven't had the time to really deal with it yet (need to replace the drivers door lock actuator this weekend).
Please let us know if the control arm R&R resolves the issue.

 

Just to update this thread, because I notice a few thread with this issue but no update as to what fixed it.

Replacing the control arm did fixed two issues I had, one being the one stated in my original post and also it fixed a clicking sound I had when I turned the wheel left or right when the car was parked.

 

Turning the steering wheel left or right while it was parked? BIG no-no. That may have been what damaged the control arm. The force required to turn these low-profile tires while they are sitting on pavement and not rolling is enormous. If you don't believe that, turn off the engine (turns off power steering), but leave the ignition on so the steering won't lock, then try turning the steering wheel.

Drivers who understand how power steering works and who really care about their car would never turn the wheels while the car was not moving. The car doesn't need to be moving very much; just letting it roll a few inches as we turn make a lot of difference. If turning very far, I try to let it roll a foot or so.

 

I've been doing this my whole driving life (I'm 38) without issues, and I've owed countless cars. This is news to me... But I think this is your own particular driving habit. A lot of situations you have to turn the wheel before you actually move, like getting out of a tight parking spot.

 

I understand what Light is talking about because this was something my father also told me "not to do".
But the condition Shook and myself not to mention others here had or have doesn't really indicate it was caused by turning the wheels when the car is stationary. The left lower control arm seems to be the component that is failing. The right lower control arm isn't being affected as far as I have heard. To me either arm should be affected the same if it's caused by stationary turning.

 

I did say 'may have caused.' I DO know that turning the steering wheel with low profile (wide) tires on pavement while the car is stationary puts a tremendous force on steering mechanisms. Done occasionally should be no problem. But this is a poor driving habit. Remember, the car does not have to be moving more than a few inches while turning to greatly reduce the forces involved.

The simple test of turning the wheels without the help of power steering (engine off) shows us the massive forces involved. In fact, most drivers are not strong enough to turn the wheels with the engine off and the car stationary.

As to what fails first, remember that few steering systems are truly exactly symetrical, which means one component will usually endure more or less force than its equivalent on the other side of the car.

But we each do as we wish, and whatever happens will happen.

 

No argument with your theory. I just don't get how the steering system is directly connected to just the left lower control arm by what mechanism?