CLUNK IN FRONT END WHEN HIT BUMP

[ceil99]

I hear a clunking noise when I hit a rough spot in the road or a bump. Not sure what it is.

Hubby thinks it may be stablizer links and bushings. OR maybe sway bar bushings.

Are these hard to do? If I call mechanic, how much is he gonna charge for this?

[TangerineDream286]

Check the lower control arm bushing out. Shouldn't be more than an hour of labor at a shop. So whatever their going rate is l, plus parts.

[ceil99]

how about stabalizer links? My hubby thinks it may be this?

[rob342]

control arm bushings are the most common cause.

look behind the front tire at the area i circled. this picture shows a bad bushing, as its hitting the frame. mine were bad and were only hitting the frame over bumps. yours may very well be like this.

take a look, let us know.



here's another:



and another:



if you want to eliminate the swaybar bushings as a possible cause, remove the end links and see if the clunk disappears

[VOS]

Originally Posted by rob342

control arm bushings are the most common cause.

look behind the front tire at the area i circled. this picture shows a bad bushing, as its hitting the frame. mine were bad and were only hitting the frame over bumps. yours may very well be like this.

take a look, let us know.

here's another:

and another:

if you want to eliminate the swaybar bushings as a possible cause, remove the end links and see if the clunk disappears

Thanks for the pictures.
"I bet" mine look like those too.

[VOS]

I finally got to a shop to have the control arms looked at and "sure enough" the bushings are shot and causing the noise.

Looks like around $375 to fix.

[VOS]

Originally Posted by VOS

I finally got to a shop to have the control arms looked at and "sure enough" the bushings are shot and causing the noise.

Looks like around $375 to fix.

This turned into just over $800 as both inner & outer tie rod ends needed replacement.

After this work was done I picked up some new clunks as I was turning.

Figuring this was sway-bar related, I ordered both the bushings and the links.
The links turned out to not look that bad [changed them anyway], but the mounting bushing were shot and most likely the source of the noise.