Help me diagnose
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 21
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Help me diagnose
So here’s the situation on my older 2005 Lexus. Car has 130,000 miles. The car was starting to make some Pretty loud clunking sounds, So I took it to the mechanic, and he told me that the engine mounts were broken and needed to replaced and also the front struts. I took that information to a second mechanic who told me that he thought it was the lower control arms. He didn’t actually drive the car like the first mechanic or have it up on the lift so I decided to go with the diagnosis of the first mechanic. so total parts and labor was basically around $2000 , and after the repair, the clunky noise is less but still there. so I think it did help but did not solve it completely. I took to take the car back to the mechanic who did the repair job and I says I think there could be an issue with the transmission. I’m really frustrated at this point so I decided to take it to a third mechanic and puts the cars on the lift and I informed him of the history and information and he looks at all the suspension parts, lower control, arms, bushings, and he was not able to see any play in the suspension at all.
In summary, he didn’t know what is was, and it’s a very tricky clunking noise to identify because it only happens when you break at very slow speeds of like under 3 mph and when you let go of the pedal and also makes that same clunky noise.
So I’ve ruled out the following: motor and transmission mounts which were replaced struts and strut mounts, and which were replaced.
Lower control arms bushings, which were inspected and ball joints, which were inspected no play anywhere in the suspension noticeable with a pry bar.
Any guesses? Other than the inconvenience of a little clunking noise the car drives really fine but it’s more of a mental hurdle to get over because I spent so much money on an old beater.
In summary, he didn’t know what is was, and it’s a very tricky clunking noise to identify because it only happens when you break at very slow speeds of like under 3 mph and when you let go of the pedal and also makes that same clunky noise.
So I’ve ruled out the following: motor and transmission mounts which were replaced struts and strut mounts, and which were replaced.
Lower control arms bushings, which were inspected and ball joints, which were inspected no play anywhere in the suspension noticeable with a pry bar.
Any guesses? Other than the inconvenience of a little clunking noise the car drives really fine but it’s more of a mental hurdle to get over because I spent so much money on an old beater.
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Joined: Nov 2024
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The swaybar bushings will clunk when they wear out. Pretty easy fix. Also don't forget to look at brake pads because they will clunk if the hardware rusted out or otherwise loose in the mounts.
Last edited by Richardlaing; Dec 22, 2024 at 11:09 AM. Reason: add info
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 315
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From: Ontario
Worst case, your wheels may be out of round, have you hit any potholes at speed recently?
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Joined: Nov 2012
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From: CA
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