Hey guys I'm having a bit of trouble diagnosing a clunking noise from the front of suspension of my car. Just to give some background on the car, I have replaced the UCAs, LBJs and tierods all within the past 4 months. I also have BC coils (18k/10k) on the car, and its a '91 with approximately 180k on the clock.

I'm just wondering what would be the next logical part to replace up front? I've read that the strut rod bushings deteriorate over time but wanted to know if there is anything else that's prone to wear over time that I could replace?

 

The strut bar bushing is pretty much THE one. I had my guy go over the front on mine with the express consent fix what it needs. In his experience, he said 90% of the time the strut bar bushing is the one that will fix the noises. Mine at the time had 155K miles and he thought the UCA, LCA were fine. Now if the suspension has been knocked around and allowed to wear, other areas may need attention.

What sucks is getting an alignment one by one as you replace these single parts. I did a multi replacement so I won't know unless I were to measure each part for spec. I'm not about to do that. Especially to find that a part was still good and I had it removed for the sake of replacement. I live with the thought that it was worn.

 

any specific condition when its clunking? ie going over a bump, turning etc.

 

ah I forgot to include that part. I can hear the clunk on bumpy roads at lower speeds (5-35 mph) but I can't hear it at freeway speeds (40-70). It occurs wile driving straight and occasionally while taking sharp, low speed turns.

Okay cool good to know about the strut bar bushing, I was kinda leaning in that direction but thought it maybe something else.

 

its not like a sway bar bushing clunk is it?

 

Check the lower control arm bushings as well...

 

S/R Bushing took care of mine. 98 with 140K.

 

possibly, haven't had a chance to look at the car for the past week but I'll get it up in the air within the next 2 days.


Also I ordered some Strut rod bushings yesterday so hopefully that will alleviate the problem.

 

forgot the size but u can get the energy suspension part for it. just measure up your front sway bar size and see which bushing fits the bar.