Suspension and Brakes Springs, shocks, coilovers, sways, braces, brakes, etc.

Control Arm Clunk? (pic included)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-12-09, 01:47 PM
  #1  
j stuff
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
j stuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default Control Arm Clunk? (pic included)

Hi all

I have a clunking sound that comes from the front driver side.

Last year I installed new lower ball joints and tie rods. I installed springs about 6 months ago. Ever since the spring install i heard a clunk sound after some turns or bumpy roads.

I figured it was the springs needing to settle. I barely drive the gs since its a weekend car and have just dealt with the sound. So finnaly i bring it back to my friend, the installer of the springs and he takes it apart and puts it back to see if perhaps the spring is not seated properly which is causing the clunk.

He reinstalled and the clunk sound is still there.

I took it to an alignment shop today and they said its the control arm bushings that are causing that clunk sound.

here is a pic of them today



I am trying to get rid of the clunk sound and would like some input to see if the bushings really are the cause of that sound. Im trying to search more and see if anyone else got a clunk sound with worn out bushings. Because if so, then that may be the problem. Trying to narrow it down.
Old 05-12-09, 02:10 PM
  #2  
GS4_Fiend
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (22)
 
GS4_Fiend's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 7,015
Received 86 Likes on 69 Posts
Default

Why don't you move it up and down by holding the control arm and see if it makes any noise to confirm.
Old 05-12-09, 03:05 PM
  #3  
j stuff
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
j stuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

good idea but im thinking it may take more force than that to make it clunk as it happens sometimes not all the time but frequently enough
Old 05-12-09, 03:59 PM
  #4  
sam430
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (10)
 
sam430's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: somewhere CA
Posts: 3,732
Received 11 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

Jack the car up and release it... just don't go under there LOL. Listen. Just throwing ideas around. Safety first.
Old 05-12-09, 05:24 PM
  #5  
Alexus_300
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
 
Alexus_300's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

check your sway bar endlinks first as that is the first culprit to noise problems on the GS.
Old 05-12-09, 07:22 PM
  #6  
j stuff
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
j stuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

a bit of an off topic question:

What happens when the control arm bushings go bad? DO they break apart and leave u stranded in the road like broken ball joints? (this happened to me)
Old 05-12-09, 08:08 PM
  #7  
Chancellor
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (2)
 
Chancellor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Fairfax VA
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

I had this same problem on my IS300. Its the endlink!!!

In the endlink there is grease so that when the joint moves, it moves smoothly. Without the grease in the endlink it makes a clunck noise.

Also on mine the endlink looked fine but it wasn't after I got it off there was no grease at all. So I switched it out and the noise was gone.

Give it a try what do you have to lose. I think I paid $7 for it.

Last edited by Chancellor; 05-12-09 at 08:13 PM.
Old 05-17-09, 10:23 AM
  #8  
tom steele
Lead Lap
 
tom steele's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: california
Posts: 774
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

castor arm bushing cause this and the dreaded 55-65 wheel shakes get a set of daizen bushings changed mine fixed all my problems in the front just good luck getting them i have heard people having problems going thru tm engineering i got mine on ebay the whole control arm set for like 80 bucks install is a pain though
Old 06-07-09, 09:09 PM
  #9  
j stuff
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
j stuff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Problem solved, the clunk sound was coming from the top of the spring. That thick rubber O shaped thing was off and the top of the spring was hitting.

I still need to change out the control arm bushings
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Yamae
LS - 1st and 2nd Gen (1990-2000)
15
04-24-23 10:34 AM
deadguy
LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006)
21
01-19-17 04:45 AM
TLcoats
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
3
04-22-10 07:32 PM
Aristo916
Suspension and Brakes
2
07-27-04 12:22 AM
lexman680
Suspension and Brakes
1
01-04-04 10:55 PM



Quick Reply: Control Arm Clunk? (pic included)



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:07 PM.