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SoCal GS3 2nd Gen. squeak-clunk, Can you help.?

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Old 03-16-12, 07:20 PM
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GS714
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Default SoCal GS3 2nd Gen. squeak-clunk, Can you help.?

I am having this squeaking noise (but also sound very similar to clunking) coming from the front passenger side every time I drive slow over speed bump, turning the steering wheel, and the first few seconds after I stepped on the gas padel at the stop light. Any Veteran owner or anyone with any kind of experience with the car willing help me diagnose the problem please PM me. I already poured in more than $2.5k just to make the car run rite and now I having the bugging noise issue. I live in Garden Grove and only owning the car for 5 months. (There goes my TAX Return in case yall wondering)

Last edited by GS714; 03-16-12 at 07:31 PM. Reason: Updated
Old 03-17-12, 12:05 AM
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masboy
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Gotta be the ball joint. Ball joint is pretty common issue in 2nd GS. Check tha first, if it is, replace it ASAP before it fail on u!
Old 03-17-12, 12:12 AM
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GS714
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Default OEM Replaced three months ago

Originally Posted by masboy
Gotta be the ball joint. Ball joint is pretty common issue in 2nd GS. Check tha first, if it is, replace it ASAP before it fail on u!
I had both LBJs replaced with OEM about three months ago. Still have the receipt. The noise is coming from upper wheel well and around the strut mount or the maybe the strut itself. I just want to be sure before throwing another $400 to $500 into the car again.
Old 03-17-12, 12:47 AM
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masboy
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how many miles ur GS is? i doubt it the strut itself, is it oem?
Old 03-17-12, 01:28 AM
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AYEmike
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press down on your hood on each side of the front wheels, does it squeak?
Old 03-17-12, 06:14 AM
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GS714
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Originally Posted by AYEmike
press down on your hood on each side of the front wheels, does it squeak?
Yes, Only on the front passenger side. It's only started squeaking about three weeks back when I was reversing the car and put into drive, and then the loudest clunk, snap, pop I ever never heard before.
Old 03-17-12, 09:57 AM
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Default KYB GR-2 Replaced just right after the LBJs

Originally Posted by masboy
how many miles ur GS is? i doubt it the strut itself, is it oem?
It has 98K miles on the odometer. I replaced all OEM struts with KYB GR-2. The struts mount are still OEM. This is unbelievable, I drove thru the rain today and I tried to rock the car up and down after I got home, and the squeaking noise is now silent.

Last edited by GS714; 03-17-12 at 06:39 PM.
Old 03-17-12, 08:07 PM
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It can be so many things as ive read countless threads of people replacing practically their entire front suspension setup and still have the "clunk" over bumps. Mainly, check your lowerballjoints, trailing arm bushings, strut mounts, tie rods. Might have something to do with your caster so be sure to get an alignment after replacing these things. Best of luck to you
Old 03-18-12, 06:06 AM
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It may be your upper a arm bushings...
Old 03-18-12, 01:56 PM
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I have a similiar problem with my IS300, only it's the rear passenger side. It would happen these few days cuz it's cold, and sometimes would occur when it's raining. I'm assuming it's the sway bar bushings. I had my mechanic put some grease over it, it's a bit better now.
Old 03-18-12, 03:21 PM
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RA40
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Plenty of these rubber type suspension bushings as they age become harder. In those instances, greasing them helps temporarily. Since you have new struts, the next on the list would be to replace the sway bar and link bushings.
Old 03-18-12, 09:26 PM
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GS714
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Default It was completely silent during the rain on Saturday.

I am still scratching my head here. After driving all around town on Saturday in the rain, I noticed that my car is completely silent when going slowly over speed bump. Not just one speed bump. I drove over and back up and over like ten times. Everything is dead silent. I tried rocking my car with the hood open and I was out of breath and there was no noise at all. Normally, with the hood opened, the noise is coming from the strut mount and the strut rod tie down hex nut. On Sunday, March 18, the noise is back. What the. F could be making the squeaking/clunking noise. But now I know how to diagnose the noise when it sunny out. Spray silicone grease or grease at each bushing or joints locally one at a time.
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