Clunking Front End

[mr ilia]

I just installed new front and rear shocks. When driving over road imperfections I was hearing little clunking coming from the front....After checking things in front, I traced it down to loose strut bearing nut. I took about half a turn on the left and a about full turn on the right nut to get them fully tightened. After that, the suspension overall felt really tight and firm. Huge difference....clunking stopped as well.

[noE30]

yes I know cut springs are stupid, I agree it's just that I have more important things to fix other than the springs them selves. The clunking was just more annoying than anything, I have purchased a set of the ge group buy coils so those will be going in once the group buy is done.

I noticed that the exhaust was hitting the transmission brace and causing quite a bit of the clunking noise I was hearing. I have since fixed that and now the sound is much quieter. It very well could be the spring pads.... either way I will continue to try find the problem until the car gets parked for the winter which will probably be within the next month or so.

[a3ternus]

you said that the springs are "cut" if you cut a coil there is a good chance it is not seated correctly? it will clunk if not clocked into the grrove correctly I think?

+1 on that.Its stupid to do so in my opinion.Go fix this.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=216771

I was in your position a few weeks ago.
For me,the solution,after spending lots of money,
was to replace the spring pads (Look them up on realoem)
and to use a LOT of grease between the Front axle support
and the chassis itself.This same cure was the solution for
the same problem this time for an X5.The thing is that its
owner had already spent 2000€ on misc parts and fittings.
Hope I helped you.Post the results.


N.

[skirkpat]

you said that the springs are "cut" if you cut a coil there is a good chance it is not seated correctly? it will clunk if not clocked into the grrove correctly I think?

[agile30]

Could be that you lost me at the "left passenger side" but I think your struts. Or inner balljoint not tightened

[Gooch]

I had clunking from the front recently - turns out the strut collar nut loosened itself! Make sure they are both tight.

+1, the gland nuts on these cars like to loosen up over time.

[Mr Two]

I had clunking from the front recently - turns out the strut collar nut loosened itself! Make sure they are both tight.

[blacked_e30]

i did the same thing... changed my end links and all the clunking stopped for a few days then came back, check the bushing on the endlink if its torn you put it in backwards and it tore itself, honest mistake..

[noE30]

Here's an update:
Last week I installed brand new sway bar links and tie rods, I also checked everything else under the front end to make sure it was all tight. The clunking problem stopped for about a day and now its back just as bad as before. Climbed under the car today and looked it over everything looks to be fine, no loose bolts or anything. I'm starting to go nuts over this issue, it is incredibly irritating to listen to while driving. I'm really at a loss as to what it could be..

[E30_fiend]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I hope its an easy fix for you.


Taylor

[noE30]

I checked under the car yesterday and I'm 90% sure its the swaybar links, the bushings are trash and the links are hitting the bracket that mounts them to the control arm. They look like shit right now lol, and will definitely be replaced.

[E30_fiend]

OP, I'm thinking its one or more of the following:

The sway link is loose, broken or not connected.

The strut mounts aren't tight enough.

There's a possibility too that your subframe could be loose. It's held on by four bolts. Check all of them qnd make sure they are nice and tight.

There is also a chance that the ball joint for the control arm isn't all the way tight.

Last thing I can think of are your steering rack bolts. there are two. make sure both of them a very tight. They are through bolts so they have a nut on the back side.

Good luck


Taylor

[ScHpAnKy]

do you still have the bumpstops on your new strut assemblies?

[E30_fiend]

jack the car up, pull the tire off and check the links. Im guessing one is either broken and not connected at all or VERY loose in the control arm or the sway bar itself. I had one break on me and it did the very same noise.


Taylor

[noE30]

is the clunk when you hit bumps, when you are turning? we need a little more info.

if you have a little wander on the highway and a clunk while turning i would say tie rods, or strut bearings.

if its just over bumps it could be CAB's, ball joints, shocks, or sway bar end links.

I do have a bit of wander, I figured it was just my shitty alignment. And the noise only happens over bumps. I've got new shocks, shock mounts (bearings), control arms, and cabs. What should I check for with the end links? Everything looks tight from under the car.

turn up radio. problem solved.

That has been the cure so far.