diagnosing a clunk

[Dave]

Here is what I have:

There is a clunking type sensation in the steering wheel when I hit a bump in the front. It almost feels like the steering column is loose when it happens.

It is however, more pronounced when hitting a bump on the left than the right, and I notice that when I hit a bump on the left front wheel while making a right hand turn, the shake/clunk is not present.

Possible problems:

1. Ball joint or tie rod on the left.
2. Something a miss in the steering column (u-joint, or something)
3. Loose strut mount maybe?

When I recently had the car up in the air, I did the shake and shimmy test and nothing seemed out of place on that wheel.

Anyone have any ideas of what else I might check out?

[DarkWing6]

try going over large speed bumps with one wheel at a time. find out if it happens with one or both. that will help you figure out what side it is on. also, do you feel any play, shudder, clunk, etc when stopping?

[Dave]

I did do the speed bump thing - it is mostly on the left side. I'll watch the shudder when stopping. I "think" it did shudder some, but not as badly as when I hit the bumps.

[nickmp0wer]

I bet its the bushing that i posted a thread about a few weeks ago

[Dave]

I bet its the bushing that i posted a thread about a few weeks ago

Doubt it. I dont have this clunk or any play when the car is stopped and I turn the wheel like you did.

[UNHCLL]

nut on top of shock

btdt

[nickmp0wer]

Doubt it. I dont have this clunk or any play when the car is stopped and I turn the wheel like you did.

did you try moving the steering linkage around? mine did it when it was still because a nut inside the rack was loose

[bimmer8604]

hah, my car does the same thing, u can drive the front left over a speed bump at like, 5mph and it is horrid. you drive the passenger side over the bump at same speed, and nothin.

Ill check the top nut.

Kyle

[Dave]

nut on top of shock

btdt

Getting a little bump steer - would that be consistent with what you experienced, Chris?

[rwh11385]

nut on top of shock

btdt

possibly word. takes 2 seconds and a dirty hand to check it

[Dave]

Yep - I will do it this evening. Weekend was too busy for me to do anything with it.

[KenC]

I'd check the nut on the top of the strut. It's really easy. If you don't put the correct washer up there it won't tighten down all the way.

Also, I had the same problem and it happened to be the strut collar had come off and the strut was moving in the housing and 'jumping' when I hit bumps on one side. I'd check this too... just pull up your strut boot and you can view it easily.