Knocking on front drivers side - 2001 Taurus

Okay - my 2001 Taurus (59,500 miles) is having a knocking noise on the front driver's side, and it sounds like it is coming from the wheel area.

It is not noticable when you are driving on a flat, smooth surface.

The only time that you can hear it is when you are hitting bumps, driving on uneven pavement, or hitting potholes (which are hard to avoid here in Michigan.)

I am thinking either a balljoint, or tye-rod (sp?) end. Then again - I don't know anything about cars...lol.

What do you think?

Thanks!
- Kari

Well it could be any of those things. First off, did you get the recall done for the coil springs? The recall was for Taurus' in high salt enviroments causing the springs to weaken and possibly crack. The dealership will inspect the springs and replace if necassary, and install sheilds for the springs. If yours have cracked it could cause the knocking. I have a 2001 and they had to replace the springs under the recall because they were both sagging. I would check your spring for cracks, and yes it could be the balljoints, or sway bar links. I wouldn't think the tie-rods. When these go bad they usually make noise when turning, and will result in loose steering. hope this helps.

Hey - thanks for the reply. I did go through all of my paperwork, and the shields were installed on my car for the coil springs in early February 2005.

The knocking started about a month ago. So right now I am going to assume that it is the ball joints or sway link bars. From the sound of the knocking, it sounds as if something is just hanging in there, and 'clunking' when ever I hit a bump, or something.

I will be taking my car into the dealership this week to have them check it out. I just wanted to post here, and get an idea of what it could possibly be. For some reason when I go to the dealership - they see that I am a woman, and want to feed me these stupid lines, thinking I won't know any better.

Anyways - thanks again for the help! :)
- Kari

it could be any suspension or steering component. dont go buying parts and installing them without checking these parts. you could have any of these following worn parts: tir rod ends, upper and lower ball joints, shocks, upper and lower control arm bushings. my vehicle does the same thing and it is my control arm bushings. my previous vehicle had the same clunk noise and it was the shocks. check them first.

The knocking on my 2001 Taurus was caused by the sway bar binding in the rubber bushings. While a friend pushed the car sideways on the fender, the sway bar could be seen moving with a snapping motion and making the knocking sound. A little rubber lubricant on the bushings took care of it.