clunking in front end

as the title says, i have a clunking noise in the front end. it only occurs when starting from a stop, and it just clunks once, very briefly, and then goes away as i continue to accelerate. i have an idea what it is, but i wanted to get all ya'lls (yes, i'm from TX, so i gotta show it) thoughts not compromised by my own idea.

Three things come to mind. Wheel bearing, strut, CV joint.

good ideas, Polygon.

any other input, guys?

mm... I was going to say cv.

alrighty, well at first i was 90% sure it was the cv joints, b/c i could only head the clunking starting from a stop. but after today i began to hear the noise when coming to a stop. i know that my struts are shot b/c when i go over bumps (regardless of speed) i hear a low squeaking, creaking noise, like a squeaking door.

however, i thought the two noises were unrelated. when starting from a stop on level ground, the clunk comes, but there's no vertical motion (or at least i don't think so), simply horizontal motion. however, since i know my struts are shot (although brand new KYB GR-2's, less than 1 yr old, + lowering springs wore the struts out prematurely), i'm beginning to think that its more of a strut problem.

on more note, i have been hearing the creaking/squeaking noise (definitely struts) for much longer than the clunking noise. this is what leads me to believe they are unrelated. but Polygon's suggestion of struts introduced some doubt into my mind. [Polygon, i'm vetoing wheel bearings b/c the noise only occurs during the starting and stopping motion...bad wheel bearings usually make a constant humming/whirring noise at a given speed].

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cmon guys, i know there are more of you out there who have very good insight. i DO very much value your opinions. much more so than ppl at that 3Si place. :wink:

Yeah, if you don't have a hum then that pretty much rules out the wheel bearing. In my opinion you can rule out the CV joint as well if you crawl under there and see the the boots at intact, no greese escaping. I haven't seen many CV joints fail unless the boot was torn. The ones that were, well let's just say wheel hop. :wink:

All bad struts that I've heard in friends cars etc, eventually get to the point of a bouncy thumping noise. I guess thats the best way to describe it. But it's bouncy, like you can hear it going with the up and down movement of hte car. Try going over speed bumps or pushing down hard on that corner of the car, can you replicate the noise you are hearing?

Wheel bearings have always developed into a kinda high pitched metal squeal sound in my experience...not really a clunk.

Any chance you can isolate it a bit more? Tranny, engine, wheel area, etc? I dunno man.

Wait, your shocks are shot already? Holy crap dude, you changed yours after I did mine...how did they go bad so quick? Granted I probably didn't put as many miles on mine as you did on yours but wow, that was fast. Just over the summer, right?

Anyways, as far as the clunk goes, I wouldn't really know because I haven't been able to figure out my back clunk yet either. At first I thought the clunk was because of my shocks being shot but I changed the shocks and the strut mounts back there and they still clunk. So yeah, I just gave up. :p

I haven't seen many CV joints fail unless the boot was torn. The ones that were, well let's just say wheel hop. :wink:

well last year i launched the crap out of my car who knows how many times. i was putting my LSD insert to the test. i think the launches probably contributed to cv joint wear, if that is the clunk noise.


Any chance you can isolate it a bit more? Tranny, engine, wheel area, etc? I dunno man.

i'll check that tomorrow. i think my front struts are the ones worn. however, i'm sure the rears are not far behind (can you parlais francais: double entendre? for the last sentence?!).

Wait, your shocks are shot already? Holy crap dude, you changed yours after I did mine...how did they go bad so quick? Granted I probably didn't put as many miles on mine as you did on yours but wow, that was fast. Just over the summer, right?

actually, i installed the rear in Jan '05, and the front in May '05. i have yet to get the car re-aligned, so i'll wait til that until i make any decisions.

Anyways, as far as the clunk goes, I wouldn't really know because I haven't been able to figure out my back clunk yet either. At first I thought the clunk was because of my shocks being shot but I changed the shocks and the strut mounts back there and they still clunk. So yeah, I just gave up. :p

so you replaced ur shocks and you still have the clunk? that good news. that leads me to believe that my "clunk" and "creak" noises are unrelated, the former being cv joints and the latter being struts.

i'll let you all know what i find out tomorrow.

so you replaced ur shocks and you still have the clunk? that good news. that leads me to believe that my "clunk" and "creak" noises are unrelated, the former being cv joints and the latter being struts.

i'll let you all know what i find out tomorrow.


Yep, the clunk was there with my old setup--ECS shocks and Eibach springs. I replaced the shocks with the GR-2s, kept the Eibach springs, and put on new strut mounts and still the clunk remains. :banghead:

clunk is still there. i don't forsee it ever going away on its own. however, i did check each strut by pushing down on each corner of the car. the only one that squeaked/creaked was the passenger front. ironically, that was the last strut i installed (intrax spring came at the same time, same time each new strut was installed, for that matter), not but 7 months ago. [ i know i had said previously that the fronts went on in january. let me correct myself. the front driver went on in May, the front passenger on in June.]

i purchased these from 3sx. do you think i have a shot in hell that they would replace it for me if i called them up? i know generally they are very customer-oriented people and nice to deal with.

Wild guess but maybe engine mounts? I could cause the engine to shift enough to cause something to clunk...

Wild guess but maybe engine mounts? I could cause the engine to shift enough to cause something to clunk...

wow. i would have never thought of that. :eek:

for the longest time my exhaust has made a thumping sound whenever i mash the throttle quickly. but if i ease onto the throttle, no thump. my wreck 1.5 yrs ago bent my exhaust to hell, and i tried to bend it back, but there is a bushing/bracket missing. however, when something thumps due to pressing of the throttle, that should scream motor mounts. :yikes: :banghead:

thanks for helping me make the connection. i'm gonna go check right now.... err, after i get some sinus cold medicine. i'm pretty sure that my left and right mounts are fine, but i'll bet money that its the rear and/or front that is the culprit. i don't wanna jump the gun, but can you say "forced upgrade"?! :naughty:

i purchased these from 3sx. do you think i have a shot in hell that they would replace it for me if i called them up? i know generally they are very customer-oriented people and nice to deal with.

LOL You can try but I HIGHLY doubt it. 3sx is "customer-oriented" when it comes to helping people but not with stuff like that. I remember the first and only time I ever ordered something from them: 3 bottles of BG Synchroshift. When my package arrived (after about 3 weeks might I add), 2 of the 3 bottles were leaking and all the fluid leaked out. I called 3sx the following morning and the guy that picked up (I swear he said his name was Eric but I could be wrong) just freaked and started yelling at me that it's impossible for them to package something and have it leaking. I'm like WTF???? It's not my fault you guys did a crappy-@$$ job at it. They eventually sent me one more bottle but that yelling experience was enough for me to stay away from them. It just sucks that they're probably the highest 3s mod carrying company out there. But yeah, good luck with that...hopefully you'll have better luck and you get a new one.

Linebckr49, any luck on finding the cause of the clunk? Also, did you call 3sx? What did they say??? Hehe

no progress on the source of the clunk. i checked all the motor mounts with a flash light, and they all appeared fine. however, the way mitsu designed our motor mounts is strange. on some (rear, front, driver...i think) there is a small cut out portion through the rubber. i think this allows it to flex. however, it makes inspecting the integrity of the motor mount quite difficult. ususally, when a motor mount tears/rips, it begins around this hole.

i'm going to eliminate the motor mount possibility (b/c i don't have money for poly mounts forced upgrade ;)) right now and move on to the cv joints and brake wheel system. however, since i'm skiing right now, i'm not at home to work on the car. i got some new tires (Falken ZEIX ZE-xx), and i'll get them mounted on some stock 17" rims i picked up as payment for some work i did on a guy's 3S. when i get those mounted, i'm off for a road trip to 'Bama to visit a friend from college, then i'll visit another friend who's wedding i'm missing right now. so i won't be back in Dallas to work on my car til after the new year, at the latest.