01 Malibu - clunking sound in front tires?

[DJRacette]

Ok, thinking of buying a Malibu, found a couple nice ones, bot 2001, same engine.

Took them both for a test drive, both cars are from dealerships.
Car 1 has 47k for miles
Car 2 has 81k for miles

On both cars, when you go over little bumps in the road, there is a clunking sound in the front tires. on Car 1, driver side front tire, Car 2 passanger side front tire. Tires are in good condition on both cars.
Possibly shocks, springs or struts??
Has anyone else come across this problem? Just seems to weird that two different cars make the same clunking sound.

Any info is appreciated.
Thanks
DJ

[bearcatdon]

Sounds like it may be the wheel bearings. Malibus eat them up. Make sure you don't have coolant on the top LH side of the engine block otherwise you also have a gasket issue. Car #2 is getting to the ripe age of where it blows the intake gasket.

[johnholl]

I wish you would reconsider purchasing either one of these cars while you still have that option. Bearings will groan while shifting the steering while left or right. I think there about $200.00/wheel if it is bearings. Bearings don't clunk, may be a bad caliper or suspention component[s]

[Johnny R]

I've had a clunking sound when I turn the steering wheel. One coil spring had broken and both were replaced. On my tab, not warranty.

[Macrosill]

I get a clunking sound on my front left tire when I go over bumps. It is a broken hub cap. One of the mounts that screws onto the lugs is broken and produces a clunck.

[hankandamber]

Originally Posted by Macrosill

I get a clunking sound on my front left tire when I go over bumps. It is a broken hub cap. One of the mounts that screws onto the lugs is broken and produces a clunck.

it sounds like its your bushing is junk if you can rock the tire by pushing on it the needs to be changed

[bobss396]

Malibus are known for broken springs after mucho miles.

[BlackSnake2001]

I have a similar noise on my 98... However, the one thing I noticed is that if I apply the brakes (even slightly), the noise is gone.. This leads me to believe it is the caliper or something rattling, but I guess it could still be anything.

Any ideas?

I think my springs are ok, at least the last time I checked. I am getting a noise when turning the steering wheel, which could be bearings.

[JSvob03]

Sounds to me like Control arm bushing(s). When these go bad, you will get a knocking, from what sounds like the tires, its actually the control arm beating against the "frame" of the car.

could possibly be ball joints.

Also, My 04 malibu Classic (old body style w/ ecotec), has a creak coming from what sounds like behind the dashboard. This is the strut mount. Replace early, or your strut bearings will be soon to follow (creaking when you turn).

[johnholl]

My coil spring is broken on the drivers side, and the strut towers rotted away at the chassis end.

The fix was easy. I took the plates off and it can now rot in the garage. We may have a mysterious vehicle fire come spring time

[richtazz]

My suggestion is to not buy a Malibu. They are one of the most problematic cars GM has produced since the 88 Nova. The list includes rack and pinions, hub bearings, control arm bushings, intake gaskets, heater blower resistors, and on and on. I think the only GM vehicle that is worse is the 99-up Silverado/Sierra pick-ups. The 04-up Malibus addressed some of these issues, but the 03-older models are not very dependable, and I personally would avoid one.

[JSvob03]

Sounds like i got the "lets try this" body style.

Old Style Malibu Body/Suspension/Brakes.

New Style Motor/Trans.

It can be difficult to get parts for my car. When you say you need stuff for a 2004 Chevy Malibu Classic, people just give parts for the 2004 Malibu which is wrong.