Front end clunk when hitting bumps

[TimmyGTP02]

Hello,

So I've got a 2002 grand prix gtp, I just replaced the wheel hub assembley on the driver side (that's where the noise is from) and the next day I hear clunks when driving over bumps or manhole covers. I read a few posts about this and I did both the 12 & 6 check and the 9 & 3 check with the car jacked up and the wheel off of the ground. In doing the 9 & 3 there was some give and it sounded like something clicking in there, I did the same check on the passenger side and it didn't really move. I can't see anything specifically wrong in there and I don't have another person to do the test so I can better determine what's going on so anyone have ideas? Everything is stock by the way

Thanks,
Tim

[inafogg]

although checking steering is a good idea,i'd think if the clunk
happens during bumps,i'd look at the suspension.strut/ mounts,
sway bar bushings, crack coil spring,etc
still get a hand to check steering

Good luck

[TimmyGTP02]

How would I be able to tell if I've got a bad bushing on the sway bar or even a bad strut? I pushed down on the front of the car and didn't hear any noises.

[inafogg]

if you have a floor jack
jack it up on the side (body lip or frame)just enough so the
tire is 1''. take a pry bar/pipe 2-3 feet long under tire & lift
this will check up/down play.(strut mounting)
you can also ck. ball joint movement
sway bars are a visual inspection
Good luck

[rickisrad]

check the lower control arm bushings. there is a vertical bushing torwards the front of the vehicle that looks like a hockey puck, they seperate from the arm causing a clunk. if that is not it you may have some play in the lower ball joint, it is hard to see by yourself. Have someone else shake it and look with a flash light.

[olopezm]

Sway bar bushings are easy if they look way rotted it's very likely they need to be replaced, if your car seems to be "all around the place" when making turns you need new bushings, if they have shrunk guess what? new bushings...

In my experience bad strut mounts will clunk even with small bumps like going down an average road.

If the play and clicking sound you noticed was at the 9 and 3 o'clock your problem might be either inner or outter tie rods, a ball joint might be the problem too, but when I replaced mine there was no clunking, Symptoms may vary from one car to another though...

Regards,

Oscar.

BTW You DO NEED an assistant to help you move the wheel, it will help you inspect things faster.

[rickisrad]

the intermediate steering shaft can be a culprit also, if it is more of an annoying knock/rattle at your feet then you may need to re-lube the ISS. There used to be a kit to re-lube them but I think they may have did away with those. We are throwing a lot of what ifs out there so you need to eliminate them one by one.

PS.............. If you find that the strut mount is bad as mentioned before, try not to use a monroe strut mount. they are known for noises on the grand prixs.

[TimmyGTP02]

First off thank you all for your help so far.

The clunk only happens when I hit a bump or manhole cover. I haven't noticed any difference in the control or steering of my car. I also don't feel anything on the pedals or the floor when I hit the bumps. It's all just the noise in the front. It seems a little weird that it happened right after I replaced the hub assembly. I traded in the loud roar and airplane noise for a clunk! lol

I will do some more looking tomorrow when I get home from work. Thanks again

[TimmyGTP02]

So I'm a victim of my own stupidity! Lmao
Like I said before I just replaced the wheel hub assembly on that driver side over last weekend and then the noise showed up on Monday. Well I was driving home from work today and noticed that it wouldn't clunk if I went over bumps when the brakes were applied. So I kept testing it out all the way home lightly applying brake pressure as I went down the road. It worked so I figured it had to be something with the brakes since I had to take them off to do the hub.
Turns out I was right for once. The caliper bracket wasn't tightened well enough when I put the brakes back on from doing the hub. Tightened those bad boys up real solid this time and presto no more clunk! I'd like to thank everyone who chipped their thoughts in on this, I guess it goes to show the littleist things can cause problems lol.

[inafogg]

good to hear, thanks for posting the fix even though it was self inflicked