95 Caravan - klunking noise in front end

[JParkins]

I have a 1995 Dodge Caravan with about 125,000 miles. We just had the front end aligned and new tires put on, but there is a "klunking" noise sometimes when I either go over a bump, or turn sharply in either direction. It doesn't feel like it could be struts, because it doesn't bounce excessively going over bumps - could it be tie rod ends? I don't think it is the CV joint either, because there is no ticking noise when turning corners. Other than the metallic klunking, there is no vibration or shaking at all.

And if it is tie rod ends, shouldn't they have noticed that when they aligned the front end?

Thanks,
Jackie

[gforster]

Most likeley they would have caught bad tie rod ends during alignment, but I have had them miss one. I would look at the sway bar bushings - they can cause quite a clunk any time that any form of body roll is induced.

Geoff

[Melton Lee]

You might also want to check your motor support bolts.

[conncarl]

My 95 GC had a harsh clunk on vertical suspension action. I replaced the springs, struts, strut bushings, tie rod ends and so on. I finally resolved the problem...by getting rid of the van.

[[email protected]]

I had that problem in a 97 Caravan. I had to change the sway bar bushings and also the nut that holds the shaft of the shock in the mount was loose. You could grab the shock and move it back and forthand see the top of the shock move, thats how I new the shock was loose at the top mount.

[conncarl]

FWIW, after giving away my 95 GC to a friend, I just learned that the problem had been a cracked front sway bar, a defect which escaped the attention of two experienced mechanics, including one who had replaced all four sway bar bushings.

I spent all that money when swapping in a $25 boneyard swaybar would have fixed it. Live and learn, as they say.

Carl

[eisner.dl]

I have a 94 Voyager with a front end clunk. I've changed all my sway bar bushings and ball joints. I've had the complete front end checked by a realiable shop and nothing. Has anyone had any luck

[th_river]

I had a clunk in my 94 Voyager, even though the cvc joint was not bad, those axles also have some little roller pin bearings around the axle inside of the cvc. Mine eventually all fell out. But The clunk was from the little bearings being rusted and put the axle out of balance I guess. Any way I replaced the driver front axle and it was fixed.

[Lee W]

eisner.dl

My 1990 Caravan starting making a clunking sound on corners and bumps that would make one wheel move more than the other. It started doing that on my test drive right after replacing the half axle, which I had to drop the sway bar down to do, so I thought it was the sway bar. I did a test drive with the sway bar removed to see if it would still clunk or not, (it did not,) After trying new sway bar bushings and adjustments, and even some shimming, I finally removed the lower control arm and replaced the ball joint, the strut busing and the pivot bushing. That finally fixed it. I can't say which one of three did the job because removing the control arm was a big enough job for me that I replaced all three while I had it out.

Lee W
San Jose, CA

[rrbtheman]

my 89 votager had that problem then one day the bALL joint blew on it and i replaced it and it stoped

[Space Cowboy]

Check your tire pressure. (!) I have a 93 Chrysler Town & Country, & I recently got a loud clunking in the RF when making any right hand turn. My mechanic couldn't find anything wrong. He noticed the tires were under-inflated, and when he pumped them up to full pressure the clunking went away! ---Space Cowboy, Virginia

Originally Posted by JParkins

I have a 1995 Dodge Caravan with about 125,000 miles. We just had the front end aligned and new tires put on, but there is a "klunking" noise sometimes when I either go over a bump, or turn sharply in either direction. It doesn't feel like it could be struts, because it doesn't bounce excessively going over bumps - could it be tie rod ends? I don't think it is the CV joint either, because there is no ticking noise when turning corners. Other than the metallic klunking, there is no vibration or shaking at all.

And if it is tie rod ends, shouldn't they have noticed that when they aligned the front end?

Thanks,
Jackie