Beetle Suspension problems

[MJ12]

This is my first forum visit and I'm here looking for some guidance in troubleshooting a potential suspension issue. I have "99 Beetle that has developed a "thunking" under the front end when going over small bumps. It's a "low mass" but solid thunking most prevalent when on some undulating holes. (I live on an unpaved road.)
I've had it to 3 suspension specialists and to a local dealership with little results. The dealership said the struts and suspension components are perfect and there's nothing else under there bumping. Well.....I......O.K....
I've owned VW's since 1971 and I think I can recognize an erroneous "thunk".
At any rate, someone said I should check the sway bar bushings....Has anyone else had this problem and do bad sway bar bushings produce this type of noise? It is getting worse...

[veedubmechanic]

The sway bar end links usually break after high mileage. The sway bar bushings can also go bad but you will hear the noise more when turning. Usually if the front shocks are bad you will hear a thumping noise going over bumps. also the upper strut mounts can go bad if the the car is driven with bad shocks. Easiest way to check a shock is lift the car off the ground and pull directly up on the shock. If it moves 1-2'' then the shock and upper strut mount is bad.

[MJ12]

Originally Posted by MJ12

This is my first forum visit and I'm here looking for some guidance in troubleshooting a potential suspension issue. I have "99 Beetle that has developed a "thunking" under the front end when going over small bumps. It's a "low mass" but solid thunking most prevalent when on some undulating holes. (I live on an unpaved road.)
I've had it to 3 suspension specialists and to a local dealership with little results. The dealership said the struts and suspension components are perfect and there's nothing else under there bumping. Well.....I......O.K....
I've owned VW's since 1971 and I think I can recognize an erroneous "thunk".
At any rate, someone said I should check the sway bar bushings....Has anyone else had this problem and do bad sway bar bushings produce this type of noise? It is getting worse...

Thanks, veedubmechanic, It's definitely bumping on the straight-away and not on the turn. The closest thing I've heard with previous VWs was, in fact, bad shocks, but the local dealer says the shocks and struts are fine.... I can't believe I can't find anyone around here that knows what they're looking at under there. I spent 30 years in Maryland where VW service and expertise was "primo". I'll have it checked further based on your note...I'll let you know what I find out..