slight clunking when turning steering wheel

[pottsy710]

I hear a slight series of clunks when i turn the wheel on my gp, only when i pass certain point, usually when making a 90 degree turn, i'm guessing it has something to do with the suspension, but i am not sure which part.

[GTP Dad]

Check the CV joints! Clunking at low speeds are a sign that the outer CV joints may be going bad. The other item to check is the upper and lower control arms and ball joints. Also the struts can make a similar noise when the strut bearings are wearing.

[pottsy710]

what kind of expense am i looking at for outer cv joints, i can do the labor with my dad, and are they a dealer only part??? thanks in advance for any help...

[GTP Dad]

You should be able to purchase a reman unit for less than 70 bucks. There is a 30 dollar core charge but you will get it back when you return the shaft. Put in a new seal when you change the old shaft. Costs a few bucks but saves a lot of trouble later.

[pottsy710]

I just spoke with my dad, the clunking is not a steady clunking but just one clunk when i pass 90 degrees, and one clunk when i come back, in either direction, does that still siginify a cv joint issue? my dad thought it would be making a clunk every rotation, so more than one clunk, like a series of clunks, i'm thinking possible struts, maybe tie rod end (sp?), but you guys really seem to be the experts, any way i can tell one way or the other without shelling out a fortune for a stupid diagnostic at a mechanic???? once again thanks in advance

[GTP Dad]

Based on what you are telling me this sounds like a strut issue. As long as the problem doesn't get worse don't worry about it as it is usually caused by normal wear. If you have over 100K on the car you might want to consider changing the struts to new ones.

The CV joints would make more than one click when you turn the wheel so that is probably not your problem. One item to check is the sway bar. The stock ends will rust and flex when you turn and may be causing the noise due to the stress when you turn 90 degrees.