Front End Clunk

[qwikrex]

Hey All,

First time posting here but I've done some searching and just have a few questions.

We've owned a 92 ES300 since late 2005 and it's served us quite well. However, it's recently started to produce a "clunk" sound from the front end under a number of circumstances.

1) Low speed turn with wheels close to lock (Popping/Clunking)

2) Pulling in/out of driveways and parking lots (Loud CLUNK sound when the suspension decompresses)

3) Shifting gears at or near redline with manual trans (Quiet clunk)

At first, I thought the problem could be the engine mounts since it was occurring when we shift, or an axle since it happened when the wheels were turned fairly drastically. However, having searched here a fair amount, I'm beginning to think that it could just be the front struts.

I'm going to inspect a bunch of stuff, is there anything else I should look at besides these three?

1) Axle CV joint/boot

2) Engine Mounts

3) Front Struts

Also, any good testing/inspection procedures for checking out the struts?

If they need replacement (probably do) then I'm thinking of using KYB's over Monroes and possibly getting some Eibach springs to go along with it.

Are KYB's and Monroes my only choices for the 92?

There any other springs I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

[TA in KC]

I'd go with stock replacements for all suspension parts.

[steviej]

here we go: Is it a click or a clunk. Does it occur when you are driving straight and on a flat surface.

Go to a parking lot, and drive in a huge circle and gradually close the circle. What do you hear. Does the click/clunk appear gradually. Then do it again in the other direction. If so, then I would immediately suspect CV joint. Easy to spot too, jack up and support the car. crawl under and inspect all CV boots and see if any are ripped or if the grease has spun out. If so, then you got a shaft that needs replacing.

Does it only happen when the weight of the car shifts (like when you hit the brakes or hit a large bump)?

Could be as simple as the sway bar bushings.

I had an annoying clunk in the front left of my 02 ES. Replace sway bar bushings cause thats what it was in the rear 6 months earlier. Clunk continued. Was ready to replace the sway bar linkages but the dealer found that the large nut on top of the strut mount was a 1/2 turn loose. Tightened it and the noise was gone.

Don't go replacing expensive parts until you have ruled out the obvious and the cheapest.

steviej

[qwikrex]

here we go: Is it a click or a clunk. Does it occur when you are driving straight and on a flat surface.

Go to a parking lot, and drive in a huge circle and gradually close the circle. What do you hear. Does the click/clunk appear gradually. Then do it again in the other direction. If so, then I would immediately suspect CV joint. Easy to spot too, jack up and support the car. crawl under and inspect all CV boots and see if any are ripped or if the grease has spun out. If so, then you got a shaft that needs replacing.

Does it only happen when the weight of the car shifts (like when you hit the brakes or hit a large bump)?

Could be as simple as the sway bar bushings.

I had an annoying clunk in the front left of my 02 ES. Replace sway bar bushings cause thats what it was in the rear 6 months earlier. Clunk continued. Was ready to replace the sway bar linkages but the dealer found that the large nut on top of the strut mount was a 1/2 turn loose. Tightened it and the noise was gone.

Don't go replacing expensive parts until you have ruled out the obvious and the cheapest.

steviej

Thanks much StevieJ,

I've owned more than my fair share of honda civics and I've had the experience of a failed CV joint, and I'm fairly confident that's not it, though I'll check it out.

The sound is definitely related to a shift of weight or suspension movement. It happens when we hit bumps etc as well as shifting between gears as noted above.

I agree with not replacing expensive parts unnecessarily, though I usually take routine repairs as an opportunity to upgrade to something more interesting. I think a lot of the bushings and other suspension parts need to be replaced/upgraded, but I'm really concerned with actually solving the problem in the meantime. I'll check it out.

Thanks again for the advice.

[tenro1]

Hey All,

First time posting here but I've done some searching and just have a few questions.

We've owned a 92 ES300 since late 2005 and it's served us quite well. However, it's recently started to produce a "clunk" sound from the front end under a number of circumstances.

1) Low speed turn with wheels close to lock (Popping/Clunking)

2) Pulling in/out of driveways and parking lots (Loud CLUNK sound when the suspension decompresses)

3) Shifting gears at or near redline with manual trans (Quiet clunk)

At first, I thought the problem could be the engine mounts since it was occurring when we shift, or an axle since it happened when the wheels were turned fairly drastically. However, having searched here a fair amount, I'm beginning to think that it could just be the front struts.

I'm going to inspect a bunch of stuff, is there anything else I should look at besides these three?

1) Axle CV joint/boot

2) Engine Mounts

3) Front Struts

Also, any good testing/inspection procedures for checking out the struts?

If they need replacement (probably do) then I'm thinking of using KYB's over Monroes and possibly getting some Eibach springs to go along with it.

Are KYB's and Monroes my only choices for the 92?

There any other springs I should consider?

Thanks in advance!

Hello -

My first post here - I own a 93 Lexus ES300 - just bought it last week. I am experiencing a similar problem - a clunk noise I feel in the steering wheel and brakes. Happens when I have been doing the following:

1. In a parking lot - when coming to a stop to pull out on to the street. (slow speed)

2. Down my driveway (on an incline going down - again, at slow speeds, both forward and reverse gears.

3. When hitting the brake as I am making a left turn...slightly faster speed, but slowing down for the turn.

In all instances, I am applying the brakes when this happens.

I thought maybe the front brake pads were bad, even though I experienced none of these problems at highway speed, and the brakes feel fine otherwise. This past Friday, my brother and I planned on replacing the pads and flushing the brake fluid - and upon inspection of the fluid - all was well. So - we ended up bleeding all 4 brake lines instead. Got some air or trash out of the right front wheel (which is where the sensation and sound of the clunk appear to be coming from) and left rear wheel as well. All pads were in good condition, and did not need any replacement. Rotors all appear to be in good shape as well.

We also checked the master brake cylinder - it seems to be in good working order, and I do not appear to be losing any brake fluid.

My brother noticed that the anti-sway bushings were beginning to go - the one he pointed out to me was on the right front wheel, although he said they were good for now, but needed to be done soon.

So - after doing all this work, I am still having this problem with this "clunk". Not sure if this is related to this problem, but my ABS light comes on intermittently.

All this time, I have been thinking it was a problem with the brakes, but after reading this thread, I am now wondering if it is something along the lines of the bushings, or the shock/strut. Car seems to ride fine otherwise, and I am not getting any other indication that the suspension is causing the problem.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Michael