Low-speed Clunk... Hurting Anything?

[jiggapoo]

Just over 200k miles, unknown suspension maintenance on my 1996.

I get a clunk from what feels like the left (driver's) side under the following circumstances:

1. At speeds less than 10 mph: hitting the brakes hard

2. A sharp dip/drop-off at low speeds (e.g., coming out of a driveway)

It feels like the car is bottoming out and makes a sound to match. It seems to make a worse sound/feeling when I'm turning to the right and going through a sharp dip.

As for checking the usual culprits: no visually broken bushings or busted boots on lower control arm, balljoints, upper strut arm, sway bar, or tie rod ends.

Tires are not wearing funny / strange and have about 20k miles on them

There is a very slight jiggle at highway speeds but no pulling (may or may not be related)

Tires are balanced and alignment was done in about 5k miles ago (Feb/08)

Do these cars have a subframe bushing I'm missing?

[landar]

Mine was doing something similar and it turned out to be the strut rod bushings.

I lifted each side of the car and examined each bushing. When the wheel is hanging in the air,

it puts pressure on the bushing and you can check for cracks. Mine had dry rot and "spider" cracks.

Nothing terrible. But thats enough for the clunk.

[jiggapoo]

Mine was doing something similar and it turned out to be the strut rod bushings.

I lifted each side of the car and examined each bushing. When the wheel is hanging in the air,

it puts pressure on the bushing and you can check for cracks. Mine had dry rot and "spider" cracks.

Nothing terrible. But thats enough for the clunk.

That's the one that's up high, right? Has the two posts at the end of it?

[landar]

Up high? The strut rods actually connect to the lower end of the strut assembly on one end

and to the front frame on the forward end.

Take a look at this tutorial to see strut rods. http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/Fj9WH6CM

[jiggapoo]

Up high? The strut rods actually connect to the lower end of the strut assembly on one end

and to the front frame on the forward end.

Take a look at this tutorial to see strut rods. http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/Fj9WH6CM

Er... I mean, down low? :) Thanks!