jake91 Posted May 23, 2015 Report Posted May 23, 2015 So as im sure a lot of you have seen on FB i have this clunk in the front of my car. The noise seems to originate on the passenger side. I happens one single time on every initial acceleration from a stop. It also happens intermittently over large bumps like gutters and speed bumps, and on rear rare occasions full lock turning.. This clunk is loud I've had a cd skip while playing once or twice Now this started right after a lot of suspension work. I replaced control arms, ball joints, swaybars, endlinks, and lowered the car. I did reuse the old struts and mounts as they were less than 30k miles and 2 years old, i also installed shorter dogbones to make sure the downpipe doesn't hit the swaybar (clunking happened before shorter dogbones so thats been ruled out). Ive had a inspection done on all the replacement part and they all seem to be installed and tightened correctly Motor mounts were replaced 2 years ago but were replaced with stock hydraulic mounts, and both cv axles are spewing grease, but both of those usually have different symptoms than what I'm experiencing. Let me know what you think Thanks Jake Quote
rich_e777 Posted May 23, 2015 Report Posted May 23, 2015 Can it be described as a loud clanging metal to metal sound? Years ago I too had an issue like this, went through the suspension I don't know how many times, Also had a few people look at the transmission. It turned out my rear exhaust manifold had cracked under the heat shield but the way it was bolted to the engine everything remained together. I don't know how the sound occurred from the manifold as my exhaust note didn't indicate any issue, but after being replaced the sound has gone away. This was on my Cutlass 3100. It happened to me most commonly on acceleration and when shifting from P to R or D. Quote
Psych0matt Posted May 23, 2015 Report Posted May 23, 2015 If you go into the PCM with a scan tool, you can disable the clunk by replacing the clunk.wav with a blank file Bubinga 1 Quote
RobertISaar Posted May 23, 2015 Report Posted May 23, 2015 clunk.midi sounds electronic, so I don't think that is your problem. Quote
carkhz316 Posted May 23, 2015 Report Posted May 23, 2015 I've experienced this with other vehicles than my own. It has almost always has been a worn/ loose inner cv joint; the symptoms correlate with that anyway. So, a axle replacement may be due. Quote
jake91 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Posted May 23, 2015 Can it be described as a loud clanging metal to metal sound? Yeah it sounds like someone whacked the swaybar or control arm with a hammer Quote
jake91 Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Posted May 23, 2015 I've experienced this with other vehicles than my own. It has almost always has been a worn/ loose inner cv joint; the symptoms correlate with that anyway. So, a axle replacement may be due. I was wondering. Just wasnt sure due to just the single clunk and no humming or clicking that seems normally associated with the axel. Quote
rich_e777 Posted May 24, 2015 Report Posted May 24, 2015 Get up under the car and give your exhaust a shake or two, but careful, more than 4 times and your playing with it. I could sometimes reproduce a quieter version of the sound my Cutlass used to make in this way. Quote
vipmiller803 Posted May 24, 2015 Report Posted May 24, 2015 I was wondering. Just wasnt sure due to just the single clunk and no humming or clicking that seems normally associated with the axel. Giving the axle itself a solid shake can most times rule it out...Or in. No amount of play in any direction while installed, otherwise swap it. I had an inner joint go bad a couple years ago. It made a driveline shake upon acceleration, enough that it loosened the engine mount right there off the subframe. That was not a good limp home. If they are spewing grease then they need to be checked. Also, I am sure you have studied the geometry of your new and improved parts to the 16th of an inch, but have you looked at the suspension while compressed, maybe on ramps instead of jacks? It might give a little insight... Quote
Nas Escobar Posted May 24, 2015 Report Posted May 24, 2015 I was wondering. Just wasnt sure due to just the single clunk and no humming or clicking that seems normally associated with the axel. Humming and clicking is also associated with the wheel bearing, don't forget that. Also, don't forget that the sound starts out soft but then gets real loud. If I was you, I'd jack up your car, and shake the offending wheel north to south and east to west. If it moves then something is wrong and it would correlate with the side it moves around in. As far as the axle, you can easily shake that around too, see if it's loose. Quote
jake91 Posted May 24, 2015 Author Report Posted May 24, 2015 (edited) Ok ill check the axle. Ive shook the wheel its tight and has no play wheel bearings were replaces last year. I'll replace the axle soon as its on a autozone lifetime warranty so it would be free anyways I checked the exhaust its not hitting anywhere Edited May 24, 2015 by jake91 Quote
Nas Escobar Posted May 25, 2015 Report Posted May 25, 2015 Ok ill check the axle. Ive shook the wheel its tight and has no play wheel bearings were replaces last year. I'll replace the axle soon as its on a autozone lifetime warranty so it would be free anyways I checked the exhaust its not hitting anywhere You can get a bad one... It happens. Mine lasted a year on my Cutty. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk Quote
AL Posted May 31, 2015 Report Posted May 31, 2015 Alot of guys are experiencing this when they lower the car, check subframe bushings, make sure the subframe bolts are tight, and check the sway bar and links for any play Quote
jake91 Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Posted June 1, 2015 Thanks Everyone ill take a look at it all next time its under 100* out lol Quote
94 olds vert Posted June 6, 2015 Report Posted June 6, 2015 Pfft, I don't go out side if it is over 85F. Quote
nitehawkjcb Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 Might as well make sure the caliper is on tight while you're at it. Quote
jake91 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Report Posted June 8, 2015 I checked that already Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote
Nas Escobar Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 Any updates since your last post when you were gonna check it? Quote
jake91 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Report Posted June 8, 2015 Been busy and it's so freaking hot out. I'll make a point to for sure next weekend Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote
jake91 Posted June 12, 2015 Author Report Posted June 12, 2015 Going to look over your suggestions tomorrow but in the meantime i got a video. This happens over speed bumps, uneven corners, sometimes just corners in general, and every time i accelerate Quote
RobertISaar Posted June 13, 2015 Report Posted June 13, 2015 that does seem kind of sloppy.... and would line up with your original description as well. Quote
jake91 Posted June 14, 2015 Author Report Posted June 14, 2015 Went to try and tighten up the endlinks more today and stripped them out. So i installed some new GMPP ones i had laying around. Seems to have quited the clunk a bit but its still there all the time, but just attribute this to the fact they are rubber and the old endlinks were poly. Next step will be the axle Quote
jake91 Posted July 1, 2015 Author Report Posted July 1, 2015 I have no interest whatsoever in working on this car im going to drop it at a trusted shop this weekend Quote
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