I have been reading a lot about other 3’s with front end “clunking”… I have read a few different fixes… swaybar link, bad strut, motor mounts, inner tie rods, end link.

My symptoms are – when of drive over bumps it clunks… (it definitely is the right side… and sounds like the front) Also, when I drive 65 on the freeway it seems to rattle also… even on new asphalt freeway… i.e. real smooth.

So, does anyone have a suggestion where to start?

~DD

 

Do you have aftermarket parts on it?
Can you make the noise by pushing down on it with your hands?
Have you had the wheels off of it lately?
Does anything look oily on that side?

 

thanks for your reply... Answers below

Do you have aftermarket parts on it? No. Everything is stock.

Can you make the noise by pushing down on it with your hands? No noise at all...

Have you had the wheels off of it lately? Only to look to investigate the wheel that i think the noise is coming from. I was looking for any obvious issues... someing loose or broken oily. Nothing was found...

Does anything look oily on that side? No oil or crud was found on the strut.

 

Jack up that side so the wheel is off the ground. Make sure the car is on a jack stand. Grab the top and bottom of the tire and see if you can wiggle it. Not rotate it but move it back and forth. Push the top, pull the bottom... pull the top, push the bottom. If you can move it that way, you have your problem.

 

Hi Aubrey - what would that problem be then? The bearing?
john

 

Bearing or ball joint.
Do you feel anything different in the steering wheel?

 

no play in the steering wheel... i am going to jack it up tonight and see what i can find out...

 

I haven't noticed it myself.
John