not your average front clunk help needed.
07-14-18, 11:52 PM
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
-UPDATE- not your average front clunk help needed. *update*
Man this forum became quiet recently... figured all of you for sure know this matter better than I am with days of research!
i started having some clunk / knock sound recently. And I mean I only took my car out twice since it started happening. I have researched and researched and found out solutions to the issues I don't have... build up that tension lol what I have is the little clunk at the driver side when I come to stop, and it only happens once per direction change. For example... if I reverse and have to brake "clunk" and I can brake as much in reverse as I want after that.... as soon as I R -> D first brake "clunk" and no more after that... I'd say a scwer is lose? But I am no suspension mechanic, I only replaced little things here and there and lowered couple cars... to be clear, I have not noticed it clunking while driving over bumps or at any particular speed. Haven't noticed clunking at stopping on high speeds after that initial clunk. The only way i can sleep good if I see the issue and personally make sure it's fixed. I have suspension mechanic friend but he is out of the town and i have no idea when is he coming back. He owns a shop and has trustful ppl working on it, so he doesn't come back often... I see him maybe once a month, and wouldn't want to annoy him with my little issues...
Obi-wan (club Lexus) you're my only hope
i started having some clunk / knock sound recently. And I mean I only took my car out twice since it started happening. I have researched and researched and found out solutions to the issues I don't have... build up that tension lol what I have is the little clunk at the driver side when I come to stop, and it only happens once per direction change. For example... if I reverse and have to brake "clunk" and I can brake as much in reverse as I want after that.... as soon as I R -> D first brake "clunk" and no more after that... I'd say a scwer is lose? But I am no suspension mechanic, I only replaced little things here and there and lowered couple cars... to be clear, I have not noticed it clunking while driving over bumps or at any particular speed. Haven't noticed clunking at stopping on high speeds after that initial clunk. The only way i can sleep good if I see the issue and personally make sure it's fixed. I have suspension mechanic friend but he is out of the town and i have no idea when is he coming back. He owns a shop and has trustful ppl working on it, so he doesn't come back often... I see him maybe once a month, and wouldn't want to annoy him with my little issues...
Obi-wan (club Lexus) you're my only hope
Last edited by xaker777; 08-16-18 at 09:15 AM.
07-15-18, 04:25 AM
#2
Man this forum became quiet recently... figured all of you for sure know this matter better than I am with days of research!
i started having some clunk / knock sound recently. And I mean I only took my car out twice since it started happening. I have researched and researched and found out solutions to the issues I don't have... build up that tension lol what I have is the little clunk at the driver side when I come to stop, and it only happens once per direction change. For example... if I reverse and have to brake "clunk" and I can brake as much in reverse as I want after that.... as soon as I R -> D first brake "clunk" and no more after that... I'd say a scwer is lose? But I am no suspension mechanic, I only replaced little things here and there and lowered couple cars... to be clear, I have not noticed it clunking while driving over bumps or at any particular speed. Haven't noticed clunking at stopping on high speeds after that initial clunk. The only way i can sleep good if I see the issue and personally make sure it's fixed. I have suspension mechanic friend but he is out of the town and i have no idea when is he coming back. He owns a shop and has trustful ppl working on it, so he doesn't come back often... I see him maybe once a month, and wouldn't want to annoy him with my little issues...
Obi-wan (club Lexus) you're my only hope
i started having some clunk / knock sound recently. And I mean I only took my car out twice since it started happening. I have researched and researched and found out solutions to the issues I don't have... build up that tension lol what I have is the little clunk at the driver side when I come to stop, and it only happens once per direction change. For example... if I reverse and have to brake "clunk" and I can brake as much in reverse as I want after that.... as soon as I R -> D first brake "clunk" and no more after that... I'd say a scwer is lose? But I am no suspension mechanic, I only replaced little things here and there and lowered couple cars... to be clear, I have not noticed it clunking while driving over bumps or at any particular speed. Haven't noticed clunking at stopping on high speeds after that initial clunk. The only way i can sleep good if I see the issue and personally make sure it's fixed. I have suspension mechanic friend but he is out of the town and i have no idea when is he coming back. He owns a shop and has trustful ppl working on it, so he doesn't come back often... I see him maybe once a month, and wouldn't want to annoy him with my little issues...
Obi-wan (club Lexus) you're my only hope
07-15-18, 07:42 AM
#3
Driver
Thread Starter
08-16-18, 09:14 AM
#6
Driver
Thread Starter
UPDATE!! If anyone has this single clunking sounds like I did. Check the calipers. Lower caliper screw was loose half a turn. Don't automatically blame it on pads.
08-17-18, 03:43 PM
#7
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
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10-01-18, 03:30 PM
#8
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
Finally Fixed!
So, my issue turned out to be just as simple as xaker777's. Loose fastener on a critical piece.
I had new parts and with 160k miles on the old ones, I decided to just replace them since I was already in the air and apart, but I could have just tightened the tie rod nut, put the pin back in it, and been fixed.
Moral of the story - if you have a clunk/thunk/thump/bump noise in your suspension and you can't find anything obviously deteriorated like a bad bushing, check every single nut and bolt for torque. Every...single...one...
Of course I'm kicking myself for not checking the tie rod end two years ago when this started, but I am quite relieved it isn't new hubs or a new steering rack, both of which were on the what to swap next if the ball joints (cheapest option) didn't fix me. I am still thinking new hubs are in order purely from age, use, and mileage, but they're not an imperative to solve an irritating noise. Also FWIW, I had a weird noise on deceleration between 35 mph and 30 mph that sounded like a clicking noise in the cabin. I had attributed it to the kid's new booster seat I installed, but now that the tie rod end is properly tightened, the noise has ceased. I'm really shocked this didn't obviously impact tire wear.
Alignment followed immediately today, and although the car drove straight, stopped straight, and didn't drift, the toe in the front was considerably off, and it felt immediately better once properly aligned with -0.04 degrees toe out in front on both side. I really love my car again!
10-01-18, 06:23 PM
#11
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
No, that setting will kill your tires with the OEM bushings. You would want just the opposite. 0.04 degrees toe-in will help with tire life on the OEM bushings. Dynamic toe change with the OEM bushing is pretty dramatic comparatively speaking.
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MileHIFcar (10-01-18)
10-01-18, 09:10 PM
#12
Pole Position
Awesome to hear about the toe setting. I've been using the 0 toe setting that you recommended, but I have the RR LCA bushings. I'm guessing that the -0.04 is what you recommend with the RR bushings?
Just put on a new set of Michelin PS4S and am getting ready to set up my alignment so this will work out great to update the toe settings when I go have that done.
Thx
Just put on a new set of Michelin PS4S and am getting ready to set up my alignment so this will work out great to update the toe settings when I go have that done.
Thx
10-02-18, 11:38 AM
#13
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
I wouldn't say I recommend it exactly. I run it because I like the way the car turns with those settings and I know it will have a small impact on tire wear, not a large one. If you want maximum mileage from your set up, stick with zero toe and stiffer LCA bushings. I am OK with front tires lasting 25k instead of 30k.
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MileHIFcar (10-02-18)
10-02-18, 06:14 PM
#14
Ok, so just for clarification I understand you suggest:
.04 front toe for max performance with AM LCA bushings
00 front toe for max tire life with AM LCA bushings
what toe setting would you reccomend running for best performance, and for best tire life for oem LCA bushings?
.04 front toe for max performance with AM LCA bushings
00 front toe for max tire life with AM LCA bushings
what toe setting would you reccomend running for best performance, and for best tire life for oem LCA bushings?
10-02-18, 10:29 PM
#15
Tech Info Resource
iTrader: (2)
Ok, so just for clarification I understand you suggest:
-0.04 front toe-out formax best compromise performance with AM LCA bushings
00 front toe for max tire life with AM LCA bushings
what toe setting would you reccomend running for best performance, and for best tire life for oem LCA bushings?
-0.04 front toe-out for
00 front toe for max tire life with AM LCA bushings
what toe setting would you reccomend running for best performance, and for best tire life for oem LCA bushings?
Best performance with OEM bushings is 0.0 toe
Best tire life with OEM bushings is 0.04 degrees toe-in.
Last edited by lobuxracer; 10-04-18 at 09:18 AM.