akxx

iTrader: (1)

Some of you recall I had a front passenger's side "thud/clunk" sound when going over irregular surfaces/bumps. Most suggested it to be the lower ball joint. The other most common alternatives are upper control arm bushes/ball joint, or strut rod bushing.

Well, the lower ball joint is the cheapest and easiest to change out, and makes the most sense for the vertical motion-triggered thud sound, since it wasn't making the noise in braking conditions (fore/aft movement).

I replaced the lower ball joint for less than $60 from olympus parts using the procedure from this thread:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=153536

Less than an hour, and back on the road. No thuds...the diagnosis on this one was right on. BTW, car is a 1990 with 85k on the odo.

Thanks to the great wisdom and experience on this board.

steveski

Glad to hear the lower ball joint fixed the clunk. Were you seeing inner tire wear? I changed mine and my clunk went away also.

akxx

iTrader: (1)

I wasn't but, I had just put on new tires last fall. It would make sense that if there is vertical play, it would affect camber.

Suneet

When I replaced my lower balljoints at 185K, I didn't notice a huge difference. BUt I did it at the same time as my Daizen CA bushings, and it tightened up the steering quite a bit.

I still have a clunk when going over small bumps at slow speeds.. so maybe my culprit is the strut rod bushing?

steveski

The strut rod bushing is what everybody says to change. You can get a poly busing for your year I believe. If not the whole thing is easy to change.

IggyDrift

hmm i have that clunk too looks like i might be changing my ball joint soon then also

akxx

iTrader: (1)

That strut rod bushing is about $150. I remember being surprised at how expensive that thing is. It's worth jacking the car up, taking the wheel off, and then prying with a long pry bar at the various points of bushing play (i.e. upper control arm bushings, strut rod bushing, upper control arm ball joint)