13101093

Seeking experience or wisdom here...

01 LS430 with 83k miles just lowered about 65mm all round on BC racing coilovers.

Now I have what can be best described as a loud click/clunk in the font end felt slightly through the steering wheel mainly when turning towards full lock and reversing or going forward into a parking space. Then at some point later it will click again when driving straight. It feels to me like something clicks out of place and then clicks back when driving along again.

Last night I spend a good amount of time with the front end in the air and prying around with a big pry bar trying to replicate the noise or find something loose but it all feels pretty tight....

So I am at the stage where i will just need to start replacing parts until the noise goes, anyone have any suggestions as to what bits are the most likely culprit?

Thanks

05ls430518

iTrader: (1)

Sway bar end links, ball joints, lca bushing should be first to be checked.

Ellesse

Check to see if the tyres are catching on the fenders? Are you sure everything got bolted back together correctly and tight?

13101093

OK thanks for the suggestions, what do people do to check this stuff? i was just pushing and pulling on things with a prybar. I did run over all the bolts again so i think i am covered there.

EthanS

with the wheels still torqued to the hubs, lift the front tires off the ground and push/pull on each wheel with hands at the 12 and 6 oclock positions, and again at the 3 and 9 positions. See if you can get anything to move there.
Also check the strut rod bushings.

k7q

iTrader: (37)

When I installed new BC coilovers on my LS, it clunked from the right shock. After a while it went away.

13101093

OK thanks again for suggestions, will have a look and report back.

After thinking about this some more I may start with upper and lower ball joint replacement. My theory is that for their whole life with stock suspension they would have a particular wear pattern and now they are sitting in a different position that is 'loose'

Same goes for steering rack ends and sway bar links... I should probably do it in order of cheapest to dearest to avoid wasting money.

13101093

Just thought I would close this out if anyone is looking in the future at a similar issue.

I made a list of parts to just throw at this issue and put them in order from cheapest first. But before making an order I thought I would go over the bolts on the front end one more time this time with the suspension under load because that is free!

So I jacked up the front end and placed jack stands under the front lower control arms and took the wheels off. With the factory torque specs in hand I loosened every bolt I could access and re-tightened it.







The only real issue I found was that that LCA camber bolts were not up to the 127ft-lbf required, likely from the last wheel alignment shop not bothering. Anyway the issue seems resolved! no more clunking or clicking so if anyone has this same dilemma - especially after a wheel alignment - check your camber bolts.