Clanking sound from front suspension

[maxblast]

Have been reading through this topic and I wonder if this is also my problem. Looked up the word clanking but this is more of a rattling sound right?
Since a couple of weeks I have more of a flapping noise on certain roads. On tarmac is't ok but on just about every other surface, I hear this flapping noice from the front.
Are we perhaps talking about the same problem?

 

[LEXFX]

ok i hear some clinking noise in the front drive side when i accelarate hard from a stop. what could that be? thanks

 

[WietseFX35]

The noise that is being caused by the stabilizer links sounds like a metal-to-metal sound wich goes together with bumps etc.
You can discribe it as a rattle, but like i said it sounds together with the movement of the suspension.
The thing you can check first is to grab the stabilizer link and try to "rotate" them.
At both connections there is a ball-joint wich allows them to move but this should go quite hard.
With my car one of the rubbers was damaged allowing sand/water to get in the ball joint destroying it completly.

In the end, they are cheap and very easy to install.
Just 2 nuts to remove and it will come out, just the nuts can be very hard to get loosend.

 

[plugdesign]

I know this is an old post, but I just wanted to say that I had the same noise in the drivers front suspension when I hit bumps. Started hearing it after about 8k on H&R springs. Dealer said it was the strut bearing. After reading this post I went against what they told me and ordered the stabilizer link and bushings and had them replace those parts. Just picked it up from the dealer and the noise is gone!!!! Yea! They quoted me $550 to do the strut bearing with the re-alignment and all. This only cost me $130 including parts and labor.... Glad I searched this here before doing what the dealer told me. Thanks!

 

[Infiniti1980]

I'm going crazy with mine too . I have done everything to check for play and nothing . I think like you guys say " change the sti bar . Let's see how it goes with me

 

[kenraz]

hate to resurrect an old thread but i have the same "clanking" noise when i go over bumps in the road. I just put new KYB struts on and the noise is still there. Im going to give the sway/stabilizer link a shot, sounds like it solved many of your problems. My other question is, should i have put new shocks on along with the new struts i just installed? The ride seems much better, but how do i know about the shocks?

 

[Chedman13]

hate to resurrect an old thread but i have the same "clanking" noise when i go over bumps in the road. I just put new KYB struts on and the noise is still there. Im going to give the sway/stabilizer link a shot, sounds like it solved many of your problems. My other question is, should i have put new shocks on along with the new struts i just installed? The ride seems much better, but how do i know about the shocks?

1) tie rods
2) sway bar bushings
3) strut bearings (did you do this, this should be the #1 cause if not)
4) shocks -- unless there is a leak, only other way I test is "jumping" on the car in the back and seeing how good the shocks handle the oscillation. Also, if your rear seat passengers say it's a rough ride, another indicator. You don't have to replace the rear shocks now, but between 60-100k is recommended for best handling unless their is a failure.
5) springs are lifetime of the car, no need to worry here.
6) lower control arms, haven't hear of one fail here yet but they have built in bushings.
7) rubber bushings -- a few in the shocks in the rear (mount) and rubber mounting bottom for spring -- when you eventually do the rear, replace those too.

hope that helps.

 

[kenraz]

Thank you for the quick response, i went ahead with the stabilizer links and stabilizer bar bushings, and the noise is gone. The drive is much smoother and the annoying knock is finally gone, Thanks again!