Front driver's side suspension noise

[matthewr87]

Driving home today I noticed a clunk/creaking noise when initially applying the brakes (the initial weight transfer moment) and also while going over speed bumps. I can feel the clunk in the brake pedal. Any ideas what I should look for first? I am going to try to diagnose and fix myself if easy and inexpensive. I have the extended warranty so I will take it in if I have to but I'd rather have some idea of what is happening first.

On a totally unrelated note, a friend of mine just spent all weekend making generous use of the curbs at a racetrack. Any ideas what he should be checking first in his post track day inspection?

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[jmn444]

at 20k miles and guessing 80 ish track days, I had similar clunking under braking and low speed turns, and replacing the front control arms fixed that issue for me. Could be wheel bearings too, but that's easier to diagnose by just trying to wiggle the wheel when it's off the ground. my control arms visibly looked fine but apparently had excessive deflection.

 

[Tomster]

Do you have adjustable camber plates?

 

[matthewr87]

I do not actually. One of the things I've been meaning to add but just have never gotten around to it.

 

[Tomster]

I do not actually. One of the things I've been meaning to add but just have never gotten around to it.

I had a similar issue and it wound up being my strut stem shaft nut was loose.

 

[Pittpa]

On a totally unrelated note, a friend of mine just spent all weekend making generous use of the curbs at a racetrack. Any ideas what he should be checking first in his post track day inspection?

I would start by checking for a race track without curbs.

 

[kz]

Start with sway bar end links as they notoriously like to get loose - at the strut, bar and if theyre adjustable - check jam nuts if they're tight, then check all the bolted joints (strut to knucle, ball joints, control arms).

 

[Kachow]

I have same thing, shop was unable to identify what the issue is but I don't think they dove into hard enough. Let me know what you find. Clunk at low speed stop, can feel in brake pedal, audible too. Happens over bumps, only driver side. All seems tight and no play with wheel off ground.

 

[Magnetic Stang]

Same thing happened to me on my GT. It was my front left control arm. I found the problem by jacking the car up and using a pry bar. Found play in the ball joint of the control arm.

 

[matthewr87]

Thanks guys. I will get the car up on the quick jack and see what I find. I need to do oil, transmission fluid, diff fluid and swap the wheels anyway.

How hard is it to replace the lower control arm?

 

[honeybadger]

Bouncing off kerbs is a core foundation of my driving style - so have a fair amount of experience with its wear and tear. Start with wheels - making sure they're still round and not cracked. Then check wheel bearings and all of the suspension mount points (various arms to the chassis/knuckles, strut bolts, etc.). Then check the wheels again.

So far I've only lost two wheels - inside of 10a at Road Atlanta is a cruel, cruel mistress. Don't recommend getting greedy there

 

[Magnetic Stang]

Thanks guys. I will get the car up on the quick jack and see what I find. I need to do oil, transmission fluid, diff fluid and swap the wheels anyway.

How hard is it to replace the lower control arm?

It's only a nut on the ball joint end and a bolt on the other but realistically it was a little bit of a pain. If I'm remembering correctly I had to jack up the steering knuckle some because the sag put it in a bind making it difficult to remove the large bolt. After about an hour or hour and a half and a few cuss words it was done.

 

[kz]

Thanks guys. I will get the car up on the quick jack and see what I find. I need to do oil, transmission fluid, diff fluid and swap the wheels anyway.

How hard is it to replace the lower control arm?

Just make sure you don't try to shake things by hand - they're relatively heavy and there is some spring preload on the strut so you will not diagnose anything this way. There is only so many joints in there that can be loose (short of messed up bushing / bearing) - just go through them all with longish ratchet and bunch of sockets.

It's easy to replace lower control arm, separating ball joint is sometimes problematic.

 

[matthewr87]

Okay well I finally had time to get the car on the lift and poke around. I was unable to see anything amiss. All bolts were tight. I swapped wheels and the clunking/clicking is still there. It seems to be getting worse with time. I'm leaning toward the LCA being an issue. I'd take it to the dealership but I'm not sure if they would have any better luck with the diagnosis. And I don't have a dealership I trust around here. Any recommendations in the DC area?

Also are the LCAs with the spherical bearings worth it?

 

[ChipG]

The LCAs with spherical bearings clunk as normal behavior

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