LOUD CLUNK AFTER INSTALL- ANY IDEAS??

[S550_GTCS]

2022 Mach 1 (non-hp) 4/9/26 had a shop install the following from Steeda. Basically their "Nurburg Package" plus end links.

- Dual Rate Springs
- Camber Plates
-Sway Bars
-End Links

Aligned by the shop that did the install. All nuts marked with grease pen after install and nothing moved. They specialize in Supra's and I've been using them for years, so I trust they know what they are doing. Car was perfect for about 100 miles or so. Then I started getting a loud clunking from the front. Mostly from the passenger side and only at very low speeds like turning into a gas station or backing out of my driveway. Video is me driving up my driveway from a stop and entering the local gas station. No noise that I can hear at speed. Even in quiet mode and car in neutral I can't hear the clunk. Seems like it's only happening under 15mph. I'm definitely old, so maybe i just can't hear it.

Took the car back to the shop this past weekend and had it on the rack. We were pulling on everything we could and the only noise we could generate was a small clunk when pulling down on the sway bar. Nothing close to what you hear in the videos. Guy at the shop was hanging from the sway bar and yanking on it. We decided it had to be something with the front sway bar or end link, so they loosened all hardware and retightened it.
Left the shop and no noise. Made the 20 mile trip home and by the time I got back it was clunking again. Me thinking logically tells me that since the car was fine for the first 100 miles, its not a part issue. It was also quiet when I left the shop on Saturday. This would lead me to think something is coming loose and causing the noise. My gut is telling me it's the adjustable end links. I feel like if it was something with the spring or camber plates it would be non-stop noise. I do have an email into Steeda but wanted to get all the opinions I could. Also, I have no issues going back to the stock end links. In my mind, the less adjustability the less likelihood for a problem. Car is going back to the shop later today, so I thought I get some ideas before dropping it off.
Thanks to everyone for reading my novel of a post.

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[saleen367]

Because of recent work, noises like this are almost always associated with loose fasteners, not the parts themselves. Its more than likely an incorrectly torqued fastener after install, probably the strut shaft retaining nut. It could also be a sway bar mount or end link. Much of the suspension is under load, even when parked, so I feel it would be hard to detect anything by pulling or pushing on parts. I'm sure they'll find it and get things sorted.

 

[Swtbabybilly]

Spring seated correctly? Or you could take the links off take it for a ride and see if it goes away

 

[S550_GTCS]

As far as I could tell the springs were seated correctly but I'll have them confirm and try taking off the end links. Thanks for the advice.

 

[WItoTX]

Probably the end link. You have to crank the hell out of them.

 

[S550_GTCS]

Being that its a street car, think I should save myself the hassle and run the stock links?

 

[tj@steeda]

Hello Shawn,

Who did you email regarding this concern? Please forward it to me at [email protected] so that I can help get it supported.

I will cc our lead tech & see what type of advice he can offer.

Have a great night.

TJ

 

[Steeda-Sergio]

As mentioned above, the most likely source would be the End links. However, it is odd that it doesn't do it as soon as you leave the shop.

The 2 biggest things to check on end links is that it is torqued to spec at Curb, and to make sure that when installed that they were length set and not in a bind (at an extreme angle).

As another thought, double check that the straps on the sway bar are sitting flat as well as tight. If they aren't flat, there could be a little play since the bushing will have a little wiggle room and would cause a noise at low-speed vs moving.

The not making the noise immediately is the most perplexing part. Makes diagnosis harder.

 

[S550_GTCS]

TJ-
I sent the email into John and he confirmed back the tech team would take a look. I'm waiting to hear from the shop this morning. They are going to disconnect the end links and see if the sound disappears. Thanks for the excellent customer support!

 

[Roadsign]

+1 on the endlink. Add blue loctite and re-torque.

 

[petronix]

Sway bar end links must be torqued to spec. If they are tight, but not tight enough, they will clunk intermittently. If they are actually loose they will clunk constantly. I had same problem as described by OP with a stock link. It could be tightened, but not to torque spec; it would just spin. Upon removal I could see missing threads on the link shaft. I would not recommend going back to the proven weak stock front links.

 

[Zenaxia]

Because of recent work, noises like this are almost always associated with loose fasteners, not the parts themselves. Its more than likely an incorrectly torqued fastener after install, probably the strut shaft retaining nut. It could also be a sway bar mount or end link. Much of the suspension is under load, even when parked, so I feel it would be hard to detect anything by pulling or pushing on parts. I'm sure they'll find it and get things sorted.

Yes NVH causes the links to loosen as well sometimes, the torque spec is 85lb ft for them, make sure the shop knows that.

 

[Zenaxia]

Being that its a street car, think I should save myself the hassle and run the stock links?

No that isn't true, in fact adjustable links tend to be much more robust than factory links, last longer and give you a better ride, as long as they are torqued while the car is at ride height and torqued to the exact manufacturer spec

 

[S550_GTCS]

Update after almost a week with the car back. The shop removed the end links and the sound vanished. Reinstalled and torqued the end links again, drove car and noise persisted. Determined that the noise was coming from the sway bar bushing. It was binding for some reason and they threw a bunch of grease on the bushings and so far so good.

 

[Steeda-Sergio]

Glad to hear it is resolved!

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