Passenger Side Front Clunk

[K-Roll302]

This has been going on well over a month at this point. Two threads for other noises that I've fixed, but this one is driving me insane. I fixed my rear clunk (passenger rear spring was upside down), but that noise was masking the front clunk. I also fixed my front end squeaks for the time being with silicone grease on the strut rods and bump stops.

Video of clunks:



I also noticed today that when I brake lightly, I can feel the clunk in my brake pedal, and hear it like a light tap-clunk from the area where the clunk is happening.

To date, I've done the following things...
1. Torqued the center strut nuts to 80ft/lbs
2. Torqued the strut mount nuts to spec
3. Torqued the passenger side front end link from both ends to well over spec, then loosened and re-torqued it to spec (86ft/lbs) and that had no effect
4. Replaced the passenger side front end link last night, torqued to spec and that did nothing
5. Oriented and reoriented the spring isolator on both springs
After work today I'm going to try two things:
1. Disconnect the front sway bar from both driver and passenger side, tie the end links to the struts and drive around to see if the noise goes away.
2. After doing the first thing, I'm gonna jack the front end up evenly and reconnect the end links.

One more question. Someone mentioned that I need to connect and torque the end link with the suspension loaded/preloaded/on the ground?? Exactly how am I supposed to do this in my driveway with the front end jacked up off the ground?? I can't exactly get to the end links if the car is on the ground. So what do I do if it's apparently wrong to connect and torque end links in the air??:frusty:

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[jbailer]

No way to tell from the video but that sound is coming from the front? It's such a low sound, I would've guessed the back. When you torqued down the strut nut, did you have the spring fully compressed? Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I'd think with all that tension from the spring, tightening it to 76 lb ft even with the weight of the car wouldn't cut it. If it were me, I pull the strut back out, compress the spring and torque it correctly. To me, that sound sounds too low to be an end link but diagnosing from a video is very difficult.

I feel so bad for folks with these clunks. I hear the sounds in these videos and cringe. That would completely consume me. I'd have to fix that immediately.

 

[K-Roll302]

No way to tell from the video but that sound is coming from the front? It's such a low sound, I would've guessed the back. When you torqued down the strut nut, did you have the spring fully compressed? Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I'd think with all that tension from the spring, tightening it to 76 lb ft even with the weight of the car wouldn't cut it. If it were me, I pull the strut back out, compress the spring and torque it correctly. To me, that sound sounds too low to be an end link but diagnosing from a video is very difficult.

I feel so bad for folks with these clunks. I hear the sounds in these videos and cringe. That would completely consume me. I'd have to fix that immediately.

I'm not sure to be honest, but I'll ask my friend that helped me. But both front struts were done exactly the same so why would it happen on one side and not the other? The passenger side strut nut was loose and we torqued it to 80lb/ft with the cars weight on the spring, then hit it with an impact gun and it was tight. I honestly hate to take the strut out and do that all over again after already having an alignment done but if what I do tonight doesn't fix it then I guess I'll have no choice but to have a shop or dealership redo the spring on the passenger side.

It especially sucks because I don't recall the instructions given to me in the box mentioning that.

When I get off work, I'm gonna disconnect the end links from the sway bar and drive around the block to see if anything changes, and go from there.

I've been listening to this for so long and no one's been able to determine what it is, in person or online. I'll have more video from inside and outside the car later today if it helps any.

 

[K-Roll302]

Exterior video


Here it is from the outside.

 

[K-Roll302]

Strangest thing. I disconnect the driver side end link from the strut, went to do the same on the passenger side, and had to jack that side up by the disc to disconnect the end link because it wouldn't budge until it was level or something. Like all the load was on one side of the car but the whole car is in the air.

Does this sound normal?

 

[K-Roll302]

PROBLEM SOLVED!!

I discovered and remedied the source of my clunks this afternoon! The two 15mm caliper bolts that connect to the strut were loose, one has a millimeter or two left of thread left to be screwed on even! I noticed that driving over the same bumps that would cause clunks, they wouldn't happen if I was braking over them. Torqued them up to spec and all my problems are gone at last! It also solved my squealing brake problem that was an issue on the '15 GTs and EBPPs.

If you've a clunk like I did, check over every single bolt (those caliper bolts!!), even the ones that you'd never think to look at; because I never would've thought it would be my brakes causing the noise the whole time!:headbonk:

 

[OutlanderRed]

I was about to suggest looking at the caliper bolts. I just went through a similar issue with my front drivers side caliper clunking rather loudly when I would use the brakes. Get some Loctite on those things!

 

[estebanvdt]

i JUST HAD THE SAME SH!t.........Thanks for the tip.

 

[wildcatgoal]

Strangest thing. I disconnect the driver side end link from the strut, went to do the same on the passenger side, and had to jack that side up by the disc to disconnect the end link because it wouldn't budge until it was level or something. Like all the load was on one side of the car but the whole car is in the air.

Does this sound normal?

No. If both sides of the car were in the air, sounds like the sway bar was bound up somehow.

 

[wildcatgoal]

I discovered and remedied the source of my clunks this afternoon! The two 15mm caliper bolts that connect to the strut were loose, one has a millimeter or two left of thread left to be screwed on even! I noticed that driving over the same bumps that would cause clunks, they wouldn't happen if I was braking over them. Torqued them up to spec and all my problems are gone at last! It also solved my squealing brake problem that was an issue on the '15 GTs and EBPPs.

If you've a clunk like I did, check over every single bolt (those caliper bolts!!), even the ones that you'd never think to look at; because I never would've thought it would be my brakes causing the noise the whole time!:headbonk:

Glad you found your issue. I always use blue loctite on those since I track the car. Factory does not. Always helps to clean the threads when re-installing those, too.

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