98 BK Weird Noise

[98legwag]

My car is making a weird clunking noise going over bumps/rough roads. Its mainly at lower speeds or under braking like when coming to a traffic light or stop sign. The car has 141k on it. My guess its either the struts or bushings. What would I be looking for to determine where the noise is coming from if I jack it up and take the wheels off?

[Magoozle]

Find a speed bump. First time go over it straight and see if it makes the noise, if it does, it's struts. Second time, go over it at an angle, if it makes the noise then, it's likely a swaybar twisting in the bushings. Diagnosing struts without driving or removing them completely is rather difficult, unless they are leaking a lot. If they are original struts, I would say that's a likely culprit.

[98legwag]

Will do. Thanks.

EDIT-After driving home it seems to be the right front. Turning into my driveway when that wheel went up the "curb" it made the noise. None of the other wheels made it. Wheels were turned to the left.

[Magoozle]

If one is bad, might as well do all four.

[98legwag]

So it appears to be the ball joint on the right front. I took my friend's advice and today I jacked up both sides of the front and the left has no play. The right has a little play and makes the clunking sound.

[Wiscon_Mark]

That would make more sense. Struts kinda sound like dogs barking rather than heavy clunks. Unless they have no fluid/gas and they're actually bottoming out. I think you'd notice that though.

[Magoozle]

Dont think Ive ever heard someone compare bad strut noise to barking dogs. :lol:

[Wiscon_Mark]

Both of my rear ones are bad and it really does sound like (muffled) barking dogs over speedbumps...no joke.

[Magoozle]

Oh I believe it, just never heard that before, it actually makes sense after I made the sound in my head!