Clunky Front End

[Danbob]

Hey guys. I am approaching the 120k mark on my 95 legacy L wagon and I have an issue that I am concerned about. The front end makes clunking sounds when going over bumps and small patches of rough road. It never used to do this before but a few weeks ago it started. I looked for broken swaybar mounts/endlinks, but this is not the cause...I can't really explain much else except that if I take my fist and bang on the passenger side wheel/tire a bit, it sounds kind of clunky/loose in there like the sound that the car makes when going over bumps...

Do you think it might be:

Shot bushings?
Broken Tie Rod?
bad bearing/hub?
shot steering rack?
Broken shock/spring?

I am out of ideas - help me :-) I know it's not an axle or anythign like that...both are new - also sounds to heavy to be a heatshield. This clunk/rattle is driving me crazy!

[auspex]

heat shields are a very popular noise problem....rip 'em off.


-mike

[RadeOn]

Shot bushings?

Could be, like control arm bushings, sway bar bushings.


Broken Tie Rod?

I'd say not likely


bad bearing/hub?

Could be, and a ball joint also.


shot steering rack?

Unlikely


Broken shock/spring?

Could be. For example torn rubber in the upper spring seat.
Start simple - check rod nuts (and 3 securing nuts) on top of the strut.
Then bang with a rubber mallet on different parts and listen.

[ivwarrior]

rubber mullet

:smt017

http://piggydidit.com/blog/mullet.jpg


For the OP, could also be the struts themselves, if they're in really bad condition. I get a clunking in the rear that I think's coming from my strut mounts. (New ones coming soon.....)

[RadeOn]

rubber mullet

:smt017

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/

Haha, fixed :)

[Danbob]

I am gonna try banging on the struts like you said but not with a" mullet". That picture had me dying laughing.

I know it's not ball joints because I had them replaced less than a year ago. I think it really might just be the fact that I need new struts because mine have 120k on them and have not exactly been taken care of over the years. They are just so expensive for the whole assembly....that's why I am trying to hold out as long as possible. I'd like to do KYB gr2's with stock springs and new tophats. You guys think I should get the outback ones and raise my car a bit or just stick to stock legacy ride height? It's my daily driver so I am not going to dump it on lowering springs.

[Huffer]

Do you want to raise it? If not don't bother with the Outback struts.

It could also be your calipers binding - the slider pins could be sticking or it could also be a loose pad.

[Danbob]

good call - I forgot that it might be a brake issue...I will check it all out.

I do want to raise it badly but then I have to get new tires and the ones I have right now are not totally shot yet so i might just stick to standard suspension.