This clunk has been pestering me for a good while now.

At first I thought this noise was coming from my Gendron sway bar endlinks. I have completely removed my swaybar and the clunk persists.

Situation:

When I put the car in reverse and crank the wheel left to turn left (usually out of my garage) I hear a loud metallic SNAP or CLUNK from the right front suspension area.

This sound only happens once when I turn while in reverse there is no subsequent sound as I move forward and this sound does not occur when I reverse in the opposite direction. This sound is also not the same pop heard from loose spindel nuts. It is a deeper clank.

I have checked and retorqued just about ever possible suspension component on that side of the car. I cannot seem to nail down where the source of this sound is, the one remaining idea is that the socket joint inside the boot on the steering arm has a lock nut on it. I suppose this lock nut could be loose but it seems unlikely. The car handles exceptionally and has no negative effects associated with this clunk it's just frakin' annoying

Thanks guys!!!

 

This is the tie rod end. The lock nut is used to hold the toe adjustment when doing an alignment.

Is the supension moving up or down when you hear the noise, or just turning?

Have you looked at the lower control arm rear bushing, and inspected for any cracks?

Since your car is also lowered on Zeals with VERY wide and sticky S-03's, it made be of interest to inspect the upper control arm mounting brackets. Some of the track oriented cars have been known to break the spot welds that hold the bracket to the body of the car.

 

Sorry I have to ask.......

Not car wash related? The pads tend to lock to the discs if wet.


Utah

 

1 The suspension does not need to move up and down for this to happen.

2 Dark_Sub_Rosa and I both looked through the entire assembly today and nothing stood out. Although I can definately take a closer look at this lower bushing.

3 I've read about this happening and checked the torque on the upper control arm today. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Nope completely unrelated to washing, but a valid comment.

Please keep the comments/suggestions coming I'm pretty much stumped on this right now.

 

It's not the torque of the bolts that hold the upper arm to the bracket. The spot welds that attach the bracket to the body are breaking causing a "oil canning" noise.

 

So this could be happening with no visible damage? Just flex in the metal, snapping?

 

Did you find anything with the upper arm mounts?