*EDIT* PROBLEM SOLVED*
Thought I'd update this incase anyone was interested or comes along the same problem.
The noise was due to the driver's side sway bar end link nut loose. I had a friend of mine jounce the car while I was underneath, took 5 minutes to find. Tightened it up and all is well. It had gotten more and more frequent the more I drove the car. So I'm guessing it was left a little loose when the coilovers were installed (during previous ownership) and it just worked itself looser over time causing the noise to start.

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Car is a 2006, all stock except Tein Monoflex coilovers.
So I have a mysterious clunk/knock sound coming from the front half of my car.

It NEVER happens while driving at any normal speed say 40mph+. I can accelerate, brake, swerve aggressively, hit bumps or dips in the road etc and no weird noise. Feels perfectly solid.


It is extremely intermittent and sporadic. But I've heard it mostly while navigating through parking lots at low speed. It has happened while driving straight low speed coasting over small bumps/imperfections in the asphalt. Also while going over speed bumps at an angle and while pulling in or out of a driveway. When you hear it's only that one clunk/knock and then it's gone until the next random time it occurs. And again it is not consistent or repeatable under any of these conditions. Of course the randomness of it makes it very difficult to get any video of it.

I've lifted the car up and visually looked at everything, Looks ok, nothing noticeably loose or showing witness marks etc. I also had a buddy come over and watch as I torque up the engine in forward and reverse, motors mounts look good.

I know this is a long shot but any insight at all would be appreciated.

Common susp parts that go out and knock?
Common to Tein Coilovers?
Possible transmission mount?
Brakes???

 

The compliance bushing in the big lower control arm sometimes goes bad , it could be that. Brake pads can make the noise too when changing direction, say after backing up and then on the first brake application when going forward.

 

Wouldn't that only happen to the brakes if the bracket is loose?

If the suspension isn't leaking, it could be the compliance bushing like JFUSION said, or it could be one of the nuts that holds the top hat studs to the body is loose, maybe the shock bushing on the LCA is really worn, or maybe a ball joint on the knuckle. Sway bar bushing can sometimes do that as well.

For me it was a blown shock, it would clunk when making u-turns only, and otherwise showed no signs of problems, until it started leaking like the deep water horizon spill.

 

i have the same issue, but in the rear

 

worn sway bar endlinks can do that too, but that would happen on every bump.

 

Stupid question but have you recently replaced the battery or battery bracket? It can shift and thunk....ask me how I know.

Utah

 

So I've been able to isolate the noise to the drivers side front suspension. I can get the noise to occur just by jouncing the car at the strut tower. Sounds seems to be coming from lower end but I can't get under there to look and jounce the car simultaneously. Gonna have a buddy come help me out.

 

jack it up, take the wheel off, and look at the compliance bushing .


get a rubber hammer and tap the lower a arm,

 

Will do!

 

check the upper a-arm braket mount on the chassis.... they have been known to go bad (spotwelds rip out) with lots of racing/use of r-compound tires....although it typically effects ap1 over ap2 it could be a place to checkout. it is a suggestion by robinette for anyone who tracks there car to fully weld in that mount

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/369...a-arm-bracket/