Loud Clunk!?

[Entombed GT]

I've had this problem since I bought my GA used. It was extremely rare at first, to the point that I couldn't pinpoint what it was and dismissed it as incidental. Over the past week or so it's started happening frequently and I need to get it fixed, but would like an idea of what I'm looking at here.

Whenever I make a sharp U turn or am turning into a parking lot where there's a slight curb or dip I hear a loud clunk coming from my front right wheel area (Exclusively on right turns, although it has happened once or twice when turning left for U turns). It doesn't matter how fast or slow I'm making the turn, it will make the noise with no increase or decrease in volume due to the speed I'm taking the turn at. It's the same damned clunk at any speed and it only happens when the wheels are turned more than about 45 degrees.

What is this? I'm thinking maybe strut mount. My other guess is lower ball joint. I'm changing my sway bar end links and outter tie rod ends this weekend because they're looking like hamburger. Could this be the cause? Anyone else had this problem or have an idea because I'd really like to get this all taken care of in one trip up on the jack stands.

Thanx!

[Riley1123d]

umm since it happens when u turn either way could it be your power steering lines or something?

[1996v6corsica]

differential side gear thingy could be on its way out, maybe... there is a shaft with 2 spider gears on it, the shaft can get "rounded" off and at one point it will finally give... thats read BOOM!

[speedemon]

i also have that clunking taking corners, but also speeding up, slowing down, and hitting some bigger bumps, and im just about positive its the ball joints. i just hope it doesnt cost too much:???:

[antirice]

ball joints? upper strut mount?

[matts]

it doesn't sound to healthy whatever it is.:D

[gagt98driver]

Its probably the bushings in the control arms. Same exact circumstances (turning while going over any slight bump=clunk) in my case for my GA.

[redgrandam]

same problem, had control arm bushings replaced a year ago, for 300 bucks :nic: and it did nothing. now I haven't done anything abut it, but I still need to get it fixed :( Might be control arm bushings, but wasn't for me :(

[Entombed GT]

Thanks everyone...

I think I'm just going to throw down the hundred-fifty or so dollars for parts and replace everything at once (control arm bushings, lower ball joints, sway bar end links and bushings, struts, strut mounts, and tie rod ends) and then take it in for an alignment.

[stucazzo81]

I had the same exact noise, and it was a broken stabilizer link. Noise is gone

[run4fun]

Save your $$$$!!! We had the same problems and did all of these repairs and they didn't work. (control arm bushings, lower ball joints, sway bar end links and bushings, struts, strut mounts, and tie rod ends). We will look into a broken stabilizer link. I know of two people with 95 Grand Ams having the same problem. Hope this works

[1996v6corsica]

i like how everybody ignored my differential suggestion, its the same thing that happened to my corsica, and the fact that it happens at any speeds suggets differential to me, the side gears occasionally slip and then catch agian, hence the clunk, eventually it will slip and not catch and blow up

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by stucazzo81
I had the same exact noise, and it was a broken stabilizer link. Noise is gone
That would be my guess.

First things first, if you can get the front of the car up on jack stands so both tires are off the ground and the springs aren't compressed (use jack stands under the subframe) and unlock the steering wheel. Start by shaking down the frontend. Shake the wheel both back and forth, and up and down. Use a little muscle when going up and down and lift from the bottom. See if it feel loose or like you have play. If it does get a buddy to do it while you look at the ball joints and tie rod to check for play. If that seems tight check out your sway bar links to make sure they aren't broken, and your sway bar bushings to see if they have fallen apart. Also check the top of the strut for movement and the springs for cracks or broken coils. Don't forget teh obvious either, check your lug nuts. I don't know who works on your car but it's not uncommon to see a few lugnuts cause a simular sound. If you still can't find it I suggest you take it to a place that does free frontend inspections and see what they come up with.