Annoying rattle from time to time.

[SuzukiGhostRider]

I have an idea what this is already, but I'd like a few opinions and maybe confirmation from someone who's had the same issue if possible.

Even before and ever since I put the brand new Monroe struts and shocks on last year, I've had a rattle or light "clunk" out of the passenger front end when going over bumps. Now bear in mind , to say our roads suck ass around here would be a gross understatement, but even so the noise doesn't belong.

I've gone through the entire front end. I have NO rust issues, my ball joints are tight and greased, same with the outer tie rod ends. Struts are brand new, front driver's wheel bearing is brand new, passenger side wheel bearing is nice and tight. CV joints are great, all mounts (engine and trans) look great. Control arms look great and seem in there nice and tight , bolt wise.

What I'm thinking it is is the direct acting sway bar links (they look a little "wallered out" at the pivot where they join the sway bar) or the sway bar bushings themselves.

Ideas?

[ErichZ26]

replace the strut mounts. Thats what it sounds like to me.

[berettaboi]

if you say the sway bar links look iffy, then they are cheap enough to replace. i have a clunk that bugs the crap out of me on certain days, i need to figure out if it is front end suspension, or the brake pads moving a little bit? i need tie rod ends very soon... getting ordered this week

[DTMAce]

My last clunking noise I had in the Z turned out to be a bad ball joint, on a set that didn't have that many miles on them. But you said that they seemed tight and well greased so meh.

Probably ether the strut mount, sway bar linkage or possibly a loose/bad lower control arm bushing. Any idea which side?

[SuzukiGhostRider]

Definitely coming from the passenger side only. It's not the strut mounts. They're in good shape. And the sway bar doesn't look inferior, it's the sway bar LINKS that look worn.

You can definitely tell the noise is coming from "down low" in the suspension. That's why I tested the ball joints, wheel bearings, and tie rod ends out. All were fine except the driver's side wheel bearing (which wasn't making any noise to begin with) and I replaced it.

[DTMAce]

Passenger side ball joint or one of the passenger side control arm bushings... Not much else there to "clunk" Unless you have some loose bolts on the control arm, crossmember, etc or something?

Tie rod ends? But I doubt that would cause it. Loose wheel/lugnuts? lol Just throwing out what I can think of off the top of my head at this late hour.

Edit:

I mis-read the comment about the sway bar stuff. Still could have a loose/bad link, or one of the bar insulator's are worn? The bar itself shouldn't be an issue, heck no.

How are the engine/transmission mounts? Any loose ones, maybe some shifting going on?

[Barry]

Did you check the balljoints at ride height? I had a few pesky ones that felt tight at full droop but had play at rideheight.

[SuzukiGhostRider]

Good point Barry. I will check that.

Ace, I already checked out the mounts. They're all good. And I even grabbed a 4 way the other day AFTER hitting the lugs with 160 lb impact and rechecked them. All good there too. The control arm bushings are a possibility.

You see why this is driving me batshit??

[ErichZ26]

The reason i said strut mounts is because it is the only part of the suspension that is difficult to check without taking it apart. And from past experiences I have seen the bearings come out and cause the rattle you talk about.

Otherwise it will be more obvious things like an FE7 linkage bar.

Check for ovalzied hole in spindle where the balljoint is.