Left Front End Clunk HELP!!

[simplx5]

The end links were recently installed. Makes sense but doesn’t appear to the cultprit.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

If the clunk is almost every bump it's the sway bar link for sure.

Wrap about a dozen wraps of electrical tape around the top and bottom of the links and if I'm right that will silent the tap tap tapitty tap.

It's a one hour job to replace both sides. Helps to have a buddy with a 4' 2x2 to push things into alignment to get the bolt in when installing the new ones.

Bad ball joint will give you horrible wheel shake braking from speed (70 to 65 mph for example) a tight but greaseless ball joint (any of them) will cause a squeak-squeak squeaken : usually just pushing down on the bumper will make it squeak.

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by simplx5;

The end links were recently installed. Makes sense but doesn’t appear to the cultprit.

Clunk vs tap does indicate you are right. You can usualy isolate large motions that will cause a clunk by lifting the wheels and I like to Swift kick the tire at 12 6 9 3 o'clock. I can often feel the secondary thump in my now sore ball of my foot. Else look under while somebody else hits the tire with a BFH. Look for anything shifting.

You said the lower arms (and ball joint)? Were replaced but doesn't mean it wasn't faulty. Do the lightly brake test from 50,60,70,80 mph.. a gently braking from high speed will shake the crap out of the steering wheel if the ball joint is shot.


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[simplx5]

I took it in to a BMW indy shop to get a 3rd opinion and it's definitely not the arms, end links, or ball joints. After a thorough assessment it appears that it the only other component that can cause a sound that is similar to a loose end link is the strut/airbag assembly. There's 71k on the truck and I was told by the previous owner that they had been replaced; that turned out to be untrue. Apparently the front assembly is the original. I'm going to have both sides changed sometime in the next month or so. I'll report back them. At this point there's nothing else in the front that it could be other than that.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Clunk vs tap does indicate you are right. You can usualy isolate large motions that will cause a clunk by lifting the wheels and I like to Swift kick the tire at 12 6 9 3 o'clock. I can often feel the secondary thump in my now sore ball of my foot. Else look under while somebody else hits the tire with a BFH. Look for anything shifting.

You said the lower arms (and ball joint)? Were replaced but doesn't mean it wasn't faulty. Do the lightly brake test from 50,60,70,80 mph.. a gently braking from high speed will shake the crap out of the steering wheel if the ball joint is shot.


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[Quicksilver]

Thrust arm bushings are easy to see if they need replacing. Had mine replaced and no more clunk.

[FRod1981]

Yeah man he already did.

[andrewwynn]

Do you know which side. Oh and take a video so we can hear the exact sound.

If repetitive when not steering it's likely CV related.


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[simplx5]

A video won’t help for this as it’s more of a clunk you can feel as opposed to one you can hear. It’s the left front only. Two experienced techs have assessed it and both came to the same conclusion. What’s your CV theory?

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Do you know which side. Oh and take a video so we can hear the exact sound.

If repetitive when not steering it's likely CV related.


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[andrewwynn]

Video with SOUND. I'm aware it's not too likely video will show the problem but use video so we can see what's happening exactly when it clunks.


Internally the CV axle has three rolling bearings that roll in three groves. They go in and out to allow the axle to change length and a flat spot on any of the round parts or a dent on the groove will cause a repetitive thump that might barely be audible.

Make some circles with various diameters both left and right turns and see if you can find a radius where it always clunks and if you can find other turns where it doesn't.

[simplx5]

I'll make an effort to get a video, but the the clunks aren't from turns. They occur while going over bumpy roads. Left or right turns don't effect the clunking.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Video with SOUND. I'm aware it's not too likely video will show the problem but use video so we can see what's happening exactly when it clunks.


Internally the CV axle has three rolling bearings that roll in three groves. They go in and out to allow the axle to change length and a flat spot on any of the round parts or a dent on the groove will cause a repetitive thump that might barely be audible.

Make some circles with various diameters both left and right turns and see if you can find a radius where it always clunks and if you can find other turns where it doesn't.

[andrewwynn]

Then I suspect the shock. If the restriction plate gets loose you will feel more than hear a thump


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