help: front end noise

[Mike Lloyd]

2005 USA WRX. 16,700miles

The front end started making a "clunk" noise on slow speed sharp turns
(like parking lot turns, or at a 4-way stop). The car is just over a year
old and with this mileage the CV boots should be fine -- the boots are not
torn or anything. The click is not a constant tick-tick-tick like a CV
joint gives, but sounds more like something loose in the suspension or
something. It is either a single or a double clunk clunk. Sounds like it
might be foreward right side. It doesn't do it if I simply turn the wheel
with the car at a stop, but seems to be related to shifting the weight of
the car as I turn a corner (both accel, deccel, steady speed power on &
off).

Any ideas of where to look before I drive 2 hours to the nearest dealership?

Mike

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

2005 USA WRX. 16,700miles

The front end started making a "clunk" noise on slow speed sharp turns
(like parking lot turns, or at a 4-way stop). The car is just over a year
old and with this mileage the CV boots should be fine -- the boots are not
torn or anything. The click is not a constant tick-tick-tick like a CV
joint gives, but sounds more like something loose in the suspension or
something. It is either a single or a double clunk clunk. Sounds like it
might be foreward right side. It doesn't do it if I simply turn the wheel
with the car at a stop, but seems to be related to shifting the weight of
the car as I turn a corner (both accel, deccel, steady speed power on &
off).

Any ideas of where to look before I drive 2 hours to the nearest dealership?

Mike

Is it a clunk or a 'jerky feeling'? Could be torque bind. there have
also been a few reports of broken front anti-sway bars on some models.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[S]

Hi Mike!

Any ideas of where to look before I drive 2 hours to the nearest dealership?

Wheel lug nuts. Swaybar mounts or links. Strut top. Lower ball joint.
Lower control arm bushing mounts.

Anything beyond tightening the lug nuts, and I would start driving . .
..


ByeBye! S.

Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

 

[Mike Lloyd]

can't feel it, just hear it.

Is it a clunk or a 'jerky feeling'? Could be torque bind. there have also
been a few reports of broken front anti-sway bars on some models.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[Alan]

Bad strut mount bushing.