Clunk/knocking from the front end

Nanda

Been getting clunk/knocking noise from the end. Car drives fine for 10 or so mins until the noise starts. I can feel it pretty much below my feet and the steering goes real shaky. I’ve replaced the struts and all the the bushings over the last year and a half. Took it to a mechanic and he said the bushings are fine, wheels not buckled, tie rod ends and ball joints are fine but the front right brake isn’t engaging properly, said it could be the flexi hoses or calliper. Noise/shake starts of mild and gets progressively worse.

jamesinc

I think look at the power steering next. Is the reservoir filled, and the fluid is in good condition (clear and red)?

Nanda

jamesinc just checked it, it’s looking fine. I can really feel the clunk when it gets worse, like someone’s kicking my feet. Almost feels like the front right wheels shaking too but it’s not

St.Nick

Front end clunks absolutely suck! Mine has always clunked and had weird, annoying, and often concerning noises. Recently, I’ve noticed it clunks in the drivers side when it’s cold and the car has sat overnight… what the actual f!! 🤦🏻 How is that even possible!

I’ve been through it top to bottom several times, replaced everything (it’s on lowering springs and full poly bushed, adjustable swaybar links etc), and it still has noises that it had when I first got it with stock suspension… so it’s not the modifications that have caused the noises (although they have definitely caused additional, equally frustrating ones).

I did find that one of the brackets where the lower control arm rear bush (caster bush) installs was cracked on the interference lip that the bush presses into. The caster bush itself was moving back and forth about 5-10mm, so that might be worth checking. Check for marks on the bush’s metal casing where it presses into the cup/bracket.

I also found that one of the lower control arm front bolts (the bolt that secures the arm to the engine crossmember) was loose, and that made a decent clunk that I could feel through the floor. Whether it wasn’t tightened properly at some stage, who knows! I was sure I triple-checked everything.

Another thing could be the u-clamps that hold the steering rack to the crossmember. I seem to recall someone mentioned they found there’s to be loose when chasing rattles.

A big rattle I found only recently was actually the front bumper! The shock absorber bumper irons that fix the bumper to the chassis were a little sloppy inside, and the stiffer suspension caused them to move and rattle on rougher roads.

Just some random 4am thoughts. Good luck ☺️

Nanda

St.Nick Thanks for sharing your own clunking experiences. I replaced the bushes in the lower control arms early this year so I’ll definitely check that out as well as everything else you mentioned.

The front end has been the main issue since buying my 240 a year and a half ago. I’ve replaced bushes, wheel bearings, ball joints, struts, etc. pretty much everything. Just really wanna sort out the handling before I work on anything cosmetic or performance.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Nanda

St.Nick

St.Nick checked all that and turns out the front right wheels weights came off. Swapped with the spare and it’s all good.

carnut222

I've heard loose bolts that hold the front subframe to the chassis rail can cause clunks…maybe check those? 2 large bolts on each side of the chassis rail - bolt down thru the top of the rail - you'll see the bolt heads if you look down between the engine and the strut tower.