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Please Help...clunking noise in front end

154K views 34 replies 30 participants last post by  Bizzy84 
#1 ·
Hi everyone, i am experiencing a weird clunking noise in the front end of my car. I would appreciate any help or guidance towards troubleshooting this issue but please read the ENTIRE post before commenting.

So heres how it started:
I was coming home on about a 45 minute drive and i heard a single clunk noise when going over a bump slowly. I didnt think anything of it because im on coilovers and well, they make noise sometimes. I then was driving highway speeds for a while and there were no noises. As i got back into town it was almost like every bump i hit, even small ones you can barely feel, would make a clunking noise in the RIGHT FRONT of the vehicle.The left side was making no noises.

I pulled over on the side of the road and rocked the car back and forth...No noise. I pressed up and down on the right front...No noise. So i just drove home (still making clunking noises) and figured i would try to figure it out today.

This morning i tried to figure it out and here is a list of what ive done so far:
-Jacked it up (there was a strange creaking sound when i lifted the right front end)
-Wiggled the tire back and forth...No noises
-Checked coilover spring...it was tight
-Checked top mounting bolts on coilover...All tight
-Checked End link...Tight
-Released the jack (made another creaking noise on the way down)
-Rocked the car and pressed up and down on front end...No noises
-Drove it around the block...Still making clunking sounds!

Im just puzzled as to what it could be. Thanks in advance for any help
 
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#3 ·
No i checked its not that. Its more of a hard hitting sound. Almost as if the entire coilover is loose but its not.
 
#4 ·
I had the same problem. And I know you said you checked it, but mine ended up being the top nut for the front strut. It felt tight when quickly checked but after really giving it a good snug, I felt it start to twist and now my problem is gone.

If it's not that, then another thing I read was maybe the side engine mount? I didn't look into it much because I needed up finding my problem but maybe that's something to look into.
 
#11 ·
I will out $20 on your endlink. Take a torque gun and go at it in reverse. Then forward, the speed at which it goes should negate the need for the allen key and it will be nice and snug. Just did that to mine over the weekend.
Your second sound is just your strut compressing, can't do much about it.
 
#12 ·
I was checking my front suspension today as I'm also getting a constant clunking from the front. My front sway links were tight but seemed to be very easy to rotate around. Is this a sign of bad front end links? Everything else looks snug..Thanks..
 
#13 ·
Mine was doing it. Turns out my the bolt for the CV joint was loose. At least that's what I understood from what the tech was telling me. Noise is gone now, though. I'm not lowered or anything.
 
#14 ·
clunking in the front end

Had the same problem with my mazda 3 after replacing both struts, all motor mounts, sway bar end-links i decided i would change the lower control arm ball joints even though i couldn't get and popping noises out of them when moving them around. Problem was fixed. and the squeaking noises u are hearing is the rubber bushings in the control arm were it connects to the frame. hope this helps.
 
#15 · (Edited)
My 2014 Mazda3 iTouring (5-door) has made a similar sound from the day I drove it home brand new!
Took it to the dealer twice and they could not hear the noise, they said.

Just like with other drivers, it comes from the front end when I go over speed bumps at a slow speed. It's also louder when the tire pressure is lower (30-32 psi as opposed to 36 psi recommended).
I discovered this when tire pressure had dropped without my knowing and the pressure sensor came on.

There is a separate noise that I hear when the steering wheel is turned all the way and when I'm turning slowly typically in a parking lot.

Hope to take it back to the dealer since it's under warranty (I have only 11,500 miles on the car still).
 
#16 ·
I have this same noise on my 2010 mz3. Its ont he driver side and I hear it most while hitting a bump while turning (e.g a parking lot entrance) and when its cold out that same area creaks when turning the wheel in a stationary position. I looked around when I serviced my brakes but I didn't see a single thing wrong. The ball joint and all other rubbers and knuckles are good, suspension components are good, drivetrain components are good. Im starting to think its the fender shifting as the body flexes
 
#17 ·
Usually that noise comes from the front endlinks. Tightening that fixes that problem for most people.

This usually arises after suspension component install (usually DIY) since many people don't or can't retighten the endlinks properly
 
#21 ·
well i read all i can read and decided to attempt some remedial action to the clunking i hear on the right side of my 2015 mazda 3 isport when the wheel falls into a manhole cover slightly below grade....most annoying, sounds like an old POS when it happens...the vehicle has 33k miles and certainly shocks me that this problem has arose...lets look at some common sense stuff here...it sounds like its coming from the top of the strut tower, i didnt think is was the lower ball joint, lower control arm or the drive axel, and i disconnected the end link and hit a hole and the noise was still there, so its strut related. i bought 2 new bilstein b4 touring struts, 2 new stock springs, 2 new strut bearings, 2 new strut mounting plates and lastly these items that mazda sells called coil spring protector's (4). when i received the strut bearings, a opened them up and added more grease, i further assembled the bearings to the strut mounts with silicone grease between the 2 components...disassembled the vehicle and broke the old struts down to get the lower spring protector, bump stop and bellow, reassembled the new struts and reinstalled...wala Problem solved! the bilsteins are said to add a 10% stiffer ride, but i know after some riding time they will as well as the new springs soften up...so there you go all, fix your front end noise!
 
#24 ·
ditto, I have the same issue when going over dips, potholes, and speed humps slowly. only 75k miles on my car
seems like this is a common issue.
 
#26 ·
Ball joints can make noise and have no noticeable play. The peoblem is unless the ball joint is really bad the suspension droops when you lift the car off the ground. Putting enough pressure on the ball joints you might not be able to reproduce the sound or see play.

Take a large pair of channel locks, place one jaw under the ball joint and the other somewhere you can squeeze to see if there is movement in the ball joint. If there is ANY movement it is bad.
 
#30 ·
My 2010 as that 'squeeky' noise sometimes around 25-45Km/h while turning, especially in slow area (street corners, parking lots...) while decelerating/accelerating slowly.
A 'clunking' is noticeable when getting out/into my drive way because of the small bump of the side walk, I can feel a little travel from front to back and vise-versa depending if I am backing up or moving forward. So I was intrigued... validated the whole suspension/strut, ball-joints, tie-rod ... everything was firm.

So one day while lifting the car I used a solid 'pry bar' (or demolition bar could work to) and sliped it between lower control arms and gently applied pressure (back and forth) and I could notice the play in the lower arm bushing. Around 1/16 of an inch but still a play, so I figured that is where the 'clunky' feeling is from.
The 'sqweeky' confirms that the bushing is shot I guess.

So next step is to order a new lower control arm (they come with the bushings), those made by Moog (200$ CAD, life-time warranty) seemed my next logical move.

I just hope that my diagnostic is spot-on... else, oh well... will be a preventive move. :p
 
#32 ·
I have a Mazda 3, 2010 plate. I notice a clunk under my left foot when it's on the floor rather than the clutch, when driving slowly and turning.
Now I have no knowledge of cars, so my only question is .... Is the clunking anything to worry about? Is something going to fall out from under the bonnet?
 
#33 ·
I am also getting a clunk/pop from my new front suspension. Within the last year, ! replaced my struts and endlinks on the front and back of my 2011 Mz3. I've gone in and checked the tightness of everything, multiple times, and nothing is loose. The only thing I haven't done is replace the sway/stabilizer bar mount bushings on the front. Could that be the issue? The car does have 150k miles on it now but I'm not sure worn mount bushings would cause the sounds I'm hearing. If I can't diagnose the issue, I'll have to end up bringing it in to a professional.
 
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