Front end clunking
 

The last week or so I've been noticing a clunking noise from the front end when I go over uneven bumps (potholes, raised cracks in the pavement of my parking lot, etc). It sounds like something in the front end is loose and clunking a few times after hitting the uneven surface. The best description would be pulling on the lower edge of the front license plate holder and then letting go (a rapid THUD, Thud, thud decrescendo). However, I haven't been able to localize it. All the suspension components are solid when I remove the front wheels. I suppose Saturday I'll take the undertray off and inspect there as well. My sway bar bushing probably need some grease, but I wouldn't expect them to make a clunking. Everything is fine when I'm driving on smoother terrain and the handling/steering is still spot on perfect.

Any ideas though?


***Answer: Sway Bar Bushings. Lubed and noise is gone.

Check to see whether your sway bar bushings are worn, and whether the sway bars have shifted?

Looks like previous Nissans and Infinities had issues with the compression rods making clunking noises. Will definitely look at the sway bar bushings and end-links Saturday. Could the bushing really wear out in just 4-5 months of use? Hopefully it's just a loose bolt.

definitely check the links first:tup: are you using stock links? if so, they cant take much of the aftermarket stiffness for very long and are prone to break.

Yep, stock end links. I haven't found any aftermarket options. Suggestions? I just had the wheels off and thought then end links looked ok. Would it be a complete break/disconnect or just extra play in the joints that I should be looking for?

even just a small amount of play will be worsened when driving. that may not be the problem though. If you could have someone push up and down on the front of the car, you can try and squeeze under to feel if there is play or not, or maybe hear something.

I'm a wrenchhead and subscribing. Let us know!

Good luck!

I note you have the Sport Pkg...I assume it has the plastic air dam under the front bumper...? If you have it installed check to make sure you haven't pulled in a parking space, dragged it on a curb and pulled one side loose. It will hang down and could be bouncing up against the bumper. Sometimes it is the simple things we miss. Just a thought.

Yeah, I've done the cursory walk-around pulling on things and shaking the car. Everything checks out, airdam is ok, etc. The sound only happens on significant front end bumps and is a mix of a clunk and some grinding during the compression. But jacking the car up doesn't have any funny sounds from the struts/springs and there aren't any leaks. I'm suspecting a mount of some sort...be it sway bar, engine, whatever. We'll find out soon enough when I take it all apart this afternoon.

Aftermarket swaybars? I have $10 says that is your problem.

It's funny. The longer I've had my car, the more I'm interested in making it stock again. Last week I was considering removing the HFCs. Now I'm ready to go back to the stock sway bars.

Is your bet going to be a direct sway bar issue (bearing needs grease, loose mount) or indirect (aftermarket sway wore out the stock end link, etc)? Be precise here, Steve :).

Check the sway bar links (at the ends of the bar in the front).

yep, endlinks.

I had the EXACT same clunk on my last nissan, an altima coupe. It was a lease, and even after swapping the suspension back to OEM, it still had the noise. Endlinks were fine btw. I never figured out what it was, just gave the car back like that. It was quite annoying but did not sound like anything mechanically wrong.

Isn't your car still under warranty? If it is I would just take it to the dealer and make them fix it.