clunk coming off of or going into a stop

[burgeke]

2004 Vue AWD V6

Morning!

I've been fighting a clunk for quite some time now with my local dealer. So far: strut mounts, stabilizer bar end links, & lower control arm bushing (x3) all to no avail. The dealer was honest in saying they were a tad unsure of what to-do next on this. I had thought it was the stabilizer bar bushings (the bushings not end-links) since in the winter I had the bed spring noise which was fixed by shooting some lube on them. The clunk started shortly after.

I replaced the bushings and brackets and the clunk seemed to go totally away (by the way, they looked very very worn with gouges in them etc). However, the left side still sounded like pieces were going to fall off the car over bumpy roads (caliper pin bushings already replaced). This noise started after the dealer replaced the strut mounts. I figured after I nailed the clunk, I'd fight that noise.

Well today, I think something finally went! It is very rainy today so not sure if that has anything to-do with it (I didn't hear the noise yesterday when it was dry).

- going into or coming out of a stop, loud (very loud) bang from left side sounding near the strut area. Sometimes when accelerating out of a stop it happens multiple times.

- when I got to work, with the car stopped but motor running I turned the wheel all the way left, then all the way right. As I turned all the way right, I could hear the same noise. As I did it a slew of times, and as the car dried up (assumption) the noise seemed to diminish.

Sorry for the ramble... any clue? Could the spring/strut/strutmount have finally broken or something along those lines? And.... wetness is making whatever is slipping slip worse?

Thanks in advance!

[burgeke]

Answering my own post.

Got under the Vue tonight - the L/F control arm bushing, main post nut was ready to fall off! Tightened 'er up and noise was gone.

[burgeke]

So the lower control arm nut loosened up again. Does any of the GM techs on this board have any advice? I noticed another post which stated that the control arm was also replaced on their VUE. I'm willing to try anything at this point.... at the dealer 6 times this year for the same clunk. Seems obvious that it is the bushing causing the noise, but it has been replaced three times this year alone! I'm thinking the control arm is the real culprit.

Thanks!

[Tom92SCm]

About to fall off? WOW!

Is the control arm nut a castle nut (looks like a castle) and does the stud the nut goes onto, does that have a hole in it? The S-series control arms were like this. If so, you need to put a cotter pin through that hole to keep the nut from coming off. If not, maybe take the nut into the hardware store (in a different vehicle) to figure out what size it is and get a ny-lock nut or some other type of lock nut to replace it (them) with.

[burgeke]

About to fall off? WOW!

Is the control arm nut a castle nut (looks like a castle) and does the stud the nut goes onto, does that have a hole in it? The S-series control arms were like this. If so, you need to put a cotter pin through that hole to keep the nut from coming off. If not, maybe take the nut into the hardware store (in a different vehicle) to figure out what size it is and get a ny-lock nut or some other type of lock nut to replace it (them) with.

Yep, scary isn't it... the nut looks like a top hat ;) wider rim at the bottom. There isn't a hole in the stud though. I'll try your advice and also get some lock tight. Only problem is this annoying knock doesn't go away (but does get less frequent) when I tighten up the nut.

[D C]

Were those bushings replaced in the past? The nut may have not been tightened enough previously. With the amount of loading that bushing sees, that nut needs to be extremely tight. I would use some lock-tite, torque it as tight as you can, and let it sit overnight before driving it.

[burgeke]

Were those bushings replaced in the past? The nut may have not been tightened enough previously. With the amount of loading that bushing sees, that nut needs to be extremely tight. I would use some lock-tite, torque it as tight as you can, and let it sit overnight before driving it.

3 times so far this year (in the dealer's attempt to get rid of the clunk noise)

[ssicarman]

Unless the nut was replaced when removed or tightened it will likely continue to go loose. It is a pinch nut and it looses its pinch when removed.

[F-Bobby]

So the lower control arm nut loosened up again. Does any of the GM techs on this board have any advice? I noticed another post which stated that the control arm was also replaced on their VUE. I'm willing to try anything at this point.... at the dealer 6 times this year for the same clunk. Seems obvious that it is the bushing causing the noise, but it has been replaced three times this year alone! I'm thinking the control arm is the real culprit.

Thanks!

im a bit unclear as to which nut you are talking about. The nut at the end of the control arm at the ball joint? or the one at the rear of th econtrol arm where it bolts to the frame. Either way thats scary. ive never seen one of those come apart before.

[ssicarman]

I am going on the assumption that it is the lower control arm rear bushing.

http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/42537/size/big/cat/650

[burgeke]

I am going on the assumption that it is the lower control arm rear bushing.

http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/42537/size/big/cat/650

Correct, sorry for the delay in replying