front end clunk

[carlito]

04 Vue Redline - Right front clunks over good size bumps and is really loud on dirt roads. I changed my sway bar link ends. Took it to a shop and they can find nothing wrong. Anybody have a mystery clunking in thier frontend?
I don't want to start changing suspension parts for no reason. I can get all new shocks and struts done for $600 from a friend but still don't want to spend that and still have the noise.

[bob shanks]

I also had the same problem. I'll put my $$$ it's the strut mounts. Changed mine out no more noise.

[far2grumpy]

04 Vue Redline - Right front clunks over good size bumps and is really loud on dirt roads. I changed my sway bar link ends. Took it to a shop and they can find nothing wrong. Anybody have a mystery clunking in thier frontend?

I don't want to start changing suspension parts for no reason. I can get all new shocks and struts done for $600 from a friend but still don't want to spend that and still have the noise.

You might be able to prove to yourself the clunk is caused by strut mounts. I've pasted a response to an earlier thread with noisy front-end.

Try something simple with vehicle at rest ... open hood and have hubby get a good grip on right front corner and try to bounce the vehicle nose up and down.

I usually "bounce" my 05 Vue by putting one knee in the fog-light opening and do whatever necessary to start a vigorous bounce.

Purpose of this exercise is to determine if the strut mounts are causing the problem. If you can't duplicate at least one of the noises (squeak, clatter, clunk) ... you might try left side also ... you've eliminated one of the most common noise sources.

If you can duplicate the noise, my interim solution is to apply a good squirt of silicone spray around the top of the strut center mounting bolt (note the little apertures around top of opening).

Do the spraying while the vehicle is moving - and spray until noise is gone.

This is good for at least 5,000 miles ... its been that long since I sprayed mine.

[linx3566]

I also had the same problem. I'll put my $$$ it's the strut mounts. Changed mine out no more noise.

I have a 2005 Vue and had the same noise from the left front. Everytime I go over a speed bump I get this creaking/clunk noise so I took it to the dealer and they lubed the left front strut mount and the noise is now gone. No need to spend any money on this just lubricate. The mech at the dealer told me that the strunt bearing drys out and some lube is all you need.:)

[clhiller]

I just bought my daughter an '04 V6 FWD VUE that had a clunk in the front right, same thing, on bumps or washboard gravel roads. I was all set to change the struts and mounts as suggested on this site. I took off the tire to size up the situation before ordering the parts and discovered a sloppy rear bushing on the lower control arm. I could see it wiggle when I pushed on the control arm and when I took the bushing off, the metal sleeve in the middle of rubber fell right out. The bushing was about $60 CDN and fixed it right up. Way easier to change than the struts as well. Worth a look!