Clunking noise from suspension over bumps

[marmaduke]

My 01 L300 with 84k miles has started making metallic clanging noises over bumps. The noise is coming from front right side and its almost something is loose. Incidentally, once I had a car accident (hit the curb- driveway was not salted - no abs meant skidded on the snow blah blah) and the front right suspension had work done on it. Anyways, took it to a mom and pop shop closeby and the guy for the life of him can't find anything wrong with it. He took off the wheel and looked at it and apart from a cracked cv boot (which I already know) there is nothing he could find. Control arm, suspension link, tie rod end etc etc all were good itseems.. Suggested me to go to the dealer.. Will have to see what the dealer's going to say... I was under the impression that some ball bearing was worn out and the sway bar link (for the lack of better term) is loose. I was also apprehensive that the body shop that worked on it didnt do a good job. Apparently, thats not the case. Could it be the strut itself? this all started after I drove the vehicle hard (accelerating and braking in city traffic)... the thing about it is if I drive real slow, I cant hear the noise over bumps... but if I increase the speed a little bit, then I can hear it distinctly... It happens only over bumps or potholes and only from the front right side.. Otherwise, it drives just fine...

[beensmoked]

Originally Posted by marmaduke

My 01 L300 with 84k miles has started making metallic clanging noises over bumps. The noise is coming from front right side and its almost something is loose. Incidentally, once I had a car accident (hit the curb- driveway was not salted - no abs meant skidded on the snow blah blah) and the front right suspension had work done on it. Anyways, took it to a mom and pop shop closeby and the guy for the life of him can't find anything wrong with it. He took off the wheel and looked at it and apart from a cracked cv boot (which I already know) there is nothing he could find. Control arm, suspension link, tie rod end etc etc all were good itseems.. Suggested me to go to the dealer.. Will have to see what the dealer's going to say... I was under the impression that some ball bearing was worn out and the sway bar link (for the lack of better term) is loose. I was also apprehensive that the body shop that worked on it didnt do a good job. Apparently, thats not the case. Could it be the strut itself? this all started after I drove the vehicle hard (accelerating and braking in city traffic)... the thing about it is if I drive real slow, I cant hear the noise over bumps... but if I increase the speed a little bit, then I can hear it distinctly... It happens only over bumps or potholes and only from the front right side.. Otherwise, it drives just fine...

It could be ur stabilizer link. Cause my mom had that problem in her car and she got it fixed at the dealer

[Garciavision]

I am starting to get that noise once again from rear wheels. I had front strut/boot tightened about 3 years ago when car was 1 year old at 8,000 miles. Now car is 4 yrs old at 38,000 miles.

[marmaduke]

Originally Posted by beensmoked

It could be ur stabilizer link. Cause my mom had that problem in her car and she got it fixed at the dealer

Took the car to the dealer and the mechanic cant find anything wrong either. Though the clunking noise is loud and the test drive was convincing to the mechanic that something was wrong. BTW, the stabilizer link is just fine. I was with the mechanic when the car was hoisted. He suggested I bring the car back so that they can take a look at it leisurely. But said that I shouldnt wait too long 'cause it sounded serious enough for him.

BTW, while I was in the showroom, I checked out Saturn Relay. I was impressed by the space inside (feels like a minibus rather than a minivan) but not so much with the build quality (floor model had a tear on the third row seat back just behind the headrest. The third row headrests arch backwards when folded). The dash looked great and the doors for a change swung nicely in and out unlike my L.

[slo5oh]

I get a similar problem when driving in reverse. Hard clanking when letting off brake but only when the gas pedal is used. It's as if a good forward/reverse sift in the suspension is causing the axle (half shaft?) to shift or move. Both CV boots are still good.

[DrD]

we had all sorts of clunking noises - on the passenger side, look at the tubing for the AC - it's supposed to go through a rubber-lined clamp which sometimes pops open (look in the corner near the radiator where the tube goes down along the inside of the engine compartment) and the assembly rattles around like crazy

On the drivers side, our windshield washer fluid tank was rattling around - tighten the two bolts (have to get at them from under the car) and then put some foam insulation around where the filler neck goes through the side of the engine compartment.