Fore-Aft Clunk

[HawkeyeGeoff]

So, this clunk has propagated itself and to be honest I cannot remember whether it was always there or if it just showed up after the AutoX at ENM. Regardless, it sounds pretty awful.

The main condition it happens is when I launch the vehicle in reverse. It happens every time on a flat surface, but it is much worse when the car is on a downgrade. It also seemed to occur under very heavy braking and turn in when running AutoX to the right.

It feels like something is shifting/moving and clunking hard against something. It's a very heavy clunk and occurs on the passenger side of the vehicle; feels like it comes from the area right under the feet of the passenger. @maisonvi; seems to have started to get the same type of condition, but we can't be certain it's the same thing.

It definitely seemed to be worse after I installed new TMM and PMM, but that could just be from things being more quiet or stiffening up.

I've checked:
- All suspension on that side
- Torqued down the subframe, control arm and any bolt I could get my hands on
- PMM torqued correct
- Checked play in the pass wheel while it was off the ground (6/12 grab and shake and everything)
- Replaced the half shaft/carrier bearing assembly

Only things I really have left to check/replace are:
- CV Shaft
- Front Sway Bar bushings
- Control arm/ball joint?

It should be noted that I have aftermarket bushings in the rear of my control arm similar to that of an anti-lift kit. @maisonvi; also has similar bushings in this area.

Need help. Someone must have had this happen before. Or maybe not. lol Beating my head agaisnt the wall here.

[maisonvi]

Yeah I have the same sound as well. Only happens on transfer of weight front to back, not a left to right thing, or going over pot holes or anything.

Dont know if it was before or after the autox either. 2 days before MWM I added a sub-frame brace, MD TMM and anti lift kit. So I changed a few things.

I went under there and torqued all the bolts back down; subframe, RMM, suspension. I have yet to get back up top to check my TMM. Prop shaft only has left to right play, not front to back.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by maisonvi Yeah I have the same sound as well. Only happens on transfer of weight front to back, not a left to right thing, or going over pot holes or anything. Dont know if it was before or after the autox either. 2 days before MWM I added a sub-frame brace, MD TMM and anti lift kit. So I changed a few things. I went under there and torqued all the bolts back down; subframe, RMM, suspension. I have yet to get back up top to check my TMM. Prop shaft only has left to right play, not front to back.

Interesting enough we both have all the same components that we changed, as we have discussed before.

[SpeedRebirth]

Might be the dead hooker in the trunk, sure you ditched her?
"It feels like something is shifting/moving and clunking hard against something" <--- her head

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by SpeedRebirth Might be the dead hooker in the trunk, sure you ditched her? "It feels like something is shifting/moving and clunking hard against something" <--- her head

That would be @mole; 's MO.

[dan7225]

axle nuts?

was a tsb looong ago for gen 1

but it was a clicking sound, not quite what you're explaining

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by dan7225 axle nuts? was a tsb looong ago for gen 1 but it was a clicking sound, not quite what you're explaining

I'll check the torque on it, but i doubt that's it. Thanks for the reply though.

[drago86]

slight play in the RMM can cause this.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by drago86 slight play in the RMM can cause this.

Thanks for the info, but this has been checked. There is no play in my motor/trans.

[Nliiitend1]

What is the age of your respective LCA balljoints?

Were they ever replaced when any of these other bushings/parts were replaced, or are they originals?

Also, neither of you have OEM upper strut mounts anymore, correct?

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by Nliiitend1 What is the age of your respective LCA balljoints? Were they ever replaced when any of these other bushings/parts were replaced, or are they originals? Also, neither of you have OEM upper strut mounts anymore, correct?

This is correct. @maisonvi; is running CS upper strut mounts, and I have KSports.

I did not replace my LCA balljoints ever. I don't think Ken did either. (60k on mine mostly w/ the stiffer rear bushing, Ken just replaced his LCA rearward bushing w/ the ALK and pretty much started getting the clunks as well. Only pass. side. Ken's car has 100k+ on it).

It's very strange that it's only on the pass side. I am running OEM front LCA bushings and Ken is running Whitelines.

Thanks for the response man.

[maisonvi]

Originally Posted by Nliiitend1 What is the age of your respective LCA balljoints? Were they ever replaced when any of these other bushings/parts were replaced, or are they originals? Also, neither of you have OEM upper strut mounts anymore, correct?

Yep, OEM 100k ball joints. ALK, and whiteline bushings.

[WetzMS3]

Does the clunk come and go? I've had something that sounds similar on and off for a few months. Never during breaking conditions though, just during shifting and hard on/off on the accelerator.

It did it middle of last week and I intended to look this past weekend, but the noise went away again. If it comes back soon, I'll try to make time that day to get it up on stands and check out the suggestions so far and report back.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by WetzMS3 Does the clunk come and go? I've had something that sounds similar on and off for a few months. Never during breaking conditions though, just during shifting and hard on/off on the accelerator. It did it middle of last week and I intended to look this past weekend, but the noise went away again. If it comes back soon, I'll try to make time that day to get it up on stands and check out the suggestions so far and report back.

Pretty much it will happen EVERYTIME launching in reverse. It's very bad on a decline reversing up the hill. Sometimes shifting, sometimes hard braking, it's hard to reproduce it in the dynamic conditions unless I was doing some track driving; it seemed much worse at the AutoX it didn't really happen at the Autobahn because I assume smoother roads.

[Nliiitend1]

I really should have ridden in your car that day before the trackday when you were trying to figure this out...

I'm inclined to think that this is balljoint-related.

The stiffer LCA bushing coupled with the stiffer, less compliant upper strut mounting points could definitely send a not-so-great-condition balljoint over the edge during transitions whose forces would otherwise be absorbed by the more compliant OEM pieces in those locating joints.

It can be hard to really confirm using a prybar with a car up in the air too, as it is difficult to put close to the amount of force through things as would be in play when the mass of the car is stressing those joints through the suspension articulation.

That's my two cents for now.

[ALPINEST4RS]

load the car with a screw jack in the air. Geoff, if you want you can swing by and we can check play.

IMO, start with the easy and replace the swaybar bushings. I had a standard 3 popping in the rear like that, eventhough the bushings were tight in the air.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by ALPINEST4RS load the car with a screw jack in the air. Geoff, if you want you can swing by and we can check play. IMO, start with the easy and replace the swaybar bushings. I had a standard 3 popping in the rear like that, eventhough the bushings were tight in the air.

There is A LOT of movement. Like a very heavy slam almost. There is nothing else that would indicate a sway bar being bad. Unfortunately, I think I may need to rip this ball joint out. zzzzz Thanks for the advice guys.

[MazdaspeedKills]

Why are we launching the car in reverse to begin with?

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by MazdaspeedKills Why are we launching the car in reverse to begin with?

Because....you know you have to do that thing where you back up. Unless you just run over curbs and children and do U-Turns all the time

[maisonvi]

Originally Posted by MazdaspeedKills Why are we launching the car in reverse to begin with?

I think your "launching" and his "launching" are different. You have to launch the car to get it moving. You dont have to do a hard launch like you would going forward at the drag strip.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Just ordered a new lower control arm w/ ball joint and all that. We will see if this solves it; get it Thursday and that's probably when it will be installed. I'll post back with results.

Edit: Only reason I did this was because it was more time effective for me to do this. If it solves it, I'll probably replace the ball joint + front bushing and then revisit the other side when I start hearing some noise. Or just go full OE again. Whatever.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Lower control arm installed-ed. But, unfortunately, my Pilot had a dome light left on so I had to snag the battery from my speed to get to work a few days ago, so my speed didn't have a battery. I'll be back on Sunday to throw that sloot back in there and test it. Pray for this bullshit to be gone.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Okay. So update. Sorry I forgot to do this.

The pop/clunk is still there. I am getting new sway bar bushings/brackets tomorrow in the mail. I'm going to swap those out and see how it goes. This is really testing my patience.

I will report back after I install said parts. I'm just throwing money at it at this point, straight rapper style.

[monkey.bones.007]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff Okay. So update. Sorry I forgot to do this. The pop/clunk is still there. I am getting new sway bar bushings/brackets tomorrow in the mail. I'm going to swap those out and see how it goes. This is really testing my patience. I will report back after I install said parts. I'm just throwing money at it at this point, straight rapper style.

I've got clunking in the front and its my passenger side end link. Everything is tight. The piece at the top that connects to the strut just makes a tremendous racket when it flops back and forth while accelerating of breaking. It doesn't seem broken, but it makes a ton of noise. I'm going to have to pull it apart to get a proper look to make sure it hasn't broken or the length hasn't changed due to the suspension settling. It has been good for over a year so I'm at a loss now.

tapatalk, it sucks

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by monkey.bones.007 I've got clunking in the front and its my passenger side end link. Everything is tight. The piece at the top that connects to the strut just makes a tremendous racket when it flops back and forth while accelerating of breaking. It doesn't seem broken, but it makes a ton of noise. I'm going to have to pull it apart to get a proper look to make sure it hasn't broken or the length hasn't changed due to the suspension settling. It has been good for over a year so I'm at a loss now. tapatalk, it sucks

Is it a popping sound? It's very strange because it sounds like it comes out of the passenger floor area. I guess I could swap an OEM endlink with my roomie and see what happens....it ALWAYS happens when I launch the vehicle in reverse. lol I am at a loss and it's super annoying.

[monkey.bones.007]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff Is it a popping sound? It's very strange because it sounds like it comes out of the passenger floor area. I guess I could swap an OEM endlink with my roomie and see what happens....it ALWAYS happens when I launch the vehicle in reverse. lol I am at a loss and it's super annoying.

Mine is always taking off or braking at lower speeds. Never while hitting bumps.

tapatalk, it sucks

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by monkey.bones.007 Mine is always taking off or braking at lower speeds. Never while hitting bumps. tapatalk, it sucks

Interesting. Mine also does not happen from bumps. @maisonvi; seems to have symptoms more in line with yours. He also has a jacked up passenger endlink. Interesting. I will try everything and report back.

[blackms3_71]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff Just ordered a new lower control arm w/ ball joint and all that. We will see if this solves it; get it Thursday and that's probably when it will be installed. I'll post back with results. Edit: Only reason I did this was because it was more time effective for me to do this. If it solves it, I'll probably replace the ball joint + front bushing and then revisit the other side when I start hearing some noise. Or just go full OE again. Whatever.

What control arms did u get? Oem from edge?

Also check ur brake caliper.

[monkey.bones.007]

I've got whiteline end links, that's probably relevant info.

tapatalk, it sucks

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by ms3gt08 What control arms did u get? Oem from edge? Also check ur brake caliper.

Originally Posted by monkey.bones.007 I've got whiteline end links, that's probably relevant info. tapatalk, it sucks

What in my brake caliper would be making this noise? It happens everytime...not just once in a while.

And I have some random non-greasable endlinks. They are literally just a metal ball open to atmosphere. Ken has OEM's. Interesting. The plot thickens.

Edit: I got an AC Delco control arm. It didn't help at all, so I switched back to my stocker w/ my aftermarket rear bushings.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Sway bar bushings did not do the trick.

Next up: try an OEM endlink. The sound after being under there banging around the sway bar sounds like the sway bar hitting the subframe....somehow....lol but it's just a guess at this point.

[monkey.bones.007]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff Sway bar bushings did not do the trick. Next up: try an OEM endlink. The sound after being under there banging around the sway bar sounds like the sway bar hitting the subframe....somehow....lol but it's just a guess at this point.

Ill see if I can get some video tomorrow of what I'm hearing and where it comes from. Maybe you'll have the same issue as I do.

tapatalk, it sucks

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by monkey.bones.007 Ill see if I can get some video tomorrow of what I'm hearing and where it comes from. Maybe you'll have the same issue as I do. tapatalk, it sucks

I'd appreciate it man. Thanks!

[blackms3_71]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff What in my brake caliper would be making this noise? It happens everytime...not just once in a while. And I have some random non-greasable endlinks. They are literally just a metal ball open to atmosphere. Ken has OEM's. Interesting. The plot thickens. Edit: I got an AC Delco control arm. It didn't help at all, so I switched back to my stocker w/ my aftermarket rear bushings.

Pads? Maybe loose bolt? Just thinking.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by ms3gt08 Pads? Maybe loose bolt? Just thinking.

Checked it, they're solid. Thanks for the advice though man.

[maisonvi]

Dude, this sucks you are still chasing this. I havent felt mine ever since I tightened up the sub frame to the tq specs. Granted I havent driven my car much the past week either.

[HawkeyeGeoff]

Originally Posted by maisonvi Dude, this sucks you are still chasing this. I havent felt mine ever since I tightened up the sub frame to the tq specs. Granted I havent driven my car much the past week either.

Honestly I think ours might be different issues now. Mine is a POP sound more than a clunk now.

[maisonvi]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeGeoff Honestly I think ours might be different issues now. Mine is a POP sound more than a clunk now.

Stop breaking shit. (granted I cant talk, waiting on O2 sensor)

[WetzMS3]

My clunk still has not returned, but I'm fairly certain we've got different issues anyway.

Have you considered it not being suspension related? I have assumed that mine may be my poorly hung exhaust or dumptube hitting something down in that area at some times, if not an axle related noise. It sounds like you've gone through most if not all of the suspension, it may be worth looking at other potential causes.

[monkey.bones.007]

https://app.box.com/s/njbc0q9qrle7qmozm9ty49kdiww7hv19

Here is video of my noise. Annoying as fuck!

tapatalk, it sucks