Loud clunking sound over bumps after replacing struts and springs

[Synyster06Gates]

My stock struts were dead, so I went ahead and replaced them yesterday when I changed my springs. I also used GT500 strut mounts. Now, over any and every little tiny bump I get a LOUD clunking sound from both sides. I'm not really too sure what it could be. One thing we noticed when we pulled everything apart is that the sway bar end links bolt would spin if we didn't hold a wrench on it at the same time. I'm not sure if it's normal on this car.

What other possibilities could I be looking at?

 

[86GT351]

Could very well be the Sway Bar Links. Common for them to make noise!

 

[RocketcarX]

Just curious, did you mind the arrows on the strut mounts during installation?

 

[Synyster06Gates]

Just curious, did you mind the arrows on the strut mounts during installation?

I pointed them outwards.

Can sway bar end links just start making noise after removal/install? They were silent before yesterday. Could it just be they aren't tight enough?

 

[RocketcarX]

I pointed them outwards.

Can sway bar end links just start making noise after removal/install? They were silent before yesterday. Could it just be they aren't tight enough?

If they are snug they should be not be making noise if they weren't before. Doesn't mean it's not the case though.

 

[Synyster06Gates]

If they are snug they should be not be making noise if they weren't before. Doesn't mean it's not the case though.

Got it. Well we will take a look today and make sure everything is tight. Hopefully that takes care of my problem. I've spent way more on the car than I've wanted to. In the last month alone it's been a new battery, rear rotors and pads, gears + install, axle bearings and seals, springs, struts, strut mounts. It's starting to add up.

 

[86GT351]

I pointed them outwards.

Can sway bar end links just start making noise after removal/install? They were silent before yesterday. Could it just be they aren't tight enough?

The answer is Yes. I have seen it many times. The new design with the stud and a ball/socket joint are common for that. Once they are removed the socket gets disrupted and can make noise.

 

[Synyster06Gates]

The answer is Yes. I have seen it many times. The new design with the stud and a ball/socket joint are common for that. Once they are removed the socket gets disrupted and can make noise.

Well damn. Is there any definitive way of knowing that is what's wrong? Or will I just have to replace them and see?

It's loud as shit. It happens over every little bump possible. Even the little deviations in the road that you can't even feel in the car. Ironically, it doesn't happen when I turn into my driveway or back out of it.

The car drives better than before for sure (my struts were DEAD.). No shakes, no brake dive and steering feels smoother. It just makes that damn noise.

 

[Fullboogie]

I have the same thing on the left front, after installing struts and new GT500 mounts. After confirming everything is tight, I've been wondering about the end links too. According to lots of people, it is very common to have them misbehave after removal/installation - as mentioned above.

 

[Synyster06Gates]

I have the same thing on the left front, after installing struts and new GT500 mounts. After confirming everything is tight, I've been wondering about the end links too. According to lots of people, it is very common to have them misbehave after removal/installation - as mentioned above.

My buddy just came and drove the car. He thinks it's the strut mounts not being tight enough. He took it down to a local shop he has access to and he's gonna check it out.

 

[AlbertD]

My car made a noise just like that, checked everything and couldn't find the cause. Finally decided to check the strut mounts and the big nut that holds the strut together had come loose on both sides. Tightened them down and voila!

 

[Synyster06Gates]

My car made a noise just like that, checked everything and couldn't find the cause. Finally decided to check the strut mounts and the big nut that holds the strut together had come loose on both sides. Tightened them down and voila!

Yep that's what he's suspecting. Hopefully that's the case and takes care of my issue. How do you tighten them down? Doesn't it spin? I know we had to hold a socket on and use a wrench to tighten it yesterday then eventually it got pretty tight and the wrench wouldn't fit any more.

 

[AlbertD]

Yup, that is the same problem I ended up having too. Ended up using an impact gun on it. Fixed her right up.

If you don't have access to an impact, then you would need to remove the strut assembly from the car so you can properly tighten it down with the two wrenches. One on the strut, and the other to tighten the nut. It will spin otherwise. It also would be wise to compress the spring while you tighten the nut down to relieve the tension on it. I broke a strut one time by not doing that, not fun.

 

[Synyster06Gates]

We had impact, but even that was spinning it.

I'll have to see what he does with it when he gets back. I'm interested.

 

[i am ryan]

With the car on the ground it should be very easy to tighten that top nut. Mine were loose when I put the car back on the ground after my install and I just grabbed an adjustable crescent wrench and was able to tighten it down. I think you need a 7 or 8mm wrench to hold the adjustment rod in place, but it tightened down very easy.

Other things I'd check for is the sway bar end links, which you've already mentioned. They can be replaced with the 2011+ end links which are much better and cheap as well IIRC.

The only other thing that I know of that causes clunks aside from failed parts is sway bar bushings. This can be checked by removing your sway bar and greasing up under where the bushings go. If the noise is gone when you drive around the block then you just need new bushings which can be found for about $15 at LMR. You'll be fine to drive without the front sway bar if you want to give that a crack. Should give you a clear answer on the end links issue as well.

I would also check all your torque specs again. Just a few ft/lbs off is enough to make noise.

 

[Synyster06Gates]

Looks like that top nut was loose as well. Apparently it's extremely hard to torque, but he said it's all better now. I'm still at work so I don't know for sure yet.

 

[Bingo]

If it makes a metal-on-metal tapping sound going over bumps, it's probably the strut mount nut. A more muffled clunk, usually when turning, is probably something else...and I haven't figured it out because I have that, too...haha.

Sent from a Galaxy S4 far, far away.

 

[AlbertD]

A more muffled clunk, usually when turning, is probably something else...and I haven't figured it out because I have that, too...haha.

This could also be the rear hydra bushing on the front lower control arms. Ask me how I know, lol. Ended up replacing the whole front suspension on my GT trying to find a similar clunk and it turned out that the fluid had leaked out of one of the hydra bushings. Wouldn't hurt to check.

 

[13726548]

I'm having the same problem and I'm running out of ideas. I've replaced the strut mounts with Steeda HD plates, tightened the sway bar links, strut nuts, and swaybar bushing bolts while the suspension is loaded but the noise is still there.

Could blown struts make noise? Do sway bar endlinks go bad once they've been unbolted?

 

[86GT351]

Well damn. Is there any definitive way of knowing that is what's wrong? Or will I just have to replace them and see?

It's loud as shit. It happens over every little bump possible. Even the little deviations in the road that you can't even feel in the car. Ironically, it doesn't happen when I turn into my driveway or back out of it.

The car drives better than before for sure (my struts were DEAD.). No shakes, no brake dive and steering feels smoother. It just makes that damn noise.

Disconnect one end completely and drive the car. Noise goes away and you know what your issue is!