Clonking Bonking noise from front suspension

Rob Ford

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As soon as I drive over a small bump in the road I get a loud clonking noise from front
As if shock is bottoming out
It sounds like a metal to metal type of clonk

Hard to locate as ive been under car with bar moving things around and all seems fine
Could it be a strut top mount Are these a common problem

Any pointers in right direction would be welcome ?

Rob
 

07 Boss

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Sounds more like sway bar end links to me. They might seem tight when the the car is in the air but aren't. I believe you have to secure the bolt because otherwise it just spins and spins when you try and tighten it. It's been years since I had a front sway bar so my memory is a little foggy.
 

cavero

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I'd agree, sway bar end links are a pretty likely culprit. You will have to use a second wrench to hold the shaft or it'll spin like Boss says. Wanna say 8mm but it's been years and the original vs later links are a little different

Upper strut mounts are a common problem in cars with stiffer springs, but most people experience a popping sound when they're giving out.
 

Dennis Newman

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Rob had the same issue with my 07 Shelby GT. It took me a while to find out that Ford/Shelby used Eibach almost wish I could have found the graphite impregnated bushings. My car has 85 k miles which I guess is a good run, but think Not sure what end links you have on your ride but the 07 has billet aluminum end links all red Polly bushings. Some I have seen are one piece Steel with Black bushings. My Billit end links separate at the bottom at the sway bar with an allen wrench which makes the bottom bushing easy to remove and replace. Replacing the sway bar end bushings took care of my clunk. I have since gone to Eibach and ordered the complete rear bushing kit so my guess is the removal issues will be a bit more complex for removal of the sway bar, panhard bar etc. Will post results once the weather is better here in Denver.
 

Monkeyporn

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I had this same clucking in my 07GT whene I got it turned out hte balljoints where shot. I decided that replacing the ball joint themselves was more trouble then just replacing the entire lower control arm with the GT500 one. I did and it took care of the problem... Best of Luck.

IMG_1825.jpg
 

Joe combs

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Same as Monkeyporn, worn out ball joints on mine making the noise. Replaced both lower control arms and now its quiet as can be
 

BAD3VLV

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The most common problem on the front suspension of an s197 is the top strut mount. Get the one for the gt500 for like a $100 and problem solved.
 

Rick Simons

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A good test that I use for the sway bar links/bushings is to park the car on a level surface like a garage floor, then open one of the doors. Grab the door at its outer edge and alternate pushing the door down then lifting it up, making the car rock side-to-side. This will usually recreate the clunking and help you find the source of it.
 

JJ427R

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I agree with the front sway bar bushings, had one go bad on my Roush about a year after I got it and it sounds like what the OP is describing. Every time I hit a bump on right front it would clunk.
 

Mitchr85

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I had a front noise driving over small bumps or uneven road and the left front strut was the culprit on my 14 GT.
 

Jbarker83

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just went through this replaced the front struts and mounts no more noise
 

Dino Dino Bambino

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A good test that I use for the sway bar links/bushings is to park the car on a level surface like a garage floor, then open one of the doors. Grab the door at its outer edge and alternate pushing the door down then lifting it up, making the car rock side-to-side. This will usually recreate the clunking and help you find the source of it.

Better still, ask a buddy to perform that procedure while you try to zero in on the clunking sound with your ears.
 

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