Something's Loose...Clunking from Frame?

[Terbro]

Over the last few months there has developed a clunk, which feels as if there were a loose body bushing or something. It occurs at low speeds when braking and turning right. At times, it feels like it's coming from the right right of the car, and other times from the right rear. I just had the ball joints replaced, so that's not it. I've inspected the body bushings and they seem okay...IOW, they're still there. I have noticed that the common theme of the bushing bolt is a 1"+ gap between the bottom of the frame and the washer of the bolt. What's up w/that? I've tried tightening a couple of them and they're tight.

I just don't know anymore...

Terry

 

[JFH]

Clunk

Rear End, When was the last time that you changed the fluid and added posi addative? They will clunk on a turn if they need service.

John

 

[87 WE2]

CLUNK

AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR REAR SHOCKS THERE IS A BOLT, THAT BOLT SHOULD HAVE A RUBBER BUSHING AROUND IT. MY CAR DID A WEIRD THING WHERE THE BUSHING DESINAGRATED AND FELL APART AND IT MADE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN YOU WOULD HIT A BUMP AND TURN. SOMETIMES SO BAD THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR WOULD PICK IT UP AND STALL THE CAR DUE TO IT TAKEING OUT THE TIMEING. CHECK THE SHOCKS BEFORE YOU DO THE BODY BUSHINGS.

 

[channer]

Is it the back or the front of the car. Did you try pushing down on the back or front bumpers to see if you can reproduce the clunking sound.

I had the rear right body mount (after the rear tires) rusted through on the body so my body mount wasn't attached to anything. Everytime I drove over a bump or pushed down on the bumper, I would hear a clunk!! The frame is solid, it was the underside of the body that rusted though and I couldn't see.

I had to get a a shop cut a hole from the trunk, weld a new piece of metal to the rusted piece on the body, and reweld the hole in the trunk. Problem fixed!!!

 

[zam70]

My car had a similar problem, right front control arm bushing was my problem.

 

[petesgn]

Originally posted by zam70
My car had a similar problem, right front control arm bushing was my problem.

Mine was the left front bushing. The outer metal shell was no longer tight on the control arm, causing a clunk sometimes when braking.

 

[salvageV6]

Tie rod end popped on me. Made a noise for a long time before it failed.

Oh you do have to grease the front end every now and then!

Clunked under turning and under braking.

Very metallic but deep low clunk.

 

[TurboDave]

Originally posted by Terbro
Over the last few months there has developed a clunk, which feels as if there were a loose body bushing or something. It occurs at low speeds when braking and turning right. At times, it feels like it's coming from the right right of the car, and other times from the right rear. I just had the ball joints replaced, so that's not it. I've inspected the body bushings and they seem okay...IOW, they're still there. I have noticed that the common theme of the bushing bolt is a 1"+ gap between the bottom of the frame and the washer of the bolt. What's up w/that? I've tried tightening a couple of them and they're tight.

I just don't know anymore...

Terry

That, very likely is your upper control arm bushing. The rear most bushing, right under the downpipe gets extremely hot, and burns out, letting that portion of the control arm move almost +/- .5"
You'll probably see most or the rubber burned away.

 

[Terbro]

That's what I would have thought. Well, I had the upper control arm bushings (righthand side) replaced with the ball joints a couple months ago.

 

[Roger]

My clunking, same as you describe - right turns, etc - is from collapsed, worn out, dry rotted body mounts, allowing the TH dp to hit the heater box. The clunking started when I replaced the worn out motor mounts - which raised the motor. The clunking is almost nonexistant when I'm alone in the TR & gets worse with the addition of any passengers.
HTH

 

[NASSTY]

Originally posted by Terbro
I have noticed that the common theme of the bushing bolt is a 1"+ gap between the bottom of the frame and the washer of the bolt. What's up w/that? I've tried tightening a couple of them and they're tight

GM didnt install all of the lower body bushings in Buick Gbodys.So you're probably missing 4 or 6 lower bushings.There should be a bushing where the gap is.Thats why the vendors sell the lower body bushing kits.Thats not causing the noise you're hearing,just an answer to Why the gaps?

 

[drive805]

same noise

my car has that same noise sometimes over bumps sometime around corners i have installed the body mounts made no difference installed the trunk and front brace bars no difference i'm going to take it to a body shop and see if they cant find it because i can't..........metalic grinding noise like broken/cracked metal in trunk but trunk is fine shocks are brand new body mounts installed so have to wait and see

 

[SPOOLFOOL2]

Clunk sound?

My car used to make a clunk sound on the second to third shift. It was the drive shaft hitting the exhaust (or visa versa).