Front end clunking

[The_Stig]

Im getting a bumping and clunking in my front end of my 2001 jetta. When i hit hard bumps or even just sharps seams or cracks in the road.

On vw vortex some people have said it could be the bushings for the front struts. Has any one else had a problem like this?

[Smarty39]

Re: Front end clunking

most likely control arm bushings...grab the wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock (on jack stands of course) and try and wiggle from side to side. There shouldn't be much movement at all, so if there is, it's probably the bushings.

[The_Stig]

Re: Front end clunking

Alright all give that a try. And if it is that, is this an easy at home fix? or need to bring it some where?

[The_Stig]

Re: Front end clunking

I should add there has been once or twice while im driving between 30-50 that a i hear and constant clicking in the front end also.

[Kordain]

Re: Front end clunking

after the clunking does it feel like your tracking has changed, ie if you take your hands off the wheel does it drive straight then after the clunk it pulls to one side?

bushings or ball joints all the same.

[Smarty39]

Re: Front end clunking

clicking could be the beginning of a bad wheel bearing...you'll know if it gets worse.

[mk4jetta]

Re: Front end clunking

could b your strut mounts also

[bart]

Re: Front end clunking

i had a bad clunking prob, actually 2 different clunks, which really annoyed me. they were:

1) top strut bushings (worn down, so shock had play over bumps)
2) sway bar bushings (over uneven surfaces, loud clunkage)

i replaced all bushings, rubbers, etc etc. there is a whole kit on parts4vws or something. i replaced control arms with new ones as well, and put in TT bushings into those for some extra firmness. new bolts everywhere too. its all good right now.

[The_Stig]

Re: Front end clunking

Thanks for all the imput. ^^ that sounds like what i need to do. Just replace all the bushings and rubbers to make it all nice and firm again.

[The_Stig]

Re: Front end clunking

So from what i have read, and the help of you guys this is what i gathered the problems could be.

Sway bar bushings
Top Strut bushings
Ball Joints
Controll arm bushings.

These parts are all easy to get access too, but are they easy to change yourself? Is it best to try one thing at a time? Or do them all at once?

[The Brice]

Re: Front end clunking

Maybe try to find the issue first before you buy all new bushings for everything and go on a big bushing swap rampage otherwise you are going to have a rather large job at hand and the issue might not even be solved. Take it to a mechanic, or get someone over with knowledge to help you find the problem, IMO.

[Kor]

Re: Front end clunking

Maybe try to find the issue first before you buy all new bushings for everything and go on a big bushing swap rampage otherwise you are going to have a rather large job at hand and the issue might not even be solved. Take it to a mechanic, or get someone over with knowledge to help you find the problem, IMO.

You can probably diagnose which bushing is worst and replace them one at a time.

[The Brice]

Re: Front end clunking

You can probably diagnose which bushing is worst and replace them one at a time.

If indeed the problem is a bushing(s) which it sounds like but you never know.

[Kordain]

Re: Front end clunking

a good place to start is seeing if your tracking changes after the clunk this can rule out a couple of things.

[The_Stig]

Re: Front end clunking

Last night i was trying to see if my track changes. If it does, it was only doing it a very small amount. But i did do some highway driving this weekend and i could swear my stearing felt sloppyer.
It also was clicking again last night as i was driving at about 45km. The clunking/rattle seems to be getting worse and doing it on every seam in the road now.