Diagnose: severe clunking

[ralexander03@snet.net (Rick Alexander)]

Sounds like ball joints or strut bearings to me. One test will tell you
which. Jack up one front corner until the wheel is an inch or two off the
ground. With a long bar that will fit under the tire, pry it up. Try a quick
motion and you should be able to repeat the noise. You might need someone
else to do this while you determine if its the ball joint or the strut
bearing. Then repeat on the other side.

Good luck.

Rick Alexander

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tobias ><" <scirocco16v88@hotmail.com>
To: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2003 9:52 PM
Subject: Diagnose: severe clunking


>
> After our little run in the mountains I got my car back bruised. Already
> determined that at least one wheel bearing is shot.
>
> Now, under quick or jerky acceleration, at some low speed on uneven roads
I
> get a severe clunking coming from the front of the car. My impression is
the
> ball joints are toast --- I've never heard what bad ball joints sound like
> though. No other signs .. no other funky noises or weirdness in the
> steering. No clunking while driving at speed or going around corners (at
> least from what I can hear, which isn't much since the car rattles in
every
> dang corner)
>
> This sound is like a lose swaybar hitting against the body. I
doublechecked
> the swaybar connections, strut tiebar bolts and anything else that I could
> pull on or torque down.
>
> The Bentley however fails to diagnose "clunking" hehe, and I can't crawl
> under the car till I get it in someone elses driveway.
>
> Any pointers to the possible culprit are appreciated.
>
> T
>
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