Clunking Front end after hitting pothole.

[vortex2450]

I was on my way to see a friend when I hit a brutally deep *** hole towards the side of the road going about 45mph. It was a loud "bang".

Now I can heard and feel loud "clunks" from the Front Pass side wheel.
The clunks mostly happen when turning right and sometimes when turning left. It clunks a lot when turning at low speeds. My steering wheel also pulls right, the slower I go the more it pulls...

This just happened about an hour ago and I'm beat so I'm not going to look this evening but I am jacking up the front in the morning. I was hoping for some ideas of what I need to look for/be aware of before I go hunting around under the car.


Thanks,
Josh

 

[lowc]

ball joint or wheel bearing comes to mind first but the pulling could be something else

 

[vortex2450]

I am a suspension noob, what exactly is the ball joint?

 

[lowc]

its the end of the lower control arm that bolt to the spindle

 

[vortex2450]

ok I know where you are talking about. Would that fit in with the clunk happening when the wheel is turned right (into the back of the well) ?

 

[lowc]

yea you can get a clunk from a bad ball joint, but dont go by my word. its best to jack it up and give it a wiggle left and right, and take a pry bar and stick it under the tire (while on jack) and move the par up on the bottom of the wheel and keep one hand on top of the tire if the b.j. is bad you will feel the movement through the tire it will feel almost like a pop

 

[vortex2450]

Thanks..

Sounds like that's my first tactic. I Guess slamming into a 6" hole @ 45mph would do it right?

Would turning the wheel wheel the car is up in the air be helpful if I don't feel a "pop" ?

 

[lowc]

it may but it wont tell you if a bj is bad or not unless its hanging on for its life

 

[SHOYAY]

Vortex, best way for someone at home to chk the bj is to lift the car with a jack, on that side so the tire is off the ground about 2 inches. Take a long bar and put it under the tire and then lift and let off, if you feel movement, your bj is bad. If you cant feel it, have someone lift on the bar while you look at the ball joint and see if there is and movement up and down.

 

[vortex2450]

What about the possibility of a tie rod? The ball joint is an up/down problem which I don't seem to have...

Anyways, I'm about to get outside and look..

 

[AREA 91]

What about the possibility of a tie rod? The ball joint is an up/down problem which I don't seem to have...

Anyways, I'm about to get outside and look..

Grab the tire at the 3 and 9 o clock positions, and wittgle it back and forth. There should be no (very little) movement from the inner and outer tie rods. If you feel a good amount of play, you found your problem.

 

[vortex2450]

No dice, there is no play up/down (bj) or side-to-side (tie-rod). I took the tire off and pulled on everything I could get my hands on, I can't find any play.. None of the bushings look shot (albeit some some a little wear. I turned the assembly both ways with the tire off and the sound isn't there which tells me the problem exists either when
A) the suspensions loaded
B) When the tire is on..

ideas on my next move?

EDIT: When the car is jacked up (no load on suspension) with the tire on or off it making a rubbing sound..

 

[SHOYAY]

There is a chance that the knuckle itself was bent when hitting the pothole, its rare but it does happen. Also, the strut mount may have been damaged. The sign of a bad strut mount is clunking while turning the wheel. Sometimes its not there when the load is off of it, but is noticeable when pressure is on it. Also, make sure you didn't break the coil spring itself.

 

[vortex2450]

There is a chance that the knuckle itself was bent when hitting the pothole, its rare but it does happen. Also, the strut mount may have been damaged. The sign of a bad strut mount is clunking while turning the wheel. Sometimes its not there when the load is off of it, but is noticeable when pressure is on it. Also, make sure you didn't break the coil spring itself.

I didn't notice any disfigurements on the kunckle or spring and I was looking hard for something, I haven't checked out the strut mount yet though....

I thought about the mount some but never gave it serious thought, I ordered a complete (w/ ball joint) LCA so I'll replace that and see where it puts me...

Luckily I'm attending the next local convention which is at a big alignment place maybe I'll have some help figuring it out if I can't before then.



-Josh

 

[bubba]

looks like you just knocked the alignment out, I'd go get re-alignment is where I'd start. And then, get new strut mounts