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After watching the ‘how to diagnose susapension issues 101’ video I found a way to replicate the noise I’m hearing but was not covered in the video. After jacking up the car, if I put my hands on the front tires at 10 and 2 o’clock as if I was holding the steering wheel and rotate the wheel clockwise and counter clockwise back and forth I can replicate the loose lug nut sound I keep hearing when going over bumps. The noise is heard while driving from the front and back passenger sides when going over bumps but when trying to replicate the noise, it can be made from the front wheels only. The lugs nuts are not loose. The wheel bearings and tie rod ends seem ok as well as everything else covered in the video from what I can tell. Am I being paranoid or could something be an issue?
Thanks for your time 🙂
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Fancy test, mate.
But that’s your CV joints resetting themselves when you change direction.
Clunk over bump is sway bar bushings.
Did I say – it’s sway bar bushings?Man, suspension noises suuuuuck. If you are like me, you imagine the wheel coming off and the car doing a Hollywood side flip into a Semi.It starts a chain reaction that leads to a huge pile-up, people looting the city, riots, explosions, etc…
OK a little over-dramatic there…SO, here is what I do –
With car on ground, bounce the two front corners. If you hear something like a rusty hinge, lower ball joint needs replaced. Lubing it will get rid of the noise but it still needs replaced.Raise both wheels off the ground. JACKSTANDS in place. Grab the top of the wheel and shake the piss out of it. The upper control arms should not wobble. Watch the upper ball joint. If it wobbles, replace that control arm. Not a horrid job really.
Pry between the steering knuckle and lower control arm. NOW set up a cinder block or whatever so you can pry UNDER the control arm to see if the ball joint moves. The control arm may torque a bit but the ball joint should be solid. Do this again but lightly pry to see if the ball joints move. REALLY watch it.
Try to move the tie rods in every direction, really lay into them. They should not move. Grab the tire and try to move it back and forth. The tie rod should not have any play back and forth.
If it passes those tests above, the front wheels probably won’t fall off. Testing the rear is similar but less involved.
Sway bar bushing – you can pry those and try to move them. Mine is a sandwich of like 4 bushings, yours may be fancier. sway bar bushings are not life and death but it is a good idea to have them good.
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