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Intermittent front end clunking noise

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  • #866726
    CoryCory
    Participant

      2011 Ford Fusion SE 2.5L

      I just purchased this car (Aug 2016), and it didn’t make this noise during the test drive (rainy day). I decided to try and find the issue myself, so Friday evening was the first time I took the wheels off the car and put them back on. The noise appeared to go away, so I was almost wondering if it was the lug nuts. The front end was quite Friday night and Some of Saturday, then the noise came back.

      The noise isn’t constant. When it does happen, it is over bumps, or even uneven pavement.
      I do not feel it in the steering wheel or while turning.
      Applying the brakes appears to have no effects on the noise; lets say stopping at a red light on uneven pavement.

      I did take a look at the front suspension components. I look for play and couldn’t find anything, even when using a prybar. All visible rubber bushings don’t appear to have any issues. Keep in mind I’m not a professional, so I could be overlooking something.

      Some things I didn’t look at are the calipers; someone suggested that calipers can make noises and the car did have recent brake work before I purchased it. Braking appears to have no effect on the noise, bumpy road or not, so you tell me.

      What about the sway bar bushings? I didn’t look because I’m tired/lazy and the car has some underbody panel covering things up.

      I feel defeated.

    Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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    • #866736
      college mancollege man
      Moderator

        Check sway bar end links.

        #866742
        CoryCory
        Participant

          That was the first thing I looked at.

          #866761
          EricEric
          Participant

            Strut bearing maybe.

            #866764
            Junior PattersonJunior Patterson
            Participant

              Hey,
              I had two previously owned vehicles with this same issue. Turned out to be the sway bar links and bushings. Worth checking them out.

              #866789

              I had this same thing after a drive shaft replacement.

              #866802
              MikeMike
              Participant

                With the car parked, try bouncing each front fender up and down vigorously.

                #866846
                CoryCory
                Participant

                  Ok, now that I have driven the car for a few more days I’m starting to understand it.

                  The noise oddly enough appears during warm temperatures, say 80 degrees.
                  Sorry, It is more of a creaky noise. The first thing I did when I came home from work was jack the car up and try to find the culprit; it was still 83 degrees outside.

                  I couldn’t figure it out. Lower control arm has some play, but to my knowledge, it is a normal amount of movement. I used my jack to slowly jack the suspension up, I pushed on the corners of the car, but I can’t replicate the noise.


                  @Patterz
                  , my previous car (Honda) had this issue, and it was an easy diagnosis. They appear solid on my Ford. I used a prybar on the end links and nothing appears unusual. Sway bar bushings visually look great.

                  I’d hate to ignore it, but winter is coming.

                  #866852
                  Junior PattersonJunior Patterson
                  Participant

                    A friend of mine had a creaky noise with the rear suspension on Nissan Tiida. The dealer lubricated almost everything from shock mounts to bushings and the noise didn’t stop. Finally decided to change the shock itself , no more noise.
                    The gas shock was in good condition but apparently it creaked when the temperature increased or under strain.
                    Strange..

                    #881136
                    CoryCory
                    Participant

                      Update…

                      Some of you might kill me, but I still haven’t fixed this issue.

                      Also, it is mainly a rusty creaking type of noise, not sure why I put clunking.

                      The noise went away during the colder months, now that 70/45/80+ degree F weather is back the noise is back.

                      I did take it to a shop, but they couldn’t give me a good enough diagnosis and they also told me that my rear break pads needed changed (they have 8mm of thickness). I’m not really comfortable with their work, really don’t want to throw parts at the car.


                      @Patterz
                      , I have seriously considered just changing the front strut assemblies.

                      #888157
                      SethSeth
                      Participant

                        I have a 2011 Fusion SEL with the EXACT same issue.

                        Did you ever figure out what the problem was?

                        #888160
                        Steve KleinSteve Klein
                        Participant

                          I would look at the front sway bar to body bushings. Once they get hard, they squeak and clatter over bumps. If they are original to the car, replace them, they are cheap and easy to replace. Sway bar end links may also be an issue but I would replaced the body mounts first. Generally, you can’t just look at them and tell they are bad.

                        Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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