Front Suspension Clunk - Any ideas?

[bkkjames]

Hi Guys:

My 4x4 has developed a clunk in the front end.

On normal services at regular cruising speeds, handles normal with no issues (apparent) and alignment is bang on.

However on shitty roads like we get around here or going over a small saphan I noticed a pretty good size clunk even at lower speeds. Even feels like the front wheels drop a bit and clunk.

The shocks seems normal to me (no bouncy bouncy rebound) but they are a bit old maybe 3 years rancho coil over. Like I said, rides nice at cruising speeds.

Today, I took my phone down and took a shot of something that appears not correct to my non-trained eyes. See attached. This is front left. Front right is similar but to a less degree. Not sure if these rubber mounts / cushions coming out of place are the cause or just a symptom of the real cause.

I poked around under the truck and didn't see anything loose in terms of bolts etc. I have not had a chance to get it into a shop yet for a proper look but maybe someone can give me their thoughts on what's the possible cause for this.

Thanks

[inzman]

Obviously do a visual inspection, something could have come loose, shake all the front suspension with your hand.

[bkkjames]

Obviously do a visual inspection, something could have come loose, shake all the front suspension with your hand.

Thanks, I did that and nothing appears loose.

[John 1]

Obviously do a visual inspection, something could have come loose, shake all the front suspension with your hand.

Thanks, I did that and nothing appears loose.

Looking at your attached photo the rubber at top seem's out of position maybe something broken you can't see. Get it up on a hoist at a shop and should spot the problem right away.

[Mojomor]

Maybe a gas leak from the shock, allowing the piston to hit bottom (therefore - clunk). Leak may be due to displaced rubber.

Good mechanic should be able to fix easily enough.

[bkkjames]

Thanks guys, will get it in as soon as I can. I notice around the top of the shocks on both side there appears to be a dent in the plastic (hard) housing near the top where it is joined onto the suspension. Perhaps the shocks are blown as suggested but would have thought that this would affect regular ride quality / handling as well.

[wilcopops]

Any suspension bushes (rubber)may cause a knock and won't obviously affect handling at normal speeds.

Have you checked the bushes on the anti-roll bar (torsion bar)?

BTW if that is a Nissan, I have some roof Thule roof rack attachments for that model.

[bkkjames]

Any suspension bushes (rubber)may cause a knock and won't obviously affect handling at normal speeds.

Have you checked the bushes on the anti-roll bar (torsion bar)?

BTW if that is a Nissan, I have some roof Thule roof rack attachments for that model.

I just had a quick 5 min look under it earlier today. Only saw those two rubber mount thinks out of place. Re the truck, same as one in photo but not that one exactly.

[arthurwait]

Thanks guys, will get it in as soon as I can. I notice around the top of the shocks on both side there appears to be a dent in the plastic (hard) housing near the top where it is joined onto the suspension. Perhaps the shocks are blown as suggested but would have thought that this would affect regular ride quality / handling as well.

Only if you throw it around corners hard enough to produce a cornering load equal to the load going over bumps.

The force into the suspension from a bump is far greater than when cornering. As someone posted it could be your dampers leaking on the valves inside or even the body leaking but the much higher load from bumps is exposing it where as the much lesser load from cornering isn't. 3 years is quite a long time for dampers.

It could also be the rubber being displaced by the much higher force from bumps.

[wilcopops]

Any suspension bushes (rubber)may cause a knock and won't obviously affect handling at normal speeds.

Have you checked the bushes on the anti-roll bar (torsion bar)?

BTW if that is a Nissan, I have some roof Thule roof rack attachments for that model.

I just had a quick 5 min look under it earlier today. Only saw those two rubber mount thinks out of place. Re the truck, same as one in photo but not that one exactly.

Check the torsion bar - you may need to take it to a workshop to feel any movement, or try getting your foot onto it.

[bkkjames]

thanks guys, will let know what i find out, when I get a chance to get it looked at.

[BSJ]

If shockers are blown they usually leak oil. Even gas shocks have some oil.

I'd get it up on a hoist for a full inspection.

[I knew this would happen]

I´d guess the clunks may come from the suspension strut mount, the bearing where the whole shock is mounted in. Makes ugly clunks when you go over something specially speed bumps.

My car just had the same issue, though it´s merely 3 years old and has done only 24.000km the Thai roads took their toll. Never happend so early before, but BMW replaced it under the BSI warranty

Share your result when you got it.

[bkkjames]

Will do thanks.

[bkkjames]

Ok got the truck into the shop today and off with the shocks 'west coast' ozzy 2.4 years old, 63k on them.

Front right shock compressed when pushed with a bit of effort pushing down on it from the top onto the floor. Would not rebound unless I pulled my hardest on it.

Front left shock I could not compress even putting all my weight on it - needless to say I could not tell if it would rebound but it seems well and truly passed it's best before date.

I replaced them with a couple of KYB's on the front and first impression is very noticeable improvement - i think I lost a little front end height in the process so will probably just throw some sand bags in the back if it's an issue or dial down the setting a bit on the ranchos i have on the rear.

[wilcopops]

Shocks not working don't necessarily make a clonk......... has it gone?

My Ranchos listed barely over a year - adjusting them down won't "lower" your suspension...just make it more bouncy. For road use they need to be on one of the higher numbers.

[bkkjames]

Shocks not working don't necessarily make a clonk......... has it gone?

My Ranchos listed barely over a year - adjusting them down won't "lower" your suspension...just make it more bouncy. For road use they need to be on one of the higher numbers.

i meant softening them and throwing in some weight if required to balance it out. Back end has never been jumpy at any speed so maybe will leave them as is for now. I will advise on the clunk later today once i have given it a proper run somewhere. I will have a look at what they are set at on the back.

Only drove from the shop to my house - less than a km yesterday. What i did notice is going over a couple speed bumps there was signifcantly less jarring from the front end but have not been over 60kmh on the main roads to see what affect it will have at highways speeds or if I get in the dirt.

[wilcopops]

Shocks not working don't necessarily make a clonk......... has it gone?

My Ranchos listed barely over a year - adjusting them down won't "lower" your suspension...just make it more bouncy. For road use they need to be on one of the higher numbers.

i meant softening them and throwing in some weight if required to balance it out. Back end has never been jumpy at any speed so maybe will leave them as is for now. I will advise on the clunk later today once i have given it a proper run somewhere. I will have a look at what they are set at on the back.

Only drove from the shop to my house - less than a km yesterday. What i did notice is going over a couple speed bumps there was signifcantly less jarring from the front end but have not been over 60kmh on the main roads to see what affect it will have at highways speeds or if I get in the dirt.

Setting the shocks to Max will make the car very "hard" - you'll feel those speed bumps......but very soft is for off-road or tracks........ I seldom change mine as once dirty it is pretty difficult to see the settings. When touring Laos I sometimes remember to turn them down bait as the roads are really uneven in places.

[Lancashirelad]

As a former uk garage owner agree with wilkopops. Goosed shox unlikely to cause a clunk. Yes renewing them will improve the drive, but not necessarily cure original problem unless the clunk was a worn shocker bush. More likely to be a worn bush elsewhere in the suspension, track control arm (bottom wish bone some may know it as) joint or a track rod end.

OP let us know final outcome.

[bkkjames]

As a former uk garage owner agree with wilkopops. Goosed shox unlikely to cause a clunk. Yes renewing them will improve the drive, but not necessarily cure original problem unless the clunk was a worn shocker bush. More likely to be a worn bush elsewhere in the suspension, track control arm (bottom wish bone some may know it as) joint or a track rod end.

OP let us know final outcome.

Hi and thanks for your reply.

The clunk is gone (for now) with the change of front shocks. Will report back if it comes back (hopefully not) in the near future.

[Lancashirelad]

The side that had the seized shock absorber had most likely worn out the bushes as they would be trying to compensate for the lack of movement in the unit. Glad you got it sorted quite easily.

However, forgot to say in previous post, changing the shox should not affect the ride height if the correct ones have been fitted.