suspension says 'clunk'

[AZmike]

I know the source of a suspension noise can be hard to find, but I figured I'd post this and see if anyone had a similar problem.

After I replaced my steering rack, tie rod ends, upper ball joints, and prelude upper arms I've had an occasional 'clunk'. It happens vary rarely, usually when I am turning or braking. I've checked the rack mount bolts, tie rod ends and lower ball joints and they're all torqued properly.

Anyone had a similar problem or an idea what mine is?

Thanks

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Sometimes I'd get a clunk sound. But that was because when you took all the weight off the car the shorter springs would shift a bit and latter on they'd shift back with a clunk sound.

Curious, why do you have the prelude arms? Your not lowered yet that I recall. Just curious.

[AZmike]

Both of my upper ball joints were bad. I figured $70 on prelude joints and $30 on upper arms would be better than $120 on new accord upper arms. Besides, I figued it wouldn't hurt to have adjustable camber before the suspension upgrading and I'd be glad later that I already had the right parts.

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Ok, I get it, smart man:super: Ya know I heard the same sound during the same situations as your describing before I lowered the car. After I lowered the car I never heard them again, just what I described above. Not sure why I heard them in the first place of why simply lowering the car fixed it. I didn't find anything wrong with the car while I was doing the lowering install btw.

[AZmike]

Yeah, I'm not too concerned, I just thought maybe someone knew 'oh, you need to tighten the such-and-such and use locktite since it works itself loose', but I guess not. I'm getting closer to 'fixing' my suspension up nicely, I've almost stopped all the leaks...almost. Then H&Rs and Konis (plan for now at least). I'd like something with a higher rate in the back (understeer bad), but I don't want a big drop and was hoping not to spend as much as the ground controls are. Maybe once Mark (I think it's Mark) hears from B&G I'll go with those--unless I hear they're too stiff for a daily driver. Thanks for the responses though Jim. At least I'm probably not the only one with the occasional mysterious 'clunk'.

[anchovies]

Could be a myriad of things, but did you grease the prelude arms? Does it make that sound when you press on that side of the suspension and let it go?

[carotman]

are the bushings OK?

I sometimes get a clunk sound too comming from the driver side (front)

I suspect the lower strut bushing to be bad.

It's not dangerous in any way..... just annoying as hell.

[AZmike]

I greased the prelude arms when I reassembled them. The upper arm bushings felt ok when I put the arm in. Smooth, but not loose.

I got a good look at my lower strut bushings when I pulled the axles to do the clutch recently. They still looked to be in good shape. A worn bushing looks like a worn motor mount, right? Brittle rubber starting to tear? I'm pretty sure it has to do with either my tie rods ends or my upper control arms since I started getting the noise after I replaced them.

I can't make the noise my bouncing the car myself. Even driving I might only get it once or twice each trip--usually at low speeds when turning braking, or both (parking lot type driving).

Thanks for the idea guys, I should have time to take a really close look this afternoon.

[1989se-i]

What year prelude are the arms from?

[carotman]

Maybe the torque rods?

[anchovies]

Originally posted by 1989se-i
What year prelude are the arms from?

83-87

[AZmike]

Originally posted by carotman
Maybe the torque rods?

Is that the same as a radius rod?

I checked and all 4 upper arms bolts are tight and the pivot bolts on both arms are tight. I didn't have a chance to take the upper ball jont covers off and pull the cotter pins an double check that those nuts are torqued properly. I'm hoping that is the source.