potent951turbo

I have noticed my 86' 951 makes a clunk in the front right of the car over hard bumps. I have new ball joints, and the tie rods are in good shape, do you guys think its the strut mount? I made sure the nut on top was tight since it sort of sounds like when a strut mount nut is loose, but its definately tight. And I have checked the area over numerous times and never see anything wrong. Anybody have any thoughts?

KuHL 951

Are you running lowering coils? Sometimes the end of the coil isn't seated in the detent. You might check the outer right sway bushing if you ever had a power steering leak, maybe it's soft and popped off to one side. The 83 had that problem. Is the rubber damper still at the top of the strut shaft? Sounds like you checked most everything else.

JustinL

Check the bushing at the front of the control arm. They wear and lead to wheel play and clunking. Raise the car push the wheel in and out while keeping an eye on the control arm to see if it moves.

75ohm

Could be that the strut itself is shot... 86... replaceable cartridge, no? Bounce test?

yellow9ll

I had the exact same thing on my 78 911sc and i replace the strut insert and it worked like a charm. Just my $0.02 (for what its worth)

Dr.Porsche

My clunk turned out to be the strut. New struts...$300....Labor... $300...Four wheel alignment..$300. The alignment stung just a tad

Ken D

Also check the caster block bushing at the rear of the control arm. It can clunk when it fails.

potent951turbo

It's definately not the sway bar bushing, I just replaced mine about three weeks ago since the one under the PS pump was toast, and I thought surely it was the problem but I am still getting the clunk. Stock suspension also, so its not lowered or anything. The strut idea is a possibility, but I think they must have been replaced at some point in time because the front end is pretty stiff, and can barely get it to move during the "bounce test". My struts are the sealed kind, so you can't just replace the cartridge.
I will check some of the things you guys mentioned and report back.

Giantman

Presently have the same issue. I can so far only put it down to a failed strut (left in my case). Please let us know what you discover?

944 tirr Bow

I just joined; have had the same problem for several years. Did you ever find a "fix"?

I've owned a 1987 951 for 13 years. Had 10,767 miles when I bought it and has just over 24,000 now. Great car; surprisingly fast to unsuspecting 911's and M3's. I added Weltmeister sway bars many years ago and the problem cropped up shortly thereafter. (Not suggesting they had anything to do with it) Several Techs can't figure it out. Installed a NOS factory 944TS suspension last year -struts and torsion bars- and hoped it would go away but no change. Installed Competition drop link kit from Paragon earlier this year and the clunk went away until my first track session. Now it's back. I get it at low, medium and high speeds when going over a bump -especially if one side is affected more than the other- and can induce it by whipping the steering wheel as well.

Help??? Thx!!!

greenshoes3

wow, i have the same problem with my right front side sitting low/hard knock going over bumps and i have a wiltmeister sway bar setup that came with the car. I think its just my strut though.

iamgod

i have the problme and a blown strut...could also be a loose battery hoping

potent951turbo

I have yet to figure out what the problem is. My struts feel fine on the road and still feel very firm. I think the next thing I am going to replace is the strut mounts, and hopefully that will clear things up.

2BWise

Another thought about the strut, is the rod pitted. I had a shock that felt fine but upon inspection of the rod itself there was spot in which the metal had corroded creating a point along its travel where the rod would catch and create a very loud clunk as it violently released

sm

How are your motor mounts? I had a similar clunk and new motor mounts cured it, unexpectedly.