I've had a clunk for awhile now coming from the driver front wheel. It happens at slow parking lot speeds, typically when the wheel is turned, but it will make the sound when the wheels are straight. Being on the brakes also seems to help create the sound, although it will do it without the brakes on.

I've had some of my esteemed compadres listen to the noise, and there's a consensus that it isn't the upper ball joint. Would a bad wheel bearing make this kind of sound? With the car in the air, everything is tight, no extra motion anywhere when tugging on the wheel, or the rotor with the wheel off.
If it is an upper ball joint, is there a way to diagnose it?

Thanks for any input.

-Adam

 

Could be your brake pad slipping. Do you have the factory anti-squeal cups?

 

To test your upper ball joint, do not lift the car. Just grab the top of the tire while it's sitting on it's wheels and give it a vigorus shake side to side (left to right side's of the car, not forward to rear). You will be able to see or feel any movement. It might make the same noise if your caliper bolts are loose and there is some play in your wheel bearing.

Dave
Motorsport

 

Why have you ruled out the lower ball joint?

 

H wrote:
I do. Thurston and Tom mentioned swapping the L and R pads up front. Think I'll give it a try.

Dave wrote:
I've tried shaking it all around, but it's firm. I pulled off the caliper, inspected everything, and re-torqued it. Same sound.

Thaddeus wrote:
Replaced in the last year, and no movement at the wheel.


Thanks all for the input, time to start taking stuff apart.

-Adam

 

Joe Rausa had a very similar problem with his old 89. Stumped us for months. Turned out the camber adjuster nut wasn't torqued sufficiently. May be worth a look-see. Should be something like 88 lb/ft.

Scott

 

In the past I have got very upleasant sounds/feel from badly worn tyres at parking speeds and full lock

 

this clunking/popping noise was definitely metallic, speed under 1 mph, barely rolling.

not so funny thing, i think i heard the same noise on my car tonight, just before my partial engine weenie roast. but that's a story for another time...

 

Shocks, swaybar, tie rods, loose rack, upper A-arm bushings.... sounds like you've ruled out the latter though. What else is there? You've had the wheel off and back on so lugnuts are out. I'd say just get under there and torque everything in sight to spec. Hopefully the problem will show itself at some point in the process.