Clunking front end noise??
FINALLY
Thru out the years my clunking noice has been getting more frequent. From just being a once a day thing to clunking on every bump at lower speeds. When parked I noticed that when I turn my steering wheel back and forth just a little I can hear knocking everytime I change direction. Any ideas? I ordered whiteline bushings kit as well as tie rods, hopefully that helps.
Also, make sure you get OEM tie rods (assuming you mean outer tie rods). If you get inner tie rods, DEFINITELY get OEM ones.
I have an all stock evo 8 with 66k and i was having this clunking problem too.. It would happen at all speeds but it was more noticeable at low speeds while turning. As it turns out, one of the bushings on the front sway bar was worn out. hope this helps some of you
1) Check/replace sway bar bushings
2) Check/replace sway bar end links
3) Rubber hose around top and bottom "rungs" of the springs to prevent noise when they touch coils
4) Check/grease the upper strut bearings under the dust cap
5) Check all suspension bolts for correct torque/tightness
Evolving Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Hyde Park, NY
I haven't disected this entire thread quite yet however I had this same issue. Thought at first right front axle (was included when i bought the car). Put that on and nope still had the clunking.
Second try was replacing both front struts (brand new)- the noise seemed to go away but now a couple months later im starting to hear it faintly again.
If anyone comes up with a permanent solution to this I'd love to know so I can stop throwing money at my evo like a vending machine.
sub'd
Second try was replacing both front struts (brand new)- the noise seemed to go away but now a couple months later im starting to hear it faintly again.
If anyone comes up with a permanent solution to this I'd love to know so I can stop throwing money at my evo like a vending machine.
sub'd
Update: I replaced my 2003 Evo 8's worn tie rod ends with the ones from the Whiteline RCK along with the lower arm ball joints and went with Swift Spec-R springs and the Bilstein HDs. After 95k on the stock suspension, I now have a great improvement in ride and the clunk I had from the tie rod ends is gone. Unfortunately, I have a new clunk which appears to be the strut mount. I will be replacing these soon with new OEM ones.
Can anyone tell me the orientation of the lower strut bolts (including the one that sets the camber)? Does the bolthead with the arrow that indicates the camber face towards the front or rear? It looks like rear from the shop manual and that's how the car is now but I just want to be sure.
Drive safe!
-Franc
Can anyone tell me the orientation of the lower strut bolts (including the one that sets the camber)? Does the bolthead with the arrow that indicates the camber face towards the front or rear? It looks like rear from the shop manual and that's how the car is now but I just want to be sure.
Drive safe!
-Franc
Replaced my JIC coilovers with the Bilsteins that came off the car plus Robispec springs yesterday.
Clunking started 10 miles later, and I found this thread. Too many options so I went the easy way and replaced the left front Bilstein with another used Bilstein and top mount I had, swapped the Robispec spring to it.
No more clunking, I hope that helps someone.
Clunking started 10 miles later, and I found this thread. Too many options so I went the easy way and replaced the left front Bilstein with another used Bilstein and top mount I had, swapped the Robispec spring to it.
No more clunking, I hope that helps someone.
Having lived with the "strut clunk" for 7 years now, reading all the posts and tinkering I have come up with the following: make sure its not the sway bar links or tie rod ends (both easy to see). Barring the aforementioned, if the clunk is intermittant and goes away (sometime weeks/months/years) for a while then comes back (usually thought by the owner to go away because of some owner meddling with it (rubber hoses, ect)), its really the jacking of the car up and down or the force of a big bump "repositioning" the spring on its perches back to the right alighment. The stock upper and lower spring perches need to be alighed and seem to "walk" out of alighnment for some reason then just "bounce" back when something occurs. The noise is the spring bouncing back. If the noise is always there and really never goes away, is usually not overly loud, occurs over all modest road irregularities even when going stright and seems to be worse in very cold temps, then its a strut or the strut bearing. The strut can be bad even when no fluid is present (Its the internal valving thats gone bad).
I have an all stock evo 8 with 66k and i was having this clunking problem too.. It would happen at all speeds but it was more noticeable at low speeds while turning. As it turns out, one of the bushings on the front sway bar was worn out. hope this helps some of you
Update: so i had the bushings replaced, and that stopped the problem.. for about a day. so i took it back, and told them
and they ended up replacing the sway bar links, and finally the entire strut and mount, which seems to have solved the problem. i have driving it for about 2 months and haven't had a clunk since.
Evolving Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Hyde Park, NY
Ended up replacing both front struts before I found this thread months ago. Had the noise again afterward, has come and gone. I believe it would be the top hats for me too (springs settling etc)
