I have been hearing a clunking sound from passenger front side of car for a while now, it seems suspension related as it only occurs when driving on uneven surfaces. I pulled tire off tonight and was looking around and noticed with load off spring i could wiggle spring left and right with about a inch of play. I looked in the engine bay and seen the nut turning for the damper as I was wiggling the spring. My question is, is this play in spring normal? I always thought even with load off spring should still be tight, sorry if using wrong terms here i dong know much about suspensions.

 

I would have to agree that the spring should be tight. did you check the other side that isnt makiing the noise? if not, thats something i would check to see if the result is the same.

 

OEM springs?

 

Stock springs are compressed some and therefore tight on the strut. My Hotchkis lowering springs were the same as well.

 

With OEM springs, they are compressed quite a bit. You should not be able to move the spring when the strut is assembled with the spring. Check to make sure that the springs have not been chopped in the past. You can also look for scorching on the spring to check if a previous owner used heat to shorten the springs.

Even Swift springs are compressed when assembled on the strut.

If the springs have not been chopped or torched to shorten the spring (and lower the car), then I would be suspicious that the piston broke or broke free in the strut. dangerous...definitely take it out and inspect.

When your suspension is loaded, is the top nut tight?