Hey guys. Need some direction here. I am getting a clunk noise on drivers side only 2003 Neon SXT. Thought it was a bad strut bearing. The front end has been completely rebuilt within the past 2,000 miles. Following is a list of parts I replaced with the quality Moog parts. Not the economy parts. Everything torqued to spec.

Complete lower control arms with ball joints.
Tie rod ends
Sway bar bushings
Complete Monroe strut assembly's
Transmission and motor mounts changed Mopar

This is driving me absolutely nuts. It feels like it is coming from the drivers side shock tower. but only on that side when I go over a rough road or manhole cover.

Where do I look next?

 

Everything torqued correctly? Who did the install?

 

My mechanic did everything but the struts. I did them last week with Monroe Complete Struts. Top bolts torqued to 23 fp and lower two bolts 70fp. Took it back to him Friday. Checked and went over everything and there is no movement anywhere. I'm thinking it might be rotor or caliper because you can hear and feel the clunk in the drivers side shock tower.

 

Do the Complete Struts come with new top hats/mounts, or were they replaced anyways if not?

 

They are the Monroe quick strut complete assembly. No assembly required. Unbolt the old assembly. Bolt in new. One complete unit includes everything you would have to replace individually already assembled. Yes does come assembled with new hats/mounts.

 

worn sway bar bushings can cause a clunk, even bad motor mounts, as for the caliper a bolt kit with new bushings wont make much difference unless you have 200k+

 

He said the sway bar bushings were replaced, I'd follow up by asking if the endlinks were replaced?

 

No idea what those are. The sway bar bushings and bolts were replaced with moog. One complete unit for each side.

 

Well I had the car into my mechanic and the new sway bar link with bushings had broken off and there was nothing there. I replaced them again today and what a difference. Most of the clunk noise is gone. Still just a little now.

I'm at the dealer now and asked them about the clunk. He said most likely the noise is from a warn out sub frame bushing.

So there is the most likely culpret. Sub frame bushings. It's going to stay that way because I'm not putting money into replacing these or dropping the sub frame to check.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

 

The end links are what secure the ends of the sway bar to the control arms, and by the sounds of it, the same things you replaced. Good to hear the clunk is (mostly) gone!