04 neon auto 120,000 miles

Back in may I put in new moog control arms, moog sway bar links, moog outer tie rods, moog inner sway bar bushings and Monroe quick struts (the premiums, not the econo). I had a solid front end for a couple months. Then I started to notice a light clunking noise when going over cracks in the road under 30mph. Light enough where a lot of people it wouldn't bother. Over 30 no noises that I can hear.

Today I returned the quick struts for another set and installed and I can still hear that noise but less frequent. I also just put in new moog inner control arms and the light clunk over bumps is still there.

Is this noise the nature of the beast or should I be looking at other components? Very frustrating.

Wondering if this is something not suspension related? Could this be a motor mount?

 

I have the same issue. Replaced everything but the struts with moog parts and I get that clunking sound the same as you. The struts are still good at 105k so I haven't replaced them. I dont want to put more money into this Detroit piece of crap! Front end is solid. Steering is solid. Chrysler did the front alignment and found no issues after I replaced those parts. My thought is that it is new so that may be the reason for the clunks. Maybe things have to settle in. I acn honestly say I have never owned a worse piece of crap than this car. I only use it to commute to the train station anyway.

 

Strut mounts?

 

I concur. Did you also replace the strut mounts or isolators? (sometimes called different things, basically, the insulator that sits on top of the strut).

 

I replaced the new quick struts with newer quick struts.

 

But what about the isolators? They go between the strut and the mounting point. Not part of the strut.

 

its either isolators or the rubber sway bar bushings, or you didn't get the control arm bolts torqued to spec. For me it was all 3, my isolators & sway bushings were worn thru @ 250k miles down here in tx.. sadly this car could go another 200k easy

did your quick struts change ride height much?

 

Okay, for all who didn't know (like me). Monroe quick struts come as a complete, ready to install assembly. They include the spring and the upper mount with isolator. Good to know, but I'm sure they're not cheap.

 

Correct, the quick struts come complete. I took the sway bar off and I'm still getting noise.

 

This noise is killing me.

To prove out the new quick struts i got a hold of used factory strut assemblies and installed them. Same vibration type noise at low speeds over bumps. Sometimes i can feel the noise in the floorboards. It does seem if i remove the sway bar the vibration type noise goes away, thing is the sway bar has brand new moog links and new moog inner budhings. This is driving me nuts.