hi folks. i've a 2k with 78+k miles. i hear a "clunk" going over what i can only call "small, sharp" bumps. it sounds to me like strut bearings. anyone mess with them? i remember from my VW days that a spacer could be placed below the strut bearing retaining nut [ on the car repair]. anyone got info? thanks, tomt

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could be bad struts, broken sway bar bolts, bad hub, any number of things

 

The trunk lid can also make a noise over sharp bumps that sounds deceivingly like a rear suspension "clunk" if it is not adjusted tight enough against the seal.

Probably not the problem, but very easy to rule out.

 

Can you narrow it down, is it coming from the front/rear, passenger/driver side? It's still gonna be hard to tell though.

 

Could be something with the trunk if your sound is at the rear. I asume from your pic that you own a Gen 2 Neon as I do. That sound is common in rear when I pass over speed bumps in my neighborhood if something laying in my trunk loosely. Not sure if in the area of loose lid though as I just had mine totally replaced right down to the body panel due to woman mashing me in the rear with her e'02 Dodge Durango.

 

Welcome to 2nd gen Neons!

 

I don't think it's just the 2nd generation Neons that are plagued with noisy trunks. My '98 makes a lot of noise back there too. If it's a rattle in the front end and you do end up solving it let me know. I've been chasing a rattle in the passenger's side front of my car for a year now. I'm fairly certain that it is coming from the caliper, but I can't figure out where or why. Pads aren't loose. I threw a new set of caliper bushings at it, which seems to help a bit, but it's still there.

 

ME TOOOOOOO!!!!!

 

I have a 98, I have the same passenger side thump, I know this may sound stupid, but I think mine is my windsheild, I had the noise got the windsheild replace and it went away. mine was more of an interior noise though.