So I was driving my car around the other day and noticed a clunk/thud/noise coming from the front end. It sounds like it's from the front passenger side. The odd things to note:
1) it does not occur all the time, it seem quite random
2) I can only notice it during 1st and 2nd gear (typically after a gear change, but not constant)
3) it happens while turning and going straight
4) everything appears connected (this may change, the car has not been on a lift yet)
5) hard acceleration or normal accerlation, it makes the noise either way

remember, this is not a constant noise. the sound reminds me of when I had a sway bar link break on another car of mine... when you'd turn one way the car would shift weight and cause the sway bar to "smack" into the control arm and make a "thud" sound... however, everything appears to be connected properly in this case.

the car has not lost any power, handling, braking, or ride quality due to this

modifications on the car that may have affected parts:
1) Stage 3 coilovers (lowered to stop ring on fronts, medium dampening)
2) Stage 2 with toys
3) Short throw
4) 18 x 7.5" rims with tires
5) "budget" sway bar setup (from PT cruiser)
6) front strut tower brace

any ideas? I don't want to take the car in!!! cause I know my warranty is a joke right now

 

Have you hit any rough potholes lately?

Take your fingers and measure the distance between the wheel and the rear of the fender like so: (note the difference from one side to the other)




What happened here was a subframe (front suspension crossmember being out of alignment). On hard accleration, or hard braking it would clunk once fore and once aft. Take your car out, and acclerate hard, listening to see if it clunks. Then brake hard, and see if it clunks again, if it does the engine cradle (this suspension crossmember/subframe) is probably the cause.

It could also be a ball joint (you have to check these with the wear indicator loaded), if the indicator is "sucked up" into the Ball joint, its bad.

Possibly even a CV joint.

Or an axle, but if it were an axle you would notice MUCH more than what you are now.

 

awwwwwwwww look at her cute little fingers... i would check and make sure your stage 3 coilovers havent came loose too......are just throw your hands up.and trade it for a white one

 

uh no thumbs

 

My thumbs didn't fit LOL But I hit a huge pothole and shifted my subframe back, misaligning everything and causing a clunk.

 

I have the same problem with mine.....dodge said thats its nothing wrong with mine and its a isolated problem, i'm going to print this and show them that other ppl have the same problem

 

its all johns fault

 

I had a clunk like that when I forgot to torque down the ball-joint pinch-bolt to specs and it backed off a bit.

I suggest re-torquing all of the suspension bolts.

 

Yeah that pinch bolt is a PIA to get in there right!! Stupid pressed ball joints. Anyhow, if you torque them, grab an impact and if you can get at LEAST another half turn out of them, you're good. Turn the impact down though, don't keep it too high you'll strip them.

Check all your bushings as well for them being cracked or worn. They wont be covered under warranty (at least the stabilizer bar retainer clip bushings wont) but they're cheap enough to replace.

 

this might sound kind of dumb but it you have your a/c on then it makes a light thump/clump noise when the compressor is turning on and off, but if you dont use your a/c then its probably something else.