Clunk!

[Muzzy]

I have a clunk coming from the front wheel on the drivers side. Driving in a straight line and going over bumps you don't hear of feel anything. But when the wheel is turned (doesn't have to be a full turn either) and you hit a bump there's a LOUD clunk that comes from the front drivers side and you can feel it in the floor board. This is also more apparent when turning left over turning right and on a flat ground with no bumps there is no sound during acceleration while turning? Any suggestions?

[fishslapper]

hey there. I had the same thing until I was at CVI and they fixed the problem by tightening all the front suspension bolts . I had the same clunking and thought it was going to cost me big bucks.
5 minutes later ......no more clunk !!! my whole front end kind of rattled and clunked now it drives like new !!

did you try a search for "clunk" ?? lots of post about this before. Just asking before some people on here get their feathers ruffled !!



good luck
isaac

[Muzzy]

Thanks Fishslapper
Yeah there are a lot of "CLUNK" post. I'm going to crawl under there today and check the subframe bolts (which I read in a post) and any other I can get a tool on. Just thought maybe someone could tell me if it sounds like a CV joint or tie rod issue. Cause it doesn't happen if you're turning on flat ground, only if you hit a bump. Hopefully no one gets their feathers ruffled...

[jrman]

I've posted alot about that - my problem sounded very similar to yours. Would only make a clunk - actually more of a "BANG!" noise when parallel parking or accasionally when entering an off camber driveway or ramp. RJD in Nvan called CCAutos who advised that "90% of those types of noises have been resolved by tightening the front subframe bolts with a really big lever bar on the socket". Apparently they can seem quite tight - but still allow for some movement of the subframe under stress.
RJD removed all 8 bolts (I think it was 8 in total...not 100% sure on that) - threw on some never seize, and re-tightened them as much as they could.
Problem solved, and charges were minimal. It may not fix your issue - but it's a great first place to start.
Good luck.

[fishslapper]

We got more than one turn on some of my bolts!! Just need a good 1/2 inch breaker bar and a socket .
i thought i would need cv joints too !!

[Muzzy]

When refering to the 8 subframe bolts there are these ones (shown in the picture below) 2 on either side.

Are the other 4 the 22mm ones closer to the front (2 on either side)?

[TardisDeli]

My Clunk was the 3 bolts on each side, only visible if you turn the tires sharply out. So, turn the tires sharp to right as far as will go. Park, turn off engine. Reach down inside between the rightside tire and the suspension, look at the flat part that goes out connect to the axles, its a flattish part with 3 large bolts, tighten them. (I had lost one completely, 2nd almost off, third was taking all the force, lucky).

If you want to meet I can show you (I don't know the technical names).

Mini meet this Wednesday 25 March, 4:40 to 6:30pm, McDonalds Burnaby on Willingdon just north of Hwy 1.

Christine

[nishby]

Another clunk resolved.

Muzzy, if you didn't get a reply, the bolts you speak of are the correct ones. Two 17mm at the rear of the lower suspension arm, and two 22mm at the front of the arm. On mine van the culprits were the 17mm bolts on the driver's side.

The bolts that Christine refers to are out on the lower suspension arm near the wheel, and there are actually four of them on each side (the fourth is a little hard to see until you crawl under). I torqued these as well, but didn't get much movement out of them.

Anyway, problem solved.