Finally fixed the front end clunk!!!

C

CWCobra

Founding Member

Mar 21, 2000

123

1

18

Jul 29, 2006

#1

• Jul 29, 2006

• #1

I have been plagued for two years by a clunk in the front end of my '95 Cobra whenever the suspension loads or unloads. I suspected tie rod/control arm/ball joint problems, since the car has over 100,000 miles on it. Took it to two different shops (one was local Ford dealer). and neither could fix the problem. Both said ball joints/tie rods/control arms checked out fine.

Last night, on this forum, I saw an old post from a guy (can't find it now) who had similar problem, and solved it by tightening the 2 bolts holding the small bar on the aft side of the K member. Sounded too easy to be true, BUT IT WORKED!!!! 30 second job solved a clunk I have lived with for 2 YEARS!!!

Thank you, Stangnet!

CW

 

Labora

Founding Member

Jun 11, 2000

1,854

26

69

Dallas, Texas

Jul 30, 2006

#2

• Jul 30, 2006

• #2

Good post, I'm going to check that! My car has around 70k on it and has a similar clunk only when the suspension unload/loads. Rarely. Haven't been able to find anything. (ball joints/tie rods check out fine)

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jul 30, 2006

#3

• Jul 30, 2006

• #3

The end links will often make a lighter clink/tink whereas ball joints will have a heavy thud that resonates through the pedal more thoroughly.
Glad to hear you got it fixed.

 

juicedSVT

New Member

Apr 5, 2006

36

0

0

Danville, IL

Jul 30, 2006

#4

• Jul 30, 2006

• #4

CWCobra said:

I have been plagued for two years by a clunk in the front end of my '95 Cobra whenever the suspension loads or unloads. I suspected tie rod/control arm/ball joint problems, since the car has over 100,000 miles on it. Took it to two different shops (one was local Ford dealer). and neither could fix the problem. Both said ball joints/tie rods/control arms checked out fine.

Last night, on this forum, I saw an old post from a guy (can't find it now) who had similar problem, and solved it by tightening the 2 bolts holding the small bar on the aft side of the K member. Sounded too easy to be true, BUT IT WORKED!!!! 30 second job solved a clunk I have lived with for 2 YEARS!!!

Thank you, Stangnet!

CW

Click to expand...

"tightening the 2 bolts holding the small bar on the aft side of the K member"

What exactly is that?

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jul 30, 2006

#5

• Jul 30, 2006

• #5

juicedSVT said:

"tightening the 2 bolts holding the small bar on the aft side of the K member"

What exactly is that?

Click to expand...

I think he was talking about the end links.

 

Blackened302

Active Member

Jul 21, 2005

1,439

0

36

South TX

Jul 31, 2006

#6

• Jul 31, 2006

• #6

HISSIN50 said:

...whereas ball joints will have a heavy thud that resonates through the pedal more thoroughly.

Click to expand...

i have that! thanks, JT

 

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

Mar 30, 2005

1,940

3

36

North Carolina

Jul 31, 2006

#7

• Jul 31, 2006

• #7

Paul, FYI, plowing small animals has the same effect.



CW, glad you found the problem and that it was an easy fix!

 

Blackened302

Active Member

Jul 21, 2005

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36

South TX

Jul 31, 2006

#8

• Jul 31, 2006

• #8

hehe, thanks for the info, Justin ^^^

 

C

CWCobra

Founding Member

Mar 21, 2000

123

1

18

Jul 31, 2006

#9

• Jul 31, 2006

• #9

Certainly was not tie rod end links...

It is a small rod, 5/8" or so in diameter, approx 18"-24" long, which serves no apparent purpose other than to perhaps stiffen the K member. When I say "aft" side of the K member, I mean that it is found on the back of the K member, toward the rear. It has a single 1/2" or 9/16" head bolt through either end, into the K member itself. Couple of turns on the bolt on one end, 1/2 turn on the other, and my clunk was gone. Very easy.

Anybody know the correct term for this? Maybe "K member connecting rod"? That's what I'll call it untill the experts fill me in.

Thanks again, Stangnet,
CW

 

Reactions: ursixx

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jul 31, 2006

#10

• Jul 31, 2006

• #10

Tie rods dont have end links. They are for the anti-sway bar.

I guess I have no idea what you're talkin about. Do you have a picture?

I only ask so others will know exactly what the solution was for you, so they can apply the same fix to their own rides (which was your intent in the first place. ).

 

urban96

bubb rubb says:"woo woooooo"

Founding Member

Sep 24, 2002

3,464

1

69

Syracuse, NY

Jul 31, 2006

#11

• Jul 31, 2006

• #11

i know what your talking about, i removed mine when i pulled the motor and never got around to putting it back in, i never noticed a difference

steeda makes a stronger replacement

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STEE...019QQitemZ290012205873QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

nazstang

Member

Mar 26, 2004

204

0

16

Rhode Island

Jul 31, 2006

#12

• Jul 31, 2006

• #12

aaaahhhh, now i got it

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

33

129

Jul 31, 2006

#13

• Jul 31, 2006

• #13

I must be losing it - I thought he was working in the front of the car.

 

C

CWCobra

Founding Member

Mar 21, 2000

123

1

18

Jul 31, 2006

#14

• Jul 31, 2006

• #14

Sorry, no pics. The K member is indeed in the front of the car, but not as far forward as the anti sway bar, which is in front of the K member. The K member connector I tightened is to the rear of the K member, and runs under the oil pan, just in front of the bell housing.

CW

 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member

Oct 22, 2002

3,690

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56

Republic, MO

Aug 1, 2006

#15

• Aug 1, 2006

• #15

baglock1, VA302STANG and GreenMustangGt solved this for me in this thread:

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=504003&highlight=noise

So do a quick check of the brace in the K-member area that is dead center in the middle of the car. It's a straight bar with a bolt in each end, and points towards each front tire. When my car made a funny popping noise like that, one of the bolts was a "half" turn from tight. Crazy I know... but someone on here pointed it out and all be damned if they weren't right. LOL

At least if it's the wrong info, it's free and VERY easy to check while you are under there.

 

OrangeMustangGt

Founding Member

Mar 7, 2002

1,976

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36

Cape Cod, MA

Aug 1, 2006

#16

• Aug 1, 2006

• #16

yup....i always tell people to try that first....seems to be an issue

 

C

CWCobra

Founding Member

Mar 21, 2000

123

1

18

Aug 2, 2006

#17

• Aug 2, 2006

• #17

Yah...I'm relieved it's fixed, but I am still amazed that I paid $180 for 3 hours of time for the geniuses at my local Ford store who COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM!!!
Even the service manager was mystified! Those guys need to read Stangnet!

Stangnet rules!

CW

 

fawcett

Member

Sep 10, 2003

380

0

16

Cohasset, Ma

Aug 2, 2006

#18

• Aug 2, 2006

• #18

If your clunking problem remains, check the spring on the suspected side. I too, took my car to a few shops for that particular noise.
Turns out the bottom rung of the drivers side spring cracked through completly. The spring is well nestled in the a-arm housing so it hasn't poped out... yet, but its something I plan on fixing as soon as I can afford it.

-fawcett

 

J

johnjbieble

New Member

May 9, 2015

2

0

1

May 9, 2015

#19

• May 9, 2015

• #19

HISSIN50 said:

Tie rods dont have end links. They are for the anti-sway bar.

I guess I have no idea what you're talkin about. Do you have a picture?

I only ask so others will know exactly what the solution was for you, so they can apply the same fix to their own rides (which was your intent in the first place. ).

Click to expand...

did he send a pic./ yet

 

J

johnjbieble

New Member

May 9, 2015

2

0

1

May 9, 2015

#20

• May 9, 2015

• #20

I have a clunk only when applying brakes, i replaced everything ,what can it be ?