Help! front end is clunking

I had the exact same problem.....groaning noise when turning the whee, and clunking over bumps...and it was very embarrassing.

I put in a new steering rack.....I bought a reman from Autozone for $150 or so....I did the job myself and it was a very simple install....my old tie rods were as weak as spaghetti noodles.

Anyway, I put it all back together, and I still had squeeks and groans when turning the wheel...arrrggghhhhh.....next I replaced the ball joint on the one side that was squeeking (too lazy to do the other one at that time)....simple $15 part put a pita to put in....after that everything was fine and the squeel and clunking was gone.

Now the other ball joint is clunking so I have ordered the Energy Suspension Master Kit, Eibach Springs, new ball joints and ends, and I am going to renew the entire suspension this weekend.

I hope that helps you out......I would start with the ball joints....simple $15 part, but it takes some work to get the old one's out, that is all....if you need the steering rack too, it is a simple install and a $150 reman part.

Agreed. I would be lookin at BJ's, tie rods, end links and even spring isolators myself.

FWIW, as mentioned a rack is not hard to do and for that cost, you could renew most of the front end if you do the labor yourself.

Good luck.

You can get new 2003 Cobra A arms for $137.50 they come with improved bushings and heavy duty ball joints already installed. I would also replace the tie rod ends with a bump steer kit.

bugnout247 said:

is there any possibility at all that it could be the rack, that just doesnt make much sense to me. what in the rack and pinion could or would clunk when going over speed bumps and turning slowing into parking spaces??Sounds to me like either a scandal or just plain morons trying to assess the problem. That and they want $900. The original quote for new ball joints was $550, is this a ripoff or common pricing? I can't do the work myself because I live in the city now and have to use a parking deck, they won't let me do the work myself.

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Yikes.....$550 for new ball joints.....hmmmm.....it is not that difficult of a job, and the parts cost a total of $100. I am sure they are going to do the alignment as well...and those guys charge $70 per hour.

When I was trying to narrow down the clunk and squeek, I suspected the rack because it looked like it had a leak.....after replacing the rack, I found out the squeek/clunk was in the ball joint.....oh well.

I forgot to ask before - did the tire wear show up around the time the noise started? A worn ball joint will throw the camber out of whack (often positive, which wears the outside of the tire). Play in the steering (rack and pinion itself, inner or outer tie rods) can wear tires, though you would have to be toed-in to wear the outsides, and the normal dynamic for those parts is to toe-out as they get sloppy.

How about just getting a second opinion elsewhere. That way if you replace stuff yourself, you can feel better about knowing it is the right parts (diagnostics are often half the battle).

Good luck.