My TP wagon has been off the road for 3 months but I re-registered it yesterday. Driving it later, I noticed a clunking noise that seems to come from the left front under heavy braking. Just a single sharp clunk or crack each time. My old TN used to do this too but I never found out the reason as it was written off in a crash (unrelated).

Any idea what it could be? The mechanic didn't find anything during the rego. check. The shock absorbers on it are not real good. They don't bounce but they don't absorb shocks very much either. I will be replacing them as soon as I can afford it.

is there somthing in the boot?

maybe the body in the boot is moving around?

is there somthing in the boot?
Its a wagon. No, it is definitely something to do with the suspension. It doesn't happen under normal braking, only when you have to hit the brakes sharply, such as propping at a roundabout when another car appears suddenly. The noise is like a crack or bang, as if the suspension shifted.

is it the same when you go over potholes or bumps with the left side?

is it the same when you go over potholes or bumps with the left side?

No. Only on braking, when the nose dips sharply. It is not hitting the ground or the bump stops.

Maybe there is something loose in the spare wheel compartment?

intresting diagnosis

brakes
better let us know when you find the problem


dunno ???

despite the fact the shocks and coils look okay, doesnt mean the bushes inbetween the coils and the body of ure car are okay.

less the bushes or 'rubber pads' between these 2 are intact then you will recieve a clunking sound as you are explaining.

you won't see them to be worn on a simple 'look on inspect' you will have to compress the coil and remove the bushes.

simply procedure for a wagon as the shock is not within the coil like the sedan rears or general macpherson fronts.

I had this prob with my fronts ages ago, started with braking, then as time progressed, happened on bumps and pot holes, then all the time.

time to get em checked!

Thanks for the replies. I thought of the wheel nuts and caliper bolts but when I tighten them, they don't come loose!

I broke one of the caliper bolts last time I changed the pads. I didn't have a torque wrench, so tightened it to my estimate of the required torque. Then I thought "I'd better go easy because this is a skinny little bolt but it wouldn't be nice if it came loose either." So I gave it another tweak and it went off like a rifle shot. I thought I'd have to drill out the threaded part but fortunately it came out easily. Anyway, because of that, I know the bolts are new.

I think Astron Boy may have the answer. I need to replace all 4 shock absorbers anyway so will do that as soon as I can afford it and will check everything else thoroughly in the process.

check sway bay bushes and link pins also lower arm bushes and balljoints .
good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

when my strut mount bush was shagged it did make some odd noises...

Thanks for the replies. I thought of the wheel nuts and caliper bolts but when I tighten them, they don't come loose!

I broke one of the caliper bolts last time I changed the pads. I didn't have a torque wrench, so tightened it to my estimate of the required torque. Then I thought "I'd better go easy because this is a skinny little bolt but it wouldn't be nice if it came loose either." So I gave it another tweak and it went off like a rifle shot. I thought I'd have to drill out the threaded part but fortunately it came out easily. Anyway, because of that, I know the bolts are new.

I think Astron Boy may have the answer. I need to replace all 4 shock absorbers anyway so will do that as soon as I can afford it and will check everything else thoroughly in the process.
You should have a torque wrench , needed for future work on the suspension. a resonable one for $70-80 would do the job. Good luck :)

Ever since I put in the 4x sikaflex glued up engine mounts I've been hearing all sorts of new creaks and clanks.

Ever since I put in the 4x sikaflex glued up engine mounts I've been hearing all sorts of new creaks and clanks.

Sorry a little off topic - just wondering how you made those mounts like that? I got some sikaflex pro black the other day, and I really need to fix up the front and rear mounts... especially the rear one which the engine is torque kicking so heavily it is making a hard thump and jolt every time i rev the engine...

Did you cut the old rubber out before the sikaflex, or just put the stuff around the old rubber?

See here: http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32670&page=2&highlight=diy

Thanks for that. For some reason i kept getting 404 page not found errors when I tried to search before...

Ever since I put in the 4x sikaflex glued up engine mounts I've been hearing all sorts of new creaks and clanks.

trust me they were there before just not loud enough to notice till now . plus now ur expecting and looking for the creaks since uve just done the soild mounts.
after i did mine, i replaced all the suspenion bushes front/rear for poly ones, and did the tie rod ends and ball joints and cos i had done all that, there were no more creaks or clanks and the handling was improved a hell of alot. might just be time for an entire mech service well atleast the replaceble parts like what i mentioned if u can justify spending that much on it.

Sorry to exhume an old thread, but I have the same sort of "clunking" problem on a 1990 TP sedan.

Very often when the brakes are applied there's that "clunk" sound from somewhere, I'm not exactly sure where from.

I'll check for loose items in the car (and the body in the boot), but otherwise I have no clue, other than what's been posted here.

Not bad timing actually. Nine months after my original post, I still haven't replaced the shock absorbers but I bought the rear pair last weekend and will fit them this weekend. I am fairly sure the problem is at the front though, so I may not find it till I do those. The car has had two roadworthy inspections in the meantime and nothing was noticed, so its a difficult one. I still get the clunk but only under VERY hard braking.

Yes, from the front of the car for me, too. But it happens even under normal braking conditions, like stopping at lights.

has to be one of these

K frame bushes
front shock upper suspension rubber bush
the front shocks themselves
bump stop
lower control arm bushes
lower ball joint
tortion bar rubbers

Thank you, magna buff :)

Now as well as the frequent clunking sound, when braking there is a slight "knock, knock, knock" sound as the vehicle comes to a stop :cry:

possible Cv joints
hub bearings
worn disc pads
ceased front calipers
warped rotors:rant:

Get a Manga expert to check the engine mounts. From memory when I had my TN wagon that sound was from the engine mounts being frogged, I never did replace em.... anyway that was from a Magna Mechanic.

Just fitted the new rear shock absorbers to my wagon today. (Monroe GT gas reflex). Easy peasy! Only took about 10 to 15 minutes per side.

I've only driven once around the block so it is too early to tell whether that made any difference. I don't think so. Everything was good at the rear so I am sure the problem is at the front.

As for avoidz problem, that sounds like warped rotors and/or worn cv joints.

any of these cv joint noises present?

Part two faults and diagnosis http://www.aa1car.com/library/cvjoint2.htm

Thanks for the advice and suggestions :)

A mechanic friend is going to have a look in the morning, but I will pass on your list of possibles, magna buff.