Another TL AWD ?

I have had mine from new and it first developed a slight clunk in the LHS front at 400 klm. Not long after that the rhs also developed the same noise. After numerous trips back to the dealer I finally got someone to believe me about the noise. It had both struts replaced, both strut top plates, and both sway bar links replaced without curing the noise. Eventually Mitsu gave up on it and told me that the noise was "normal in an AWD because of the sports tuned suspension"
Now its got 131,000 klm on it and the noise has been getting worse the whole time. Whilst I haven't checked recently, all the times that I have checked I have not been able to detect any play anywhere in the suspension. ( I also fitted new kyb struts and lowered springs at around 70,000kl. didn't do anything for the noise)
The noise sounds like a badly worn rack bush.
Has anyone else here had this problem. A couple of service people I have spoken to have told me that it is a common problem with the AWD and no one seems to know what causes it or how to fix it.

thanks
bollie7

I've heard of others with similar problems, but I have to say, mine doesn't make the sound your talking of. Mine must be one of the few without that problem. Have you gone to a suspension specialist to see if they can identify the problem, they may have more luck.

Another TL AWD ?

I have had mine from new and it first developed a slight clunk in the LHS front at 400 klm. Not long after that the rhs also developed the same noise. After numerous trips back to the dealer I finally got someone to believe me about the noise. It had both struts replaced, both strut top plates, and both sway bar links replaced without curing the noise. Eventually Mitsu gave up on it and told me that the noise was "normal in an AWD because of the sports tuned suspension"
Now its got 131,000 klm on it and the noise has been getting worse the whole time. Whilst I haven't checked recently, all the times that I have checked I have not been able to detect any play anywhere in the suspension. ( I also fitted new kyb struts and lowered springs at around 70,000kl. didn't do anything for the noise)
The noise sounds like a badly worn rack bush.
Has anyone else here had this problem. A couple of service people I have spoken to have told me that it is a common problem with the AWD and no one seems to know what causes it or how to fix it.

thanks
bollie7

How old are the shocks? it could also be the spring insulators as well in the strut might be worn away, we had a similar noise in our CJ vrx till i cracked it and when into hertiage and told them what to replace while the car was on the hoist.

TW AWD 55K, no clunks here.

yeah mine does it, from pretty much new. I hadn't thought of the rack bush, but that would make sense. Its about to get a birthday anyway and will be looking right through the front end.

I get that strange clunking / rattling sound as well. Thought it may have been a engine mount, but all looked ok to the mechanic. Just putting out ideas, but it could be the swaybar or something that has to do with the suspension hitting the chassis or that aluminum cross bar thing they put in the AWD models so we could have mcpherson struts rather then the multi link suspension at the front? After nearly 30000K's with it and haveing everything checked twice to no avail I'm going to put it down to a AWD thing. Unless someone else can shed some light?

Have a look at the black plastic spiral wrap that should be around BOTH the top and bottom first coils of each spring..

If worn, just rotate it a little and stick back into place with electrical tape.

You should be able to tell when the plastic is worn as there will be a pattering noise if you go over a slightly rough area of road, e.g. a poor patch repair after a trench has been filled in and resurfaced.

Gerry

TWII AWD VRX 110,000 km OK so far

Steve

I have the earlier model (2003 TJ) AWD - no clunks so far. Admittedly, it's only done 35000 km.

I have a TW AWD done 45000 no problems so far.

the OP stated that pretty much all the front end was replaced to no avail

Is the noise just when going fairly slow (20 - 60kmh) and on slight bumps? If so could also be lower ball joints, have seen this a few times. Most common is bearing plates but these can be rulled out as the noise is still there

I love it when Mits can not find an issue and then resort to the "its normal" tatic. No wonder they are going broke

I have had some rattle when getting lively in the hills but thats from the steering rack apparently and is normal unfortunately.

my drivers front wheel / area makes a similar clunky-rattly sort of sound.
does it over light roadwork 'repairs' and bad roads - take it down a dirt corrogated road (i only did it once - it was a driveway apprently!) and it makes a lot of noise.

i ruled out the other 3 wheels / corners by steering a certain wheel over or avoiding the bumps in the road.

coil clash has been suggested to me as a cause for it - but i havnt gotten under the car / car up on a hoist to have a better look.

mitsy gave up looking for my source of the problem too - the old 'its considered norma part of operation' crap.

How old are the shocks? it could also be the spring insulators as well in the strut might be worn away, we had a similar noise in our CJ vrx till i cracked it and when into hertiage and told them what to replace while the car was on the hoist.
Thanks for reminding me, that was the other thing that Mitsu changed. The coil wrap. had no effect on the noise though. Struts in it now were installed by me at around 70K I think so they have about 60k on them. Even when they were new the noise was still there. I also changed the sway bar to body bushes with no effect on the noise. I have even disconnected the sway bar links and driven it around still has the noise, so its not related to the sway bar.

bollie7

I get that strange clunking / rattling sound as well. Thought it may have been a engine mount, but all looked ok to the mechanic. Just putting out ideas, but it could be the swaybar or something that has to do with the suspension hitting the chassis or that aluminum cross bar thing they put in the AWD models so we could have mcpherson struts rather then the multi link suspension at the front? After nearly 30000K's with it and haveing everything checked twice to no avail I'm going to put it down to a AWD thing. Unless someone else can shed some light?
As far as I'm aware both Fwd & Awd have Mcpherson strut front ends.
I'm starting to think that the noise is in the rack somewhere. Theres not much else that hasn't been changed. Usually when the passenger side bush in a rack wears, if you put it on full right lock (for a rear mounted rack) you can grab the rack shaft by squeezing the boot and you can feel the play in the bush. I can't feel any in mine. At least last time I tried I couldn't. I also can't feel any play in the inner tie rod ends.
Mine makes the noise mostly over small sharp bumps which, where I live, is what our roads are mostly made of. If I run the tyre pressures higher to even out the wear it makes the noise more pronounced. If I run the pressures at factory spec the noise is not as bad but the tyres wear more. Can't win.

This is the only real issue I have had with the car apart from the crap design of the heater/aircon controls, and thats a design issue, not quality

regards
bollie7

On my 03 kl AWD at 30000k's I had the same problem and they replaced strut tops and other bits and pieces. They replaced the shocks and all was fixed.

this is going to sound stupid but sound travels, we have a clunk over bumps in the wifes te only in the right hand front i though it was her cracked hubcap, i done a headlight alignment last night and found the offending noise maker the inner reflector of the drivers side headlight is somehow loose and moves up and down inside the headlight something is broken i guess.

My TL VRX AWD, ~73000km, has started to make the same noise that spud100 described. It seems to be coming from the front left. A fix before the 5 year warranty runs out would be nice, I don't want to repeat the same bun fight I had with Chrysler over front suspension because of the poor build quality of my Jeep.

Ken N

My TL VRX AWD, ~73000km, has started to make the same noise that spud100 described. It seems to be coming from the front left. A fix before the 5 year warranty runs out would be nice, I don't want to repeat the same bun fight I had with Chrysler over front suspension because of the poor build quality of my Jeep.

Ken N
Ken I wish you luck, I found that most of the Mitsu service people have selective hearing. Getting someone to even admit there is a noise is the first step.
If you do get it fixed please let us know what the fix is. Mines really starting to annoy me now. At least its bad enough now that we might be able to pinpoint what it is.

regads
bollie7

Ken I wish you luck, I found that most of the Mitsu service people have selective hearing. Getting someone to even admit there is a noise is the first step.
If you do get it fixed please let us know what the fix is. Mines really starting to annoy me now. At least its bad enough now that we might be able to pinpoint what it is.

regads
bollie7
+1 for letting us know how you go under warranty!! Will be very interested.

thanks:)

Did anyone one manage to fix this problem? I am having the same issue in my GTV and its not AWD. Also had the same problem on my TH Solara, which i fitted new struts and springs to, no fix their.

Have you checked bump stops? i had similar prob and bumpstops were disintergrated, tried the mitsi foam ones but still made a bump over holes etc, so use toyota ones, they are a denser foam. I have a KE Diamante by the way, soft spring rates.

Strut top bearing plates. Tried this? I have solved the slight knocking noise a few times by repolacing these.

They are never usually replaced even when you do your front shocks.

Strut top bearing plates. Tried this? I have solved the slight knocking noise a few times by repolacing these.

They are never usually replaced even when you do your front shocks.

Im leaning towards this, can you recall roughly how expensive they were for the part?

I think for memory about $80 each.

I think for memory about $80 each.
Better than I thought.

Im about to do all struts, springs, spring rubbers, the strut tops and insulators to fix it, its shitting me!!!

they have gone up a fair bit recently i will get you a price but yes i think i have done 3 of nigels cars now

they have gone up a fair bit recently i will get you a price but yes i think i have done 3 of nigels cars now
Mal would you suggest doing the above I have mentioned to eliminate this damn knock I get? My car is in awesome condition, 1 owner and been serviced by the one dealer its whole life, but she has just hit 210,000klms.

Never solved this problem myself. But I have done alot of dirt road work, which made it all worse. New front struts at ~ 110K km, but they were buggered anyway. Still have the noise

Hey guys? WHat springs are you running?

I had lots of issues with Pedders springs and banging around in the front of 3 of my Verada's.

I changed to Kings in all 3 cars and problem gone in every case.

But if you have stock/other brands then i still know the noise you are talking about.

A magna/Verada will never be dead quiet in the suspension like a commodore. Its just the design of them. They are known for having a lot of road noise but if the noise is abnormaly loud then would look further such as strut tops etc..

The strut top bearing plates were replaced on mine (under warranty) early on. Had no effect on the noise.
bollie7

Had the annoying front end rattle on low speed jiggly bumps on my KW AWD verada - after checking and tightening a few things no change.

By chance noticed that the plastic thingy that holds the windscreen washer tube onto bottom of bonnet at drivers corner was a loose fit and made a metalic rattle sound. Jammed a bit of foam around the press fit and much improved. Worth a look.

Struts in it now were installed by me at around 70K I think so they have about 60k on them. Even when they were new the noise was still there.

bollie7

OK I think I know what might be wrong you need to check the timing of the Strut Top in relation to the Strut, there is a alignment hole in the strut top which needs to line up with the strut you can see the hole in the strut if you look under the front, then look up to the strut top and you should see a hole in line with the one at the bottom. If it is out of alignment it will clunk as it is not seating properly and is throwing the geometry of the strut out of alignment. These things have been known to move around after a while also need to be sure the strut top nut is tight. The spring needs to be seated in the right location at the bottom of the strut where the mark is. Also we have found from time to time that a super low spring can move around in the strut over bumps causing noise as the shock acts like a king pin but when the suspension is on max droop the spring hangs free allowing it to thump at the next bump.

Mine has had the clunk from new, also has uneven tyre wear.
so if the strut is out of alignment, will this affect wheel alignment geometry?

Absolutely. The timing of the front strut tops in relation to the struts needs to be spot on given that they can only adjust toe in not having the top aligned will have a great impact on the camber angles and even the castor if it is toward the front.

I found that the clunks in mine were due to worn out strut tops. Replaced them and no more clunks.
Strut tops are worn when you pop the cap off where the top shock nut is and look around and you see lots of grease. Thats busted and when you remove the top to look it is squashed, like this;
The one on the right is the worn one out of my car, and the left is the new one;
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm329/grelise1/SDC12135.jpg
http://i316.photobucket.com/albums/mm329/grelise1/SDC12134.jpg
You can clearly see the difference between the two

Yep that explains it on worn cars but some people have had this problem from new. Here are some strut tops part no's if you don't want to get genuine

Strut Mount MONROE 902914

Strut Mount KYB SM5194

I have the same problem. I have traced it to the bonnet rattling on the hinges. Nothing I can do about it... If you adjust the rubber stops, it just changes the position of the bonnet without stopping the noise...
Cheers
Richard

With the awd's vr-x's that I test drove before I brought my vr-x I found one that had a metal to metal rattle in the steering column that was really prominent over sharp bump's at low speed.
Worth a look.
I am glad that I did not buy that one.

With the awd's vr-x's that I test drove before I brought my vr-x I found one that had a metal to metal rattle in the steering column that was really prominent over sharp bump's at low speed.
Worth a look.
I am glad that I did not buy that one.
Sounds maybe like a new steering linkage...... Pedders quoted me $600 to replace mine.

Hi Guys
I might have something relevant to this front end clunking issue from similar problems with my old TR. Tried all the things mentioned in the various posts but never managed to fix it. In desperation thought it might be some weird CV joint problem and went to CV Joint Clinic in Perth.
Good move because although it wasn't a CV joint problem they knew what it was from experience with vehicles used in the bush in Zimbabwe.
Turned out it was the through bolts in the engine mounts and roll stoppers. They need to be torqued up way beyond what the specification says, I'd just tightened them to the book figure.
They really laid into them....and problem solved...no more clunks.

Basically it seemed to be something like an 8mm bolt passing through a 10mm bush in the mount moving around under load and this noise gets transmitted through the vehicle.

Certainly worth a try for anyone with the dreaded clunking noises.

And CV Joint Clinic didn't even want to charge me for that fix...how's that for service:happy:

May have some new info on this very soon. Possibly a way to fix the problem. Aparently very common and very easy to fix.
Will keep you posted.

Family Wagon,
Yes please.

My clunk is on the nearside. Lat bit of slowing down to a standstill.
I am very suspicious that it is caliper/ pad related.
Gerry

Sorry guys. Wrong issue. Sorry if i got your hopes up. I thought this was the driveline slack/clunk thread.