What's first things in suspension to fail

herff

New member
Hi, I have a 2005 V6 SRS with 150,000 miles. The front suspension makes "clunking" sounds when travelling over uneven stutter bumps. Speed does not seem to be a factor, but the fact that the bumps are one-side only is. Doesn't seem to matter which side. I've heard about sway bar connections getting loose, but that doesn't seem to be it. I've tried to re-create the sound by rocking vehicle side to side by hand, but no luck. Dealer sees nothing wrong. What order should I begin investigating the suspension? Do certain bushings wear out more than others? Help! Thanks.
 
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CV, TRE, ball joints... pretty much anything.. any play in the TREs? shake wheel at 9 & 3 and shake TRE and look for play in the joints
 
"clunking" sounds when travelling over uneven stutter bumps. Speed does not seem to be a factor, but the fact that the bumps are one-side only is
I take this to mean that if you run over a bump on the right side only, it makes the noise, or if you run over a bump left side only it makes the noise, but doesn't make a noise when running over the same bump on both sides.

If so, I would start with eliminating the sway bars. Disconnect one at a time and test. While you are doing that, check for play, cracked bushings, etc.
 
You'd be surprised with the sway bar links. They often seem ok, but once you've seen how tight a new one is compared to one with say 150k on them,you will go ahead and change them. I had the same clunking you describe, and swapped mine out and it eliminated the noise.

Nevertheless, check all your suspension components as stated above, but go ahead and replace the stabilizer links anyway. At 150k they're probably past the normal life span.
 
my first guess would be sway bar, either links or frame bushings.
those things take a beating.
 
Sway bar bushings. I think I've replaced mine twice in 135k, both times because of clanking going over bumps.
 

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