Clunk in right front

[sammm]

I've got a clunk I can't find. Doesn't seems to be suspension or steering related. I checked and lubed the caliper pins, and greased up the sway bar bushings too. No sign of oil on the shock, but it is original (1996 vintage). I pushed up and down on that corner and can't reproduce the noise. No play in the tire/wheel either.

Any ideas?

[juxt3r]

Not sure if it's applicable to this platform, but any chance the upper shock mounts are toast?

[sammm]

You mean the bumpstops? It even does it going slowly in reverse.

[POS Racing]

This is why before you just go off on a whim and buy a 18 year old car that you get it thoroughly looked at by a mechanic before you buy it....

[Rogue]

You already broke it?
I never heard a clunk when I drove it Saturday.

[Keifersmith]

Broken exhaust hangers or something exhaust related? Doh!! nevermind... you said right front

[OZMDD]

Something making contact with the driveshaft or halfshafts? Loose bolt on the u-joint? Baby wildebeest in the jack well?

[sammm]

You already broke it?
I never heard a clunk when I drove it Saturday.

I heard it when I got it home and was backing it in the driveway. Maybe a loose alignment bolt? Didn't check those yet.

Something making contact with the driveshaft or halfshafts? Loose bolt on the u-joint? Baby wildebeest in the jack well?

U-joint is a possibility, I'll check it out.

[Treibenschnell]

I vote rip it all out if it ain't needed! Hell, do it even if it is.

[shortshift]

Any chance it could be a ball joint?

[sammm]

^Yep, another thing to check out. Thanks.

[motorollow]

I had the same thing in the 90 I had. I believe mine was brake related. Only happened at slow speed.

[sammm]

Pulled the RF shock and re-torqued everything under a load. Didn't see or feel anything obvious, but noise is still there.

It's more pronounced with the steering wheel turned...does it in forward and reverse. I guess it's more of a loud popping/clicking than a clunk.

[OZMDD]

Maybe an odd bearing failure, like one got free of the race? I'm assuming you've already checked the brake pad retainer springs, since they likely got removed at some point in the shock removal? Broken slider pin?

[sammm]

Brake hardware all there and I cleaned and lubed the slider pins.

[OZMDD]

Some people just refuse to be helped. :)

[OZMDD]

OK, a long shot, but how about something inside the tire?

[wrx74]

Long Bolt? Swaybar mount or loose endlink?

[sammm]

Long Bolt? Swaybar mount or loose endlink?

Removed long bolt to pull the shock and retorqued to spec. Torqued swaybar mounts and end links too.

motorollow...you said yours was brake related. Remember what it was?

[motorollow]

I never really resolved the issue. It only happened at slow speed, turning and braking at the same time. It pretty much only happened while turning down my alley. The clunk sound only occurred while lightly braking to make the turn. Never happened any other time.