CLUNK! goes the Camry - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Venom_5 · 06-13-2007, 08:38 PM

well, as some of you know ... i have been having a clunking noise [one big loud clunk, not repeated clicking] coming from the area around my front-right wheel well

i had my CV joint checked and it was fine ... which it should be because the front axles were replaced a year ago and that stuff was checked ...

its not my wheel bearings, because they click and i wiggled the wheel around and you dont hear typical wheel bearing clicks

i really dont know what else it could be, other than the sway bar or the strut mounts

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the scenario:

im going up my hill to get to my subdivision, i make a 90-degree left turn ... as i allow the wheel to straighten, the car body rolls back to horizontal and theres a CLUNK!!! from the front-right

if i need to take a video of this, lemme know and i will ASAP ... i just want to figure this problem out, since nobody can tell for sure

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in addition, here is what my struts look like ... do you see visible reason for replacement? (this is the front-left, but they all look similar)

here is the front-left axle area (which should be okay):

and here is the problem area ... front-right:

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one last bit of info ... i jacked up the front-right to take those pictures (with the oh-so-dangerous jack that comes in the trunk) ... and the wheel apparently was sitting like this \\ because it dragged across the floor to line up like this || ... but my alignment isnt off, and my wheels are only 750mi old, so i got an alignment done like 3 weeks ago

this clunking problem started last september, but now its louder, so im worried ... and no matter how many times i bring the car in, nobody can find a problem [ive had brake and tire replacements, but no suspension parts replaced yet]

thanks to anyone who has ANY idea

TTercel · 06-13-2007, 09:21 PM

You check the diff?

v-cam · 06-13-2007, 09:25 PM

take it to a suspension place that has a decent reputation and get them to diagnose it.

There are so many parts in the front assembly that can make noises, so its hard to diagnose from a written explanation.

When were your strut mounts last replaced?

Venom_5 · 06-13-2007, 11:24 PM

TTercel, i wouldnt know where to begin checking the diff and v-cam, ill check my maintenance receipts/records tomorrow and see if i can find anything about suspension parts ... i have a feeling all the parts are old ... dont they look old?

bigbird · 06-14-2007, 02:04 AM

i have the same problem. its not the diff thats for sure, its a suspension problem, couldnt tell ya where cuz im still tryin to figure it out myself

Venom_5 · 06-14-2007, 06:58 AM

Adam and Toys said it might be a sway bar mount/link/bushings problem...

ghettosled · 06-14-2007, 12:31 PM

i am starting to have a clunk noise coming from the front right as well. my guess is that its either a worn bushing, ball joint or an off chance it can be a tie rod end. but i doubt its the tie rod end. next time to have the front end of the car off the ground and properly supported, get a friend to lean on different parts of the wheel while you see whats moving that shouldnt be.

Venom_5 · 06-14-2007, 01:07 PM

well the problem is, ive tried pushing it around like that ... it only clunks when im driving, it wont do it while im parked no matter where i push

of course i havent gone under the car yet, cuz i dont have proper jacks ... im gonna try to pick up 2 jackstands this weekend

WhiteRabbit · 06-14-2007, 01:11 PM

i had clunks before, was a loose swaybar endlink

it creaking sometimes now, either the bushings or endlinks - the rubber around both are torn, haha

Venom_5 · 06-14-2007, 01:22 PM

can someone circle on the picture i supplied the correct bushing/links?

or circle on a picture of their own and post as a reply

ive never dealt w/ sway bars b4