Front suspension "clunk" '94 Concorde
 

My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep in
running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be appreciated.
It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.

I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard to
reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large bump
like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is moving then
popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look it over and
all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I can't see
anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it shouldn't.
The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is noticible at low
speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no shakes, no pulling,
straight, even braking, etc.

I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large nut
on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which allowed the
arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but I still have
the problem.

I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.

Best regards,

Dave

I know you said that transmission mounts were ok but it sure sounds like the
rear AT mount especially if you feel the clunk under the gear shift console
when parking at a verticle angle.


"Dave A." > wrote in message
...
> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep
> in running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be
> appreciated. It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
>
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard
> to reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large
> bump like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is
> moving then popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look
> it over and all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I
> can't see anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it
> shouldn't. The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is
> noticible at low speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no
> shakes, no pulling, straight, even braking, etc.
>
> I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large nut
> on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which allowed
> the arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but I still
> have the problem.
>
> I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
> mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Dave
>
>
>

I know you said that transmission mounts were ok but it sure sounds like the
rear AT mount especially if you feel the clunk under the gear shift console
when parking at a verticle angle.


"Dave A." > wrote in message
...
> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep
> in running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be
> appreciated. It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
>
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard
> to reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large
> bump like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is
> moving then popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look
> it over and all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I
> can't see anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it
> shouldn't. The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is
> noticible at low speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no
> shakes, no pulling, straight, even braking, etc.
>
> I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large nut
> on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which allowed
> the arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but I still
> have the problem.
>
> I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
> mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Dave
>
>
>

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004, Dave A. wrote:

> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep
> in running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be
> appreciated. It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension.

Steering rack mount bushings. Very common to the car. Very inexpensive to
fix.

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004, Dave A. wrote:

> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep
> in running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be
> appreciated. It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension.

Steering rack mount bushings. Very common to the car. Very inexpensive to
fix.

Dave A. wrote:
> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep in
> running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be appreciated.
> It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
>
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard to
> reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large bump
> like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is moving then
> popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look it over and
> all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I can't see
> anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it shouldn't.
> The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is noticible at low
> speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no shakes, no pulling,
> straight, even braking, etc.
>
> I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large nut
> on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which allowed the
> arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but I still have
> the problem.
>
> I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
> mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Dave

Worn sway bar bushings and sway bar end links are a common source of
such noise on these (relatively inexpensive and easy to replace). It
also may be the struts. Unfortunately, with these symptoms, it's hard
to pin it down to a particular component unless you see obvious wear or
damage in one. It's probably a safe bet that the struts need replacing
at this mileage, and they could very well be the noise you're hearing
(side play between the strut rod and cylinder making a sort of banging
noise on bumps) - I'm needing to replace them in my Concorde at 130k
miles for that very reason.

Unles you have a gut feeling about what the problem is, I'd replace sway
bar bushings first. The sway bar end links will have obvious play if
they are the problem - they cost around $40 each for the part. Then, if
by process of elimination, you still have the problem, then plan on struts.

Items others have mentioned are a possibility too: Steering rack and
tranny mounts.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

Dave A. wrote:
> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep in
> running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be appreciated.
> It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
>
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard to
> reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large bump
> like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is moving then
> popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look it over and
> all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I can't see
> anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it shouldn't.
> The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is noticible at low
> speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no shakes, no pulling,
> straight, even braking, etc.
>
> I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large nut
> on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which allowed the
> arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but I still have
> the problem.
>
> I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
> mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Dave

Worn sway bar bushings and sway bar end links are a common source of
such noise on these (relatively inexpensive and easy to replace). It
also may be the struts. Unfortunately, with these symptoms, it's hard
to pin it down to a particular component unless you see obvious wear or
damage in one. It's probably a safe bet that the struts need replacing
at this mileage, and they could very well be the noise you're hearing
(side play between the strut rod and cylinder making a sort of banging
noise on bumps) - I'm needing to replace them in my Concorde at 130k
miles for that very reason.

Unles you have a gut feeling about what the problem is, I'd replace sway
bar bushings first. The sway bar end links will have obvious play if
they are the problem - they cost around $40 each for the part. Then, if
by process of elimination, you still have the problem, then plan on struts.

Items others have mentioned are a possibility too: Steering rack and
tranny mounts.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

Dave A. wrote:
> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep in
> running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be appreciated.
> It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
>
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard to
> reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large bump
> like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is moving then
> popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look it over and
> all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I can't see
> anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it shouldn't.
> The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is noticible at low
> speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no shakes, no pulling,
> straight, even braking, etc.
>
> I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large nut
> on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which allowed the
> arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but I still have
> the problem.
>
> I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
> mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.


That sound is USUALLY sway bar end-links on that car. Very easy to
replace, fairly inexpensive. It could also be either the steering
rack-to-chassis bushings, or the tie-rod-to-steering-rack bushings.
Neither of those is an immediate safety hazard, but should be fixed.
Also fairly easy to do, but not as easy as the sway bar end-links.

Dave A. wrote:
> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep in
> running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be appreciated.
> It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
>
> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard to
> reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large bump
> like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is moving then
> popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look it over and
> all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I can't see
> anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it shouldn't.
> The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is noticible at low
> speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no shakes, no pulling,
> straight, even braking, etc.
>
> I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large nut
> on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which allowed the
> arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but I still have
> the problem.
>
> I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
> mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.


That sound is USUALLY sway bar end-links on that car. Very easy to
replace, fairly inexpensive. It could also be either the steering
rack-to-chassis bushings, or the tie-rod-to-steering-rack bushings.
Neither of those is an immediate safety hazard, but should be fixed.
Also fairly easy to do, but not as easy as the sway bar end-links.

Replace the sway bar to frame bushings first, they are under $10.

"Steve" > wrote in message
...
> Dave A. wrote:
>> My 94 Concorde with 137K miles is getting a bit tired but I need to keep
>> in running safely for a few more months so any suggestions will be
>> appreciated. It's the 3.3L V-6 if that matters.
>>
>> I have a "clunk" that I hear and feel in the front suspension. It's hard
>> to reproduce but can be heard and felt while turning and hitting a large
>> bump like a speed bump in a parking lot. It feels like something is
>> moving then popping back into place. I had a "front end specialist" look
>> it over and all he could see was a worn tie rod end which he replaced. I
>> can't see anything loose or anything that shows signs of moving when it
>> shouldn't. The motor & transmission mounts look good. This clunk is
>> noticible at low speeds although the car handles fine otherwise - no
>> shakes, no pulling, straight, even braking, etc.
>>
>> I had a similar problem a year ago and the mechanic found that a large
>> nut on one of the suspension arms had backed off about 6 turns which
>> allowed the arm to move. He assurres me that the nuts are tight now but
>> I still have the problem.
>>
>> I'm concerned that I have an unsafe car on my hands despite what the
>> mechanic said. I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas.
>
>
> That sound is USUALLY sway bar end-links on that car. Very easy to
> replace, fairly inexpensive. It could also be either the steering
> rack-to-chassis bushings, or the tie-rod-to-steering-rack bushings.
> Neither of those is an immediate safety hazard, but should be fixed. Also
> fairly easy to do, but not as easy as the sway bar end-links.
>