# I had a clunking sound mysteriously coming from my front left suspension -->

Posted by Aaron (92 SE Auto) on June 19, 2002 at 23:14:53:

In Reply to: Moron mechanics! ---> (venting) posted by John vdP on June 19, 2002 at 22:58:04:

The dumb mechanics test drove my car and were 100% sure it was the strut. You can just tell that they were guessing and they didn't really have a clue. But, they stuck to their story that it's a bad strut. "We'll replace both struts for you" For a heathly price. That's what they said.

Well, I leave and I just live with it for a few months. Then, when I got the torque wrench to install my FSTB, I torque all of the nuts to specifications, just to see it they were correct. Well, the main nut in the center, that actually holds the top of the strut in place, was really lose. I tightened it... I the problem is completely fixed.

I love free fixes.

: I have had this clunking sound in my right front suspension for a while. It's been slowly getting worse. So, today I turn of the satellite tunes for a while because I can start feeling it in my steering. The best way to bring it on was to apply the brakes 10%, and alternate to 60%, 10%, 60%, 10%. The cadence brought out the clunk very clearly. It could be felt in the steering.

: So I check at home. No pushing, probing, rocking can bring on this sound. (Koni / Eibach is pretty tough to push anywhere). Strut, tie rods, stabilizer bar all feel rock solid. Next I check the ball joint hold down nuts: One missing, one finger tight! One more happy memory from my screwed up ACT clutch job:

: No metal spacer in one of the grommets of the cross member. Result: Torn grommet. $20 in parts and 4 hours to fix.

: Wrong installation of transmission to engine bolts, 3 stripped. Cost: $80 for a helicoil kit and the various bolts I lost while driving. (Not yet done. Planned when putting oem clutch in)

: Lugnuts mounted backward and overtorqued, cheap to fix, but annoying.

: Air in the clutch line. Trivial, but annoying "side-effect"

: Now loose ball joint due to incomplete fastening.

: Lesson learned: Work is not done to what you EXpect, rather to what you INspect.

:

: John

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: The dumb mechanics test drove my car and were 100% sure it was the strut. You can just tell that they were guessing and they didn't really have a clue. But, they stuck to their story that it's a bad strut. "We'll replace both struts for you" For a heathly price. That's what they said. : Well, I leave and I just live with it for a few months. Then, when I got the torque wrench to install my FSTB, I torque all of the nuts to specifications, just to see it they were correct. Well, the main nut in the center, that actually holds the top of the strut in place, was really lose. I tightened it... I the problem is completely fixed. : I love free fixes. : : I have had this clunking sound in my right front suspension for a while. It's been slowly getting worse. So, today I turn of the satellite tunes for a while because I can start feeling it in my steering. The best way to bring it on was to apply the brakes 10%, and alternate to 60%, 10%, 60%, 10%. The cadence brought out the clunk very clearly. It could be felt in the steering. : : So I check at home. No pushing, probing, rocking can bring on this sound. (Koni / Eibach is pretty tough to push anywhere). Strut, tie rods, stabilizer bar all feel rock solid. Next I check the ball joint hold down nuts: One missing, one finger tight! One more happy memory from my screwed up ACT clutch job: : : No metal spacer in one of the grommets of the cross member. Result: Torn grommet. $20 in parts and 4 hours to fix. : : Wrong installation of transmission to engine bolts, 3 stripped. Cost: $80 for a helicoil kit and the various bolts I lost while driving. (Not yet done. Planned when putting oem clutch in) : : Lugnuts mounted backward and overtorqued, cheap to fix, but annoying. : : Air in the clutch line. Trivial, but annoying "side-effect" : : Now loose ball joint due to incomplete fastening. : : Lesson learned: Work is not done to what you EXpect, rather to what you INspect. : : <vent mode off> : : John