[72 malibu]

1999 Dodge Intrepid, 2.7L, 80K.
Getting a clunk from the front end, both sides, over any type bump in the road. I did 4 quick struts 2 months ago, just took a 2000 mile trip in her, now this started up last week. I mean any bump, clunk,from what ever side the bump was on. Everything looks ok, I was thinking sway bar end links? Any other ideas of bad items on these that would cause this. I don't think a tie rod/ball joint would clunk like this, so I am ruling them out for now. Thanks ,Mike

 

[KMS396]

My wifes company car Malibu had a bad sway bar end link that did the same thing. Did you check out the CV joints?

 

[bulb122]

Bad swaybar endlinks can make quite a racket. Seems like newer cars eat them up too I've put 2 sets of end links on my Focus in 160,000 miles. Luckily I think they were $15/pr, or was that $15 ea?

Did you have a shop install the struts? I had 2 quick-struts installed in my car, and a couple weeks later it was making a bunch of noise. The strut bearing plate that they installed had failed.... they did replace it for free though, and gave me another alignment. :thumbsup:

 

[meesh]

My 98 Sebring clunk over bumps was front lower control arms. Some weird design that wears out. Have 70K on the car. Had it done and all is well now.

 

[72 malibu]

My wifes company car Malibu had a bad sway bar end link that did the same thing. Did you check out the CV joints?

Boots look good, not ripped/torn, does not make any noise while driving/turning-anything specific too check on them?

Bad swaybar endlinks can make quite a racket. Seems like newer cars eat them up too I've put 2 sets of end links on my Focus in 160,000 miles. Luckily I think they were $15/pr, or was that $15 ea?

Did you have a shop install the struts? I had 2 quick-struts installed in my car, and a couple weeks later it was making a bunch of noise. The strut bearing plate that they installed had failed.... they did replace it for free though, and gave me another alignment. :thumbsup:

Nope I did the fronts, the backs I did have a shop install, pretty much rusted in place!I will check them puppies out to make sure though.

My 98 Sebring clunk over bumps was front lower control arms. Some weird design that wears out. Have 70K on the car. Had it done and all is well now.

I hope that is not what it is! This car has been pretty good , bought it w/ 30k. Now at 80k I hope it does not fall apart. Just check the oil a lot because it uses it!
Thanks for the replies!

 

[idunno09]

Very good chance its your tie-rods. Chrysler was notorious for this from mid 90's to early 2000's. If you want a cheap way to check or a fix that will last for about a year you can just replace the bushing, but i would suggest the inner tie rod assemblies.

 

[JAYARTER]

moog makes a poly inner tis rod kit for most of the chryslers
did you do upper bearing plates with new struts? We do on ever strut job on the front.
Good luck jay

 

[72 malibu]

Very good chance its your tie-rods. Chrysler was notorious for this from mid 90's to early 2000's. If you want a cheap way to check or a fix that will last for about a year you can just replace the bushing, but i would suggest the inner tie rod assemblies.

moog makes a poly inner tis rod kit for most of the chryslers
did you do upper bearing plates with new struts? We do on ever strut job on the front.
Good luck jay

Struts were pre-assembled units, so I would say yes on new bearing plate, took out the old ones and in w/ new. I will check the tie rods then, I did read the inner tirods were troublesome. Thanks again for the replies!

 

[72ragtop]

Another vote for the lower control arms. It was a while back, but I seem to remember the bushing where it goes to the frame got loose - wore out. Actually found it after changing the arm cause of a worn ball joint. Jim.

 

[72 malibu]

Welp, one new strut blown out and swaybar end links. And another alignment after strut r&r. Thanks for all the replies! Rides nice again!

 

[bulb122]

Welp, one new strut blown out and swaybar end links. And another alignment after strut r&r. Thanks for all the replies! Rides nice again!

Both of my guesses were correct! haha, you made my day!

Thanks for the follow up.... :thumbsup:

 

[BUBBA2711]

I thought it sounded like a bad strut also. Used to see them on saab 9000s. They would hit a bump so hard it would mushroom the brass washer on the piston and knock against the inside of the strut tube. only repair was a direct replacement. Being in pa we saw a lot of them.

 

[72 malibu]

At least the strut was covered under limited lifetime warrenty, I asked what exactly was a limited lifetime...kinda got a look like??? So I guess if another one goes it will still be covered. I do remeber hitting a good size pothole on my trip, so I think that probably took out the strut, did not act up until a week later though, who knows.

 

[bulb122]

Haha! I just had to take my car back in..... The strut mount is bad again, after 1 year and 15k miles. They did say they are going to warranty it. I'm glad they are replacing it for free, but man, what's up with all the bad replacement struts??

 

[72 malibu]

I hope mine hold up - they were not cheap and you would think they would last. Are you using a quick strut(pre-assembled) as well?

 

[bulb122]

I hope mine hold up - they were not cheap and you would think they would last. Are you using a quick strut(pre-assembled) as well?

Yep, I used the quick-struts. Hopefully your last longer than mine did! It was kind of funny.... the dude at the shop told me he's had exactly 3 warranty replacements of the quick-struts, and I have 2 of them. I just htought it was really wierd that I told you about my broken new strut, then you had the same problem, and then I had it yet again!

I'm going to try to break something else this time