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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

Reply to
Dave A.
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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.

Reply to
Art

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

Reply to
Daniel J. Stern

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')

Reply to
Bill Putney

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.

Reply to
Steve

Reply to
Rick

Reply to
mic canic

But they rarely wear out, whereas the end-links are known to wear out fairly often. And the end-links are a lot easier to replace (you have to remove them before you can replace the bar-to-frame bushings anyway).

Rick wrote:

Reply to
Steve

I've tried to get help on this site and in the archives to cure a crunch sound when my '97 MV goes over a bump or in a driveway dip. Other people withthe same problem say it's very elusive to repair and several have replaced rubber grommets and engine mounts...some without success. I had similar problem on 97 dodge Mv with 75000 mi.

I jacked up the MV and turned the wheels to the side so I could see the condition of the rubber grommets on the sway bar etc. They looked fine but I happened to have a spray can of "belt dressing" so I sprayed all that I could see...between the metal and the rubber.

Wonders never cease....no more crunching noise! Probably any lubricant would work.

Rudy

Reply to
rudyannall2

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