Front end clunk

[Vonrottes]

Been searching for weeks but can't find a definitive answer.
My 2008 g8 GT has a clunk coming from the front end somewhere, going over small bumps, it gets worse when it's below about 10c, and mostly goes away above 23c. Can't feel anything in the steering wheel, but when it clunks you can kinda feel it in the floorboard, sounds like it's coming from the front right side.

Have replace strut mounts/bearings as well as sway bar end links.
Checked the LCA and radius arm today felt no movement in the wheel and saw no vertical movement in the bushings with a pry bar, though imo they allow quite a lot of horizontal/twisting movement..

Exhaust all seems to be tight/secure.

I did see one person in another forum mention bad engine mounts as a possible clunk in the front end, mine look like they could use replaced soon but have no visible rips or leaks.

All help is greatly appreciated.
Just trying not to throw parts at the issue.

 

[shane_3800]

Maybe take it to a mechanic and get them to find the noise for you.

 

[krusing]

I have found 2 items that caused clunks in the front end of mine,

1) The Tower Top Nuts, [get the rattle gun on to them, [make sure the car is on the ground], remove the plastic nut cover [if fitted], remove the top nut, and the top tower plate, and check the Tower Top Nuts.]

2) Both Stabilizer Shaft links [aka: Sway Bar Links], top and bottom.
Depending if they original, probably need a 15mm deep socket,
torque them up to 50 N-m (37 Lb ft]

I also have another clunk at the moment, and I am about to pull the front end apart and check everything and re-tension it all up.

I have already replaced [not long ago] -
All 4 lower control arms with SuperPro arms
Both Tower Tops
Both Stabilizer Links
Both Front Hubs

I'm beginning to think its Steering Rack,
So I have sourced a s/hand one that feels tight, and has only done 50,000 k's.

If you wish to PM your email address,
I will email you the Front Suspension Specs files,
as its to large to attach it here [5.51 meg].

 

[TAS1981]

Front sway bar D shaped bushes. You can fit them on your drive through the engine bay and they are cheap. Its the first thing I would replace chasing a front end clunk because its easy. You cant tell they are knackered from looking at them necessarily.

Replace them as I could not see it in your list of "already tried".

 

[Vonrottes]

I have found 2 items that caused clunks in the front end of mine,

1) The Tower Top Nuts, [get the rattle gun on to them, [make sure the car is on the ground], remove the plastic nut cover [if fitted], remove the top nut, and the top tower plate, and check the Tower Top Nuts.]

2) Both Stabilizer Shaft links [aka: Sway Bar Links], top and bottom.
Depending if they original, probably need a 15mm deep socket,
torque them up to 50 N-m (37 Lb ft]

I also have another clunk at the moment, and I am about to pull the front end apart and check everything and re-tension it all up.

I have already replaced [not long ago] -
All 4 lower control arms with SuperPro arms
Both Tower Tops
Both Stabilizer Links
Both Front Hubs

I'm beginning to think its Steering Rack,
So I have sourced a s/hand one that feels tight, and has only done 50,000 k's.

If you wish to PM your email address,
I will email you the Front Suspension Specs files,
as its to large to attach it here [5.51 meg].

I'll give the nuts a check tomorrow, may not happen gotten them tight when I did the mounts

Front sway bar D shaped bushes. You can fit them on your drive through the engine bay and they are cheap. Its the first thing I would replace chasing a front end clunk because its easy. You cant tell they are knackered from looking at them necessarily.

Replace them as I could not see it in your list of "already tried".

I also saw something about those wearing it and the sway bar slipping into the slits, I'll go ahead and order those tomorrow only about $30 for the superpro bushings



Thanks both of you

 

[krusing]

I'll give the nuts a check tomorrow, may not happen gotten them tight when I did the mounts



I also saw something about those wearing it and the sway bar slipping into the slits, I'll go ahead and order those tomorrow only about $30 for the superpro bushings



Thanks both of you

Not good when you have lose Nuts, especially when your done your mounts !

 

[Vonrottes]

Just gave the strut nuts a check and I don't think they were anywhere close to right enough my little 3/8th impact spun them right off.. didn't fix the clunk though, going to order sway bar bushings and see if that takes care of it.

 

[greenacc]

Check all the 6 bolts holding the engine cradle to chassis rails are torqued up and not loose.

 

[Brettly-2008]

Just gave the strut nuts a check and I don't think they were anywhere close to right enough my little 3/8th impact spun them right off.. didn't fix the clunk though, going to order sway bar bushings and see if that takes care of it.

I second sway bar D-bushes. They wear and the bar has movement and thuds against the chassis (only thin rubber in this part of the bush). Good luck.

 

[Skylarking]

VE = G8?

Didn’t the VE have brackets from each side rails to the firewall which would knock on some occasions. This was due to these firewall bolts not being fully seated home and torqued up yet the bolts seem tight and can’t be turned by finger. Or am I remembering wrong...

PS: according to this post, it seems this firewall bracket is on the VT - VX range of commodores so not relevant to your VE/G8... Yes, I did remember wrong so disregard the post