Front end clunk......only turning right

BostonBMW · Mon, Jul-30-2012, 09:55:31 PM

Recently installed Dinan springs and Konis in my 2001 M3. Replaced sway bar, Links, Right front control arm. Got the car aligned. Drives straight and perfect but theres a clunk in what sounds to be in the front left. I brought it to a very reputable indy shop, they disassembled the left front shock and found everything to look good. The weird part is that going over train tracks turning towards the left there is no clunk, only when turning to the right. At highway speeds you cant hear it, only going slowly over bumps. Any ideas??

Left front control arm? It appears to have zero play in the ball joint?
Exhaust hitting?
Shock top mount?

Neither of these sound like the culprit with the turning right

Karuza · Tue, Jul-31-2012, 12:11:48 AM

Tie rod? My car is experiencing same thing and that was my guess

BostonBMW · Tue, Jul-31-2012, 02:26:06 AM

After bringing the car in for the alignment they said I needed a control arm, so Im assuming they checked everything else in the front end and found nothing.

Possibly the shock bearing?

mpower22 · Wed, Aug-01-2012, 08:20:18 PM

I don't think it's the exhaust. If you are certain this wasn't happening prior to the replacement suspension, something either is not seated properly or tight, or your FCABs have started to go out. End links are a common failure item, but you've replaced them and they don't make a clunking sound, more of a clicking.

SG/IRM3 · Wed, Aug-01-2012, 08:45:40 PM

Are the endlinks tight? I had a similar sound and went back and tightened the end links a tad more and that solved the problem. Been quiet ever since.

BostonBMW · Thu, Aug-02-2012, 12:31:20 PM

I had the front right FCAB replaced with the control arm. My mechanic said a bad FCAB would be noticeable under braking. Im going to check the sway bar links, take apart the shock and replace the bearing, top mount (guide support) and the rubber seats even though everything looks fine. I just hate buying parts to trouble shoot problems. Car drives super tight otherwise, very frustrating.

BostonBMW · Wed, Aug-29-2012, 08:36:22 PM

Ended up being extremely loose FCAB bolts, no idea why they were so loose. Needless to say the way we figured it out was by just tightening every bolt in the front end, you'd be amazed what'd find loose.

EricSMG · Wed, Aug-29-2012, 08:57:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BostonBMW

Ended up being extremely loose FCAB bolts, no idea why they were so loose. Needless to say the way we figured it out was by just tightening every bolt in the front end, you'd be amazed what'd find loose.

That's scary! The Fcab is the only thing that controls fore/aft wheel position.

Mon, Jul-30-2012, 09:55:31 PM	#1
BostonBMW Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 12 Reputation: 0	Front end clunk......only turning right Recently installed Dinan springs and Konis in my 2001 M3. Replaced sway bar, Links, Right front control arm. Got the car aligned. Drives straight and perfect but theres a clunk in what sounds to be in the front left. I brought it to a very reputable indy shop, they disassembled the left front shock and found everything to look good. The weird part is that going over train tracks turning towards the left there is no clunk, only when turning to the right. At highway speeds you cant hear it, only going slowly over bumps. Any ideas?? Left front control arm? It appears to have zero play in the ball joint? Exhaust hitting? Shock top mount? Neither of these sound like the culprit with the turning right

Tue, Jul-31-2012, 02:26:06 AM	#3
BostonBMW Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 12 Reputation: 0	Re: Front end clunk......only turning right After bringing the car in for the alignment they said I needed a control arm, so Im assuming they checked everything else in the front end and found nothing. Possibly the shock bearing?

Wed, Aug-01-2012, 08:20:18 PM	#4
mpower22 10-Year Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Age: 31 Posts: 2,497 In the garage: '13 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 '09 TOYOTA RAV4 '03 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Maryland	Re: Front end clunk......only turning right I don't think it's the exhaust. If you are certain this wasn't happening prior to the replacement suspension, something either is not seated properly or tight, or your FCABs have started to go out. End links are a common failure item, but you've replaced them and they don't make a clunking sound, more of a clicking. __________________ ///M3 - Dream Car: Acquired 2003 M3Laguna Seca Blue/6MT/Black Leather Cloth Interior/Full [CSL] Exhaust/evolve-R Original Owner, Custom Built - PDC, Moonroof, Bi-xenons, Brushed Aluminum Trim, Bluetooth ULF European - Rotors (F&R), Bumper, Mirrors, Warning Triangle, Console, First Aid Kit, Fire Extinguisher OE LED Conversion/Outer Ring Mod \| V1 Hardwired/Ashtray Display \| 3M 35% Tint \| Diamond S600s, JL 10W3v3, HD900/5

Wed, Aug-01-2012, 08:45:40 PM	#5
SG/IRM3 Flyguy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 301 Reputation: 0 Location: O'Fallon,IL	Re: Front end clunk......only turning right Are the endlinks tight? I had a similar sound and went back and tightened the end links a tad more and that solved the problem. Been quiet ever since. __________________ Mike K. 2005 M3

Thu, Aug-02-2012, 12:31:20 PM	#6
BostonBMW Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 12 Reputation: 0	Re: Front end clunk......only turning right I had the front right FCAB replaced with the control arm. My mechanic said a bad FCAB would be noticeable under braking. Im going to check the sway bar links, take apart the shock and replace the bearing, top mount (guide support) and the rubber seats even though everything looks fine. I just hate buying parts to trouble shoot problems. Car drives super tight otherwise, very frustrating.

Tue, Jul-31-2012, 12:11:48 AM	#2
Karuza Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 534 Reputation: 0	Tie rod? My car is experiencing same thing and that was my guess

Wed, Aug-29-2012, 08:36:22 PM	#7
BostonBMW Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 12 Reputation: 0	Re: Front end clunk......only turning right Ended up being extremely loose FCAB bolts, no idea why they were so loose. Needless to say the way we figured it out was by just tightening every bolt in the front end, you'd be amazed what'd find loose.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode