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I noticed lately that when i start to drive (from a stopped position) the front end makes a tiny clunk felt threw the steering wheel!!!! Now take in consideration that if your sitting in the car and pull back a little on the steering wheel it kinda pops or clunks same when you push it back.



Next problem LOL When i recently redid my front brake pads and rotors i had a problem compressing the left front caliper an then the right front went fine, now when driving the car it kinda pulls to the right lane when i put the brakes on would that mean that the left caliber is going bad and not compressing all the way or not at all?

I'd be getting in there and try to physically see what's going on for starters...

Could be a frozen caliper.

Does indeed sound like a sticking caliper. Shouldn't be failing so early though.

The clunk might be a couple things: cv joint/LCA bushings/tie rod ends etc. Would need more specific details.

How do you know if its frozen? Lol on my old cars I just replaced the pads never had to replace a caliper

If it doesn't compress by hand with a standard c-clamp, you have an issue. Calipers can be rebuilt, but it's generally easier to replace them.

As we speak the plot thickens lol I just went to park car at work and had to swerve to the left to miss drunken college student lol and it clunked. Ball joint? could that be what i am feeling in steering wheel lol i am a mechanic at trait but on more older equipment. I use to work for the airport fixing ground equipment lol In line six c6 trannys that kinda stuff some v6 and v8 ford lol I wish somebody lived in CB,IA or OMA,NE lol that i could trust to help diagnose the problems lol im good at fixing tho

You "laugh out loud" a lot. Just thought I'd share.



Sorry I can't help you.

If you can move the steering wheel (not turning, up down, side to side) with your hands, just parked, that is common. The bearing in there wears out. No fix, except replacing the column. Mine will clunk, at the column, tuning it hard. If it isn't that, then it can be a BJ, or LCA bushings, etc.

I would agree with OB, just replace the caliper.

Ok, when pay check comes i will replace the caliper. And thanks for the reply on the column do i need to worry about it going bad and not being able to steer?

Before you replace anything, I had the same thing with my 05.....I could wiggle the steering wheel and vaguely here the same pop/clunk noise....I traced it down to a drivers side tie rod. After some fighting with the dealership (they replaced passenger but didnt want to replace the driver) once the replaced the driver side it stopped clunking (car was under warranty)
It was not out of spec or completly worn out but was making the noise anyway.
if you can look at it before spending on other things

cool ill take a look at it when i have it jacked up. Have to fix the mini van first wife broke the front sway bar in half, but i still get discounts at napa and can get it pretty cheap so ill replace it any ways i replaced the other side last year it had a broken mount when i hit a huge pot hole but when its up ill look at the tie rod.


Am i looking for it being realy lose basicly?

Therman2020 wrote:
Am i looking for it being really lose basicly?

Yep. Just move the wheel and watch the tierod end. It should be obvious. Either the end will move, or the whole rod, which would mean the inner tie rod end is bad.

occasional demons wrote:If you can move the steering wheel (not turning, up down, side to side) with your hands, just parked, that is common.

It's my understanding, per reading the owner's manual, that the "steering wheel lock" is an "if equipped" option on the Neons.

As for the caliper, a few less common reasons it can freeze/not work. One of my front ones looks like a damn shark got a hold of it. The boot is torn in a few spots; the piston, like I was saying, looks like a shark was gnawing on it amongst other things. Replace it. Summit Racing has them cheaper than I've seen at parts stores w/o the core charge on top of that...

darthroush wrote:

occasional demons wrote:If you can move the steering wheel (not turning, up down, side to side) with your hands, just parked, that is common.

It's my understanding, per reading the owner's manual, that the "steering wheel lock" is an "if equipped" option on the Neons.

To clarify what I meant, it is more like putting a 1/2" rod in a 3/4" hole, and rattling it around. Yes, mine is that bad. If you turn it quickly, it can make a nice clunk or two. Until you figure out WTF is happening, it can be a little unnerving. It just wasn't a normal thought to grab the wheel, and shake it around.

Got ya