Front End Problem...

bris · Post by **bris** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:22 pm

Alright guys,

I'm getting frustrated with my car, 2002 R/T. I'm getting this clunking noise when I hit the smallest bumps, cracks in the road...I've changed the strut mounts w/ bearings, balljoints, tie rods, those puck looking bushings (twice) in the last year and the right side strut...I had the rack looked at and they say it's fine....I don't drive the car hard at all....

Any ideas what the hell is going on??? someone please help me before I put it into a wall......

Thx...

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:28 pm

well I get the same thing....but I think I might know the problem...I believe it's the exhaust hitting the car somewhere...do you have stock exhaust? or custom? anyway I ended up getting another hanger around the center of the car and the noise doesn't happen as bad anymore.

bris · Post by **bris** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:38 pm

WykedHellFire wrote:well I get the same thing....but I think I might know the problem...I believe it's the exhaust hitting the car somewhere...do you have stock exhaust? or custom? anyway I ended up getting another hanger around the center of the car and the noise doesn't happen as bad anymore.

Hey man, Thx for the info but it's defenitly suspension, we checked the exhaust and it's tight....good luck with your car...

Cheers.

WykedHellFire · Post by **WykedHellFire** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:57 pm

oh alright, well thanks and good luck to you as well!

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Wed May 09, 2007 11:17 pm

Steering rack. If you jack up the front drivers side, crank the wheels turning all the way to the right and wiggle the rack (actual rack inside the rubber boot, not the housing) on the drivers side, you'll probably be able to replicate the clunk.

I'm in line to change the rack myself. The car has pretty much a rebuilt front end on it, handles perfect, but every medium to large bump there's a noise coming from the rack, that sounds like it's coming from the lower drivers foot well area.

latief · Post by **latief** » Wed May 09, 2007 11:57 pm

fixitmattman wrote:Steering rack. If you jack up the front drivers side, crank the wheels turning all the way to the right and wiggle the rack (actual rack inside the rubber boot, not the housing) on the drivers side, you'll probably be able to replicate the clunk.

I'm in line to change the rack myself. The car has pretty much a rebuilt front end on it, handles perfect, but every medium to large bump there's a noise coming from the rack, that sounds like it's coming from the lower drivers foot well area.

Exactly, i have the same problem ever since i got my car...changed nearly everything...as fixitmattman said...exactly what i found, it is something where the rack meets the column (at least in that area)...

i have not changed the rack and i don't think i will any time soon...

i just learned to live with it....you feel it in the drivers foot well .....i guess this should have been a neons TSB, but it never was....i've seen a lot neon owners complain about the same problem...

hey fixitmattman .....are you talking about the driver's side inner tie rod ? it is not servicable, but i changed it any way....it did not fix the problem......so if you are thinking about changing that don't waste your money bro, it will not help ....

Demonik · Post by **Demonik** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:43 am

i got the same problem too...so how hard is it to DIY and change out the rack? and how much is it to get it fixed at a shop/dealership?

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:50 am

that rack will take a bit of time... You'll have to drop the k-frame which is challenging but do-able... check out the info on swapping out the SRT steering rack and it will have all the directions you'll need

bris · Post by **bris** » Thu May 10, 2007 12:28 pm

fixitmattman wrote:Steering rack. If you jack up the front drivers side, crank the wheels turning all the way to the right and wiggle the rack (actual rack inside the rubber boot, not the housing) on the drivers side, you'll probably be able to replicate the clunk.

I'm in line to change the rack myself. The car has pretty much a rebuilt front end on it, handles perfect, but every medium to large bump there's a noise coming from the rack, that sounds like it's coming from the lower drivers foot well area.

Well, the noise I am getting is , was coming from both sides, last week I replaced the left front strut because it was leaking, the noise went away on that side but it's getting worst and worst on the right side....i'm thinking I might have a bad strut on that side too but what are the chances?????

Are you only getting noise from the driver's side?

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:36 pm

Not to unusual actually. A strut is a very possible occurrence.

Double check for wear in the sway bar bushings as well. Another make has that issue as well.

-Devil- · Post by **-Devil-** » Thu May 10, 2007 5:22 pm

on most all my cars .. when one front strut went .. the other one was not to far afterwards.

silentneon01 · Post by **silentneon01** » Thu May 10, 2007 6:39 pm

I had a clunk type sound like that too but mine ended up being a loose motor mount where the mount attaches to the car.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu May 10, 2007 6:50 pm

latief wrote:hey fixitmattman .....are you talking about the driver's side inner tie rod ? it is not servicable, but i changed it any way....it did not fix the problem......so if you are thinking about changing that don't waste your money bro, it will not help ....

No I'm not. There is zero play in the inner tie rods, I already checked them. The issue is a worn bushing on the drivers side of the rack housing, causing that end of the rack to clunk on hard suspension inputs no matter what wheel you hit a bump with.

latief · Post by **latief** » Fri May 11, 2007 9:11 am

so that is not fixable without a new rack? could it be changed on its own?

thanks,