Ok guys I have recently developed a clunking sound coming from the drivers side of the engine compartment. I am certain there is something wrong with the suspension or steering.

If the car is parked I can turn the wheel right and left and hear a clunk sound as the suspension changes.

On the road I can hit a bump or stop quickly and accelerate fast and here the same clunk when the suspension loads or unloads.

I have Eibach springs and Hotchkis sways on the car and if this is a broken strut, I can't feel it in the handling. The steering is also still spot on and tight.

Recently the clunk has begun to occur more often. I'm concerned, probably need to take it in to a local shop. I was just looking for some pointers here.

Who has any ideas on what to check?

If it is a strut, I'd probably be best to replace both of them even though only one is bad? It's an 03 with 115k miles on it. (yeah, I love to drive!)

 

I have the same exact sound with T2 springs and I'm pretty sure it's the endlinks. I'll be installing the SPL ones this weekend and will let you know.
The endlinks are known to fail on the Z when lowered and with aftermarket sways.

 

Hmm never thought of that. I guess I could take off the sway and take a quick test drive to confirm. Maybe I just need to grease the bushings again too... it's been a long time!

Being short on cash currently, bad end links aren't going to cause any type of disaster while driving until next paycheck are they?

 

Just as an update, I removed the sway bar last night and took it for a test drive. The clunk is gone. I ran out of time last night but today I'll regrease it and reinstall. If the sound stays away I'll know it was the bushings needing a good grease, if not, I guess I'll loook into some aftermarket end links.

 

Yeah let us know. I"m having the same issue. I had the car up on the lift the other day and the endlinks looked fine and everything I could see was bolted down pretty tight. I thought it was the endlinks too until I actually got underneath it and checked it all out. I could still be wrong though.

 

it could be the endlinks and/or as a result,
springs turn with the steering wheel turn.

if you hear clunks when idling and turning, it has high percentage chance.

check into them too.
good luck.

 

its your endlinks.

check your balljoints for play as well.

 

Well, I finally had time this weekend to get back under the Z. I greased the sway bar bushings, reinstalled all the Hotchkis sway bar (with the stock end links). I tightened everything up and took it for a drive.

The clunking sound is gone. Just a friendly reminder for anyone with the Hotchkis sways... they weren't kidding when they say you should grease them yearly, they will start making noise!

 

I took care of the clunking I had as well but it wasn't related to greasing the sway bar bushings. I did a few changes.

I swapped out a shock on the clunking side that had a leak, installed SPL endlinks front and rear, and filed down the T2 springs at the bottom where they make contact with the srping seat, they weren't seating down all the way.

The SPL en links are very nice and look strong. I don't see them faling. One of the stock endlinks up front was already bent so I'm glad I changed them.

So clunking gone, but not sure what fixed it since I unbolted the suspension on both sides and reinstalled.

 

do you have a plenum spacer? could be rubbing the strut bar on your plenum. check for rub marks.