tjc6591

Been fighting with this car for 2 months, getting everything fixed.
just replaced entire clutch setup and all.

Now all in my sight is the damn suspension.

May or may not have blown out the absorber on a pot hole one night, bending my entire wheel.

When i am diving slow, 5-20 miles an hour and drive over the slightest crack, bump, rock, ANYTHING, my passenger right side feels like its just clunking around, and sounds like it too. Its a very hard sound to describe so i uploaded an old video of it. Any help is appreciated. I dont wanna buy 600 dollars worth front shock absorbers and it be a $2.00 gasket or something..
I'll link video

(wouldnt let me attach)

MicVelo

Hard to tell but an impact that could break a wheel and trash a tire could have played hell with ANYTHING up front.

Are there any other telltale issues like odd feel in the steering, any pulling to either side? How does it take corners? Have you visually inspected the front end? Or is it just the noise when hitting bumps?

If it's the latter, I'd CHECK sway bar links and upper strut mount first (and obviously, if you're tearing down to check the strut mount, check the spring for cracks, shocks for leakage or bending, etc.)

Alternative, take it in for a free alignment check (look around, everyone does those and would like to earn your biz for the full alignment if necessary), get a printout, and while they're in there, have the shop do at least a visual inspection of the entire front end.

tjc6591

Besides the hard clunking noise, the cars wheels turn by themselves at times, like if I put it in reverse and slowly back out it will slowly turn the wheel all the way if I let it. Had nissan look at it but I don't even think they looked at it any more than a second.

Jennifer 2

Tjc6591, every car has some caster built into the steering geometry. This means that even with a bunch of bent and busted suspension parts the wheels will try to maintain a reasonably straight direction when driving forward. Caster will actually work against you when reversing, which is why the car is pulling excessively in reverse. Any, all, and more of the things MicVelo has stated can be busted. You are going to have to bite the bullet and have a shop that specializes in suspension work tear down and replace all the damaged components. And yes, if you’re wondering about the cost, it’s going to be more than the price of a couple of shocks!

MicVelo

Ouch! That's some seriously bad joojoo. 'Fraid I have to go with Jennifer's assessment.

Here's my guesses in semi-descending order of likelihood:

- Bent steering arm (tie rod)
- Compression rod (AKA "tension/compression rod")
- Transverse link (this serves as the lower control arm, of which there are none)
- Steering rack bushing/saddle mount

IOW, just about anything associated with the steering system. Please note that these are just my cyberspace guesses - of which, any/all could be totally off base unless physically examined - which I would highly encourage.... take it to a shop that specifically works with suspension/steering. (A Z specialist would be ideal but some of the big shops like Goodyear or Firestone have people who know what they're doing.)

Anybody in the OP's area have any recommended shops? (Dang, if I were still working at my post-retirement "fun job" at the shop, I'd offer a free examination but I'm not....so maybe a fellow Z enthusiast in your area can recommend one.

Good luck.