1999 dodge stratus, noise in front end.

[RattFink]

I have a 1999 dodge stratus that has a clunking noise in the front end. Whenever I brake, turn, or go over bumps it clunks. It sounds like a bad ball joint. I've replaced both lower control arms/ball joints, the right upper ball joint, and both link pins recently. I figured it was the only ball joint I havent replaced the left upper. I got it up in the air and the left upper has NO play whatsover. All the suspension is tight. Does anybody know what this could be? I'm thinking maybe a caliper. Any help appreciated.

[RedDeerGLH]

I have a 1999 dodge stratus that has a clunking noise in the front end. Whenever I brake, turn, or go over bumps it clunks. It sounds like a bad ball joint. I've replaced both lower control arms/ball joints, the right upper ball joint, and both link pins recently. I figured it was the only ball joint I havent replaced the left upper. I got it up in the air and the left upper has NO play whatsover. All the suspension is tight. Does anybody know what this could be? I'm thinking maybe a caliper. Any help appreciated.


Have you checked the sway bar links. That was the problem on mine.

[RattFink]

yes, both sway bar links are new, they caused a bad clunk before i replaced them. thats what i meant by link pins, sway bar links, same diff. the only suspenions item not replaced is the left upper ball joint, and that has not play. i dont know what it could be.

[RattFink]

sway bar links are new. thats what i meant when i said link pins. sorry for the missunderstanding.

[black86glhs]

Check the K frame bolts. Also, did you check the upper ball joint correctly? If you let the suspension hang, it won't show any. Have you looked at the sway bar bushings? Which side does it sound like it is coming from?

[RattFink]

I checked the ball joint with the suspension hanging. When the upper ball joint on the other side started going bad it had alot of play when checking it with the suspension hanging.

[black86glhs]

I checked the ball joint with the suspension hanging. When the upper ball joint on the other side started going bad it had alot of play when checking it with the suspension hanging. Ok, well then, aparantly I'm wrong.:( I was hoping that would be it.;)

[RattFink]

It's cool, a guy at work was having the same problem on his Honduh and it was the strut tower bushings/bearings. I'm gonna check that next.

[JDAWG]

check out/buy sway bar bushings, they are cheap, like $6 each

[RattFink]

OK, put new front brakes on the car. This includes calipers, rotors, and pads. The calipers were completely shot. This took care of the clunking when turning and braking. Still noticed a small clunk when going over bumps. Jacked the car up again and found the left front control arm bushing to be bad. This angers me because I had that control arm replaced by a goodyear shop only 23,000/15 months ago. I'm gonna go to that shop tomorrow and see if they will warranty it.