Front passengers side clunk?

B

Buckz

Senior member
 West sussex
Hi Guys

I usually listen to my music loud so I don't hear much of the suspension... but I've noticed this "clunk" coming from the front passengers side. My gf said she can feel it under her feet etc but I can't feel anything my self.

my first port of call was the strut braces, tightened them up to correct torque, nothing, still there.. next port of call was to jack the car up and give it a good look at the rear springs etc and see the state of the bushes..

everything looks fine, springs look fine etc. Only thing I've noticed is that it does have a little bit of a split at the front top mount rubber but I doubt that'll cause the clunk.

I'll take some pics of that but what else could it be?

seem to happen mostly over speed bumps and small potholes. Car is on 60ish k miles. I cannot reproduce any movement in suspension when car is parked, be it front or rear.
 
right, will have to lift the front up again and check again with some force on the parts.

thanks
 
PboroRyan said:
Check the rear wishbone bushes on the front suspension also. Common problem, mine were replaced the other month.
Click to expand...
I would also second this as a possibility
A common bmw fault Z4s and E46 :thumbsup:
 
Right, they don't look too difficult to replace, any tools worth having to pull the old bush/lolipop off? Guessing some brake fluid and rubber mallet will do as far as putting it on goes?
 
One of these makes it about a million times easier...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro-craft-reversible-gear-puller-4-100mm/12510

They're cheaper elsewhere but they make removing the old bushings a doddle. Breaker bar is also handy just in case the bolts that connect the bush housing to the body are corroded on. Is it definitely the bushings then?
 
PboroRyan said:
One of these makes it about a million times easier...

http://www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro-craft-reversible-gear-puller-4-100mm/12510

They're cheaper elsewhere but they make removing the old bushings a doddle. Breaker bar is also handy just in case the bolts that connect the bush housing to the body are corroded on. Is it definitely the bushings then?
Click to expand...


thanks! was looking at something similar just with 2 arms rather than 3.

no still unconfirmed but them being the only part that I haven't checked properly I'm putting my moneys on it! will poke around with a screw driver and see if I can find any splits as the rubber looked fine from the outside. :driving:
 
They might look fine from the outside but can still cause play. I've replaced mine with some pollybush ones. Not going anywhere for a long time. I have already replaced these with OEM ones and they lasted about 8 months.

 
Roundozo said:
They might look fine from the outside but can still cause play. I've replaced mine with some pollybush ones. Not going anywhere for a long time. I have already replaced these with OEM ones and they lasted about 8 months.
Click to expand...

nice one! where did you get your polybushed ones? Can't seem to find much on the bay :oops: might as well upgrade for something that will last!
 
+1 on the polybushes, I've done the same. Ride is a tad firmer imo but worth it knowing they're not gonna go again.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171231642082?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These are the ones I've got. Don't worry about them being labelled for an E46, they're the same. :thumbsup:
 
You can get them cheaper but you have to mount them in the holders yourself. This is what I did but it can be a bit of a pain in the back side of you don't have the right tools. If you don't have a good array of tools then it's probably easier to buy the whole assembly.

You could also then think about getting these....

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221434820597

Again you might want to check but I think the E46 ones fit and are cheaper. If you're replacing the rear bush you may as well do the lot.
 
yeah I was thinking about it. Half tempted to pick this -;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E86-CONTROL-ARMS-WISHBONE-BUSH-MEYLE-HD-C813-/190933378791?fits=Car+Make%3ABMW%7CModel%3AZ4%7CCars+Year%3A2007%7CPlat_Gen%3AE86%7CCars+Type%3A3.0+SI&hash=item2c748426e7:g:2aMAAOSwcBhWVsvq

but not 100% sure if it is compatible with sports suspension or not.. wonder if it's any different to SE? I'd leave the poly bushes for later if it fails.

I do only drive 5000 or so miles a year so doubt it'd fail in a year again.
 
Pretty sure the wishbones are the same across all models. It's the strut and spring that are different I believe. Replacing the whole unit is very easy.
 
Lolipops replaced today, not arms as I can't get it done on the road sadly need to go to a garage. Clunk is still there after lollipops so my next point of attack is arms + sway bars.
 
Changing the lollipop is no bad thing.

Sway bar link next. Just undo the nuts and see if you can move the ball joint by hand it should be quite difficult to move although cheap enough to replace and a simple fit.

Next try the arms.

If no joy then try the shock and spring. not fool proof but driving with no load straight and level about 30 mph if there is no noise it could be a cracked spring and you can not always see it or the shock is slightly bent or damaged. Not always but you might have to remove to check.
 
Yeah got the parts coming on Friday, will replace those and then see. Can't see any leaks around shocks or any spring snappage.. could be the top mounts but I'll tackle them one by one ;)
 
Sway bars replaced.. clunk still here!!

Went digging through the engine bay etc and found one AC pipe that popped out of the bracket.. poped that back in and the clunk is gone! I give up lol.

Anyway, sway bars needed changing anyways as one was shot! And lolipops looked original too and one was gone. Car feels much tighter and now the clunk is gone it sounds good too ;)
 
Thought I'll update the thread incase any people come across it from either Google or forum search. The issue was not the lolipops, not the drop links, top mounts or the springs.. wasn't the AC pipe either! The clunk was coming from anti roll bar and the cause was a loose nut believe me or not ! :) 5 minute fix and it's all solid now.
 
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