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Front suspension clunking

Tiny
FN19
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
Suspension problem 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 54000 miles

I hear a "clunking" noise when I go over bumps while driving, which seem to be coming from the right front end. I have inspected the ball joint and sway bar bushings and both seem to be okay. I cannot visualize anything obvious. It was reported that there was an "oil" leak near the right front tire. I do not see that now. I am thinking it may be a problem with the strut.

Front end noise when driving on uneven surfaces, Sounds are clanking, metal hitting metal, something loose needs tightening or about to fall off. It sounds as if it is on the drivers side. Can sometimes feel slight vibration on foot when the rattling noise happens. It used to be worse only in the cold winter months but not it does this all the time while driving on uneven surfaces. Took vehicle to mechanic and they didn't have a clue. Troubleshooted saying that is was possible the front struts at over $200 to replace. I said that wasn't it but my husband and mechanic said it might be. Both inspected everything in front end and did not find anything loose. I told them it sounded more on the drivers side. Decided to replace strut passenger side only, wouldn't listen to me. I said that it was not the strut because van drives smooth on even road surfaces such as highway. Goes over railroad tracks with out problems. No bouncing, no feeling in steering wheel, no squeaking, etc. After "repair" I drove out of the garage less over $200 in my pocket and immediately the noise returned.
Please someone reply, as Im about to drive this van over a cliff. Could it possibly be rubber bushings, rods. If so how to know which?


Any thoughts?

Thanks, Bill
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Saturday, April 5th, 2008 AT 11:34 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
SCOTTJAY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I have a 2003 T&C and had the same problem. I found it to be the front sway bar bushings. When they wear out there is less space between the sway bar and the frame. They only cost about $20 and if you are fairly mechanical, you can replace them yourself. Just put the front end up on jack stands to take the stress off the sway bar. There are two bolts that hold the bushings in place. Remove them and replace the bushings. They can be a pain to remove but be patient and you will be surprised at how little it cost to get rid of that annoying "clunk".
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Monday, April 14th, 2008 AT 10:25 AM
Tiny
GEOFFB
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a 2005 T & C with 125K miles. Runs really sweet with the exception of the dreaded clonking noise. It's had it for thre last 20k miles. Every oil change, I asked the mechanics to make sure everything is tight. Yesterday I paid $400 for two new struts (needed the struts but it didin't cure the noise). Tomorrow I will replace the sway bar bushings and let you know. You feel as though sometrhing is about to break or drop off. Very worrying. I have checked everything that looks as though it could flap or knock - keeping my fingers crossed that its the bushings. UPDATE: Mechanic refused to change bushings after another inspection. Is there enough play in a worn bushing to be felt by hand>
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Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 AT 7:45 PM
Tiny
SCOTTJAY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
GeoffB
Do you know if the sway bar bushings have ever been replaced? If they are the originals, then given the mileage you stated at 125K, I'd say they are in need of replacement. I'm surprised your mechanic refused to replace them. Since when does a mechanic refuse work? Unless you're strong enough to make the sway bar hit the frame, there would be no way to test if the bushings are worn enough to make the clunking noise but for the price of the bushings being around $20, why not change them out? If you look closely at just how little space there is between the sway bar and frame; maybe an inch or so; it doesn't take a trained mechanic to see that's where the noise would be coming from.
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Friday, April 18th, 2008 AT 2:15 PM
Tiny
UBERGEEKEN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Had a similar experience - here is what happened:

Driving would be fine until I moved forward from a stopped position. The front driver side would make an aweful creeking and clunking noise. I feared that it was transmission tralated based on when it would make the noise.

It turned out that the lower control arm of the driver side suspension was going bad. The bolt that passes through the control arm that holds it to the lower portion of the car supension was ground down. The bolt was literally being eaten inside the hole it passed through to hold the lower control arm to the car.

They replaced the lower control arm and the bolts and all was good.

Acording to the dealer, this is something that is common on cars above 120k miles. Mine is only 70k and it was 62k when the propblem ocured.

They isolated the issue by using "electronic ears" to help them find where the noise was really coming from. Without them it's almost impossible to find those type of noises since they only ocure under normal operation - not while suspended in the air on a rack.

Greg
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Monday, July 21st, 2008 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
2003T&CEX
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
My money is on the Sway bar links
My 2003 T&C have been replaced at 30,000 at 60,000 and at 95,000 all with the same clunking noise and it fixed it each time
Cheap and fairly easy repair
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Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 AT 10:17 PM
Tiny
JAREDOGDEN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I just changed out my sway bar bushings and that fixed the clunking noise on my front end. Thank God. Cheap fix and wasn't that hard to do. Just be patient and the driver side is a little tricky. Try using an air wrachet and a wrench. The size is a 15mm just like above. The fix cost be $13.00 for the bushings at NAPA. Good luck and try this first before going straight to changing out your struts.
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Sunday, January 4th, 2009 AT 3:46 PM
Tiny
BM0898
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have a 03 T&C. It has 91000 miles and the front end sounds like it is going to fall out when I hit even a small bump in the road. I have had the sway bar link kits on both sides done, and still no difference. I am doing the sway bar bushings now and I have hopes that it will help. Any other suggestions would be nice.
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Thursday, December 10th, 2009 AT 3:13 PM
Tiny
CRISAGAIN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hi Greg,

May I ask you how much did you pay for it?

Thanks.
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2014 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
DUANE58
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My 2004 t&c has the same clunking noise coming from the front passenger side as well. I replaced the sway bar links rods and sway bar bushing, i'm looking at the lower control arm bushing. Could it be possible the control arm bushing is bad?
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Wednesday, August 17th, 2016 AT 1:32 PM
Tiny
TDR0925
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 51,000 MILES
2005 Chrysler Town and Country 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 51,000 miles

Have just replaced the wheel bearing with no luck on the right front end noise. Most noticable at speeds under 30 miles per hour on uneven surfaces.
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Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Check your engine mounts, and sway bar bushings and link kits.
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Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVID HAMILTON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 114,110 MILES
Suspension problem
2001 Chrysler Town and Country 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 114110 miles

I own a 2001 T&C. I have a front end clunk. So far I've replaced complete struts, complete lower control arms and bushings and ball joints, installed a new steering rack and pinion, new sway bar bushings, new tires, new calipers-with new inner and outer tyrods and even got an allignment. After all this work, the van, apon dips in the road, has a clunking in the front end. Everything is replaced but noise is still present. Could it be possibly the hub assemblies are worn out?
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Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,179 POSTS
Were the strut plates / Brg. Replaced? Does it sound like something is loose when you hit bumps?

Let me know.
Joe
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Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOSEPH2011
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 107,000 MILES
Clunking noise on rough road coming from the front end
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Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,741 POSTS
Hold your computer closer to the van so I can hear the noise. :)

Can you describe the noise and what you can do to make it occur or go away? Anti-sway bar bushings are common. You will only hear them at lower speeds, and the noise will stop when making slight turning maneuvers such as when driving through a parking lot. Same with anti-sway bar links.

Caradiodoc
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Tuesday, June 6th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM (Merged)

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