Buick Lesabre Customer makes loud noise in Drive and Dies, but not a problem in Reverse

JIMGOES

MEMBER
2000 BUICK LESABRE
6 CYL
FWD
100,000 MILES

I have a 2000 Buick LeSabre Custom that tonight my Fiance was driving and suddenly the car was making a loud clunking noise in the Right Front then the car died. She was able to restart it and drive a little further but the car was still making a very loud noise. She didn't get much further and when she applied the brake the car died again. She was able to restart the car and put it in Reverse, and the car would back up with little to no noise. I came to her and I started the car and put it in Drive and accelerated. It immediatly made a realy loud Mechanical Clunking noise appearing to come from the right front. I turned the car off and called for a tow. Any ideas of what would casue this?

3 Replies

BMRFIXIT

MECHANIC
19,053 POSTS

Suspect bad axle or wheel bearing
if both ok tranny "maybe" at fault

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Saturday, June 4th, 2011 AT 12:03 PM

JIMGOES

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks, can you tell me if the issue is an axle or wheel bearing, would this also cause the car to die when she had slowed down or began to brake? The car started right back up when she re-started it. She did say that earlier in the week she had been driving and during a turn she said she thought she heard something "Pop" and felt a momentary tug or shudder through the steering wheel. She didn't give it any thought as the car drove normally after this, and had given her no problems until the car broke down. A few moments before the car broke down she said she felt the same kind of shudder through the steering wheel immediately prior to the loud noises and ultimate break down. I am getting this second hand and I hope I am describing this well enough to get an accurate opinion. I know it's not much to go on, and I appreciate your input. Thanks again.