Clunking/Thud noise

[Pdotc]

As the title states, I am getting a clunk or thud from the front driver's side of the car. I originally thought It might have been a blown strut so I recently did some maintenance on the car which included Blistein B6 shocks new strut mounts etc. The car feels great except on occasion when going over potholes I am still getting the clunk. Can the forum deities shed some light on what could be the problem, I am in Westchester NY so if anyone is in the area or knows of a good local shop let me know.

 

[Treadup]

Do you have an aftermarket rear sway bar? My moog end links needed to be retorqued after about 1000 miles. I would get an audible clunk sound when driving over uneven ground.

 

[Pdotc]

No aftermarket sway bar, but would a rear sway bar cause a clunk in the front?

 

[scrllock]

Ever replace the front endlinks? Did you replace the strut bearing with the mounts? Make sure that the mounts are oriented facing in the right direction? And make sure the springs are also lined up?
Those are the most common issues/mistakes people have.

 

[Treadup]

No aftermarket sway bar, but would a rear sway bar cause a clunk in the front?

Sorry I read that quick and didn’t notice you said front.

 

[Pdotc]

Ever replace the front endlinks? Did you replace the strut bearing with the mounts? Make sure that the mounts are oriented facing in the right direction? And make sure the springs are also lined up?
Those are the most common issues/mistakes people have.

I did not touch end links yet, anything I can check on myself?
I did replace the mounts and it was done by a shop so I assume it was done right, anything I can visually inspect myself to check?

 

[Pdotc]

Sorry I read that quick and didn’t notice you said front.

It's all good just looking for opinions and feedback

 

[scrllock]

I did not touch end links yet, anything I can check on myself?
I did replace the mounts and it was done by a shop so I assume it was done right, anything I can visually inspect myself to check?

drop the wheel and check the strut mount to see if the tab is on the inner side.

also verify that the spring is positioned correctly on the lower spring perch:

and you didn't answer whether you replaced the bearing. they should be replaced any time you're replacing the mount.

 

[ZERO815]

Just curious if you recently swapped your front brake pads too. I ditched the new to me Brembo P85144 pads for new OEM pads today, and the pothole clunk/thud on my car went away! Some aftermarket pads appear to have too much vertical play. I had no clunking on changing of directions, only certain quicker events like the right potholes.

 

[Pdotc]

drop the wheel and check the strut mount to see if the tab is on the inner side.
View attachment 282661

also verify that the spring is positioned correctly on the lower spring perch:

View attachment 282662

and you didn't answer whether you replaced the bearing. they should be replaced any time you're replacing the mount.

Will check

 

[Pdotc]

Just curious if you recently swapped your front brake pads too. I ditched the new to me Brembo P85144 pads for new OEM pads today, and the pothole clunk/thud on my car went away! Some aftermarket pads appear to have too much vertical play. I had no clunking on changing of directions, only certain quicker events like the right potholes.

Along with B6 kit I got new rotors and brakes to avoid that issue

 

[Hyperlite]

Did you ever resolve this? I’ve been chasing a similar noise for over a year now with no success…

 

[victorofhavoc]

It's always worth describing what you've done to the car. Start with checking fitment of any work done and verifying if any bolts moved. Any competent shop will mark any important bolt they touch with a paint pen, so should be easy to tell if anything went loose.

Make or reverse one change at a time to determine what caused it.

Did you ever resolve this? I’ve been chasing a similar noise for over a year now with no success…

 

[2018gti]

like ZERO815 mentioned above, it could be your brake pads so I would start there. I was having a clunk over potholes for a long time and all it was for me also was the brake pads. I think they got low enough that the caliper was able to clunk around a bit too.

 

[victorofhavoc]

like ZERO815 mentioned above, it could be your brake pads so I would start there. I was having a clunk over potholes for a long time and all it was for me also was the brake pads. I think they got low enough that the caliper was able to clunk around a bit too.

Calipers don't clunk. They can rattle if they're fixed type and don't have a harmonic balancer, but not clunk.

The pad noise from poor fitting tabs is typically a very loud metallic clink/clunk when changing directions and braking for the first time in that direction... Then should be silent.