knockin or 'clunck' sound

[Knebel]

I am still chasing this problem.... this is SOMEWHERE in the front end. I tightened all the bolts and it is also actually doing this when I turn the steering wheel when the car is not moving. The only things i havent replaced yet is the pitman arm, wheel bearings and the lower control arm bushings. I have a bit of respect of that torsion bar and dont have the tool for it :/

 

[detmatt]

Are there isolators at the rear torsion bar mount like there are on the Imperials? My Imperial is making some of the same noises in some of the same circumstances that your car is and I have diagnosed at least one of the isolators is shot.

 

[Knebel]

Are there isolators at the rear torsion bar mount like there are on the Imperials? My Imperial is making some of the same noises in some of the same circumstances that your car is and I have diagnosed at least one of the isolators is shot.

Good idea, that could also fit in with the location i feel it coming from! Where would I find these? Just where the clip for the torsion bar is?

 

[detmatt]

They're at the location of the torsion bar/trans mount crossmember, at least on my '67 Imperial. I'll have a look at my service manual to see if these are Imperial specific but even if they are, this might indicate that your issue stems from your torsion bar system.
You have a factory service manual?

 

[1978 NYB]

Just some general info...

Original Field Service Manual's and Factory Parts Catalogs can be found cheap on EBay all day long. I bought 2 sets of FSM's for my 78 Chrysler's on EBay, 1 set for $25 and another set for $2. I bought my original 1500 page parts catalog for $50.

Bishko sells reprints and CD's of just about every piece of automotive literature and FSM's and parts catalogs known to man. I also bought the FSM CD (which contains both FSM's) and the parts catalog for IIRC for $25 each. The CD's are cool when you want to print or send someone a particular page or picture. Bishko had a booth at Carlisle and I'm pretty sure they are at all of the Carlisle shows throughout the season. I believe I have every piece of 1978 Chrysler literature, FSM, parts catalog. I can tell you how valuable it is to have these books. Sure makes it easy looking for parts by part number from places like www.arizonaparts.com and www.partsvoice.com .

Thanks to Doug (69 Coronet R/T) I also have the original Data and Paint and Trim books too.

www.bishko.com

 

[detmatt]

Just as I thought, the isolators are Imperial only but that doesn't mean you should rule out an issue with the bars.

 

[Knebel]

Bummer. Yes i have the fsm, i am just at my wisdoms end. At this point i think its the frame/body connection but i have also tightened those bolts before.... hmmmm

 

[detmatt]

What year and model is your car?

 

[1978 NYB]

Is it a constantly clunking or just when you take off or accelerate?

If so....maybe a broken motor mount.

 

[Knebel]

68 fury III

It is not constant. Sometimes when i back out of the driveway and get to a certain brake pedal pressure, then putting it in drive an cruise off with no throttle and it does it again. Not happening on hard acceleration or hard braking. Sometimes i hear it when i am parked and my wife gets out of the car. Sometimes it sounds like its under my feet, sometimes i could swear its the fender and it echoes through it... I tried recreating it by gently pushing and lifting up the front of the car but nothing. Maybe i should make a video of it.?

How do i identify a broken motor mount? They seem pretty solid to me and the rubber looks okay too. Maybe a loose one? And it dosent sound like a dull 'thump' its more of a higher pitched metal noise. I was just under it and monkeyd with the exhaust but couldnt hear it.

 

[detmatt]

If you can hear it when someone gets out of the car while its parked I wouldn't worry about it. I know it is bugging you but maybe you need to wait till it gets worse and might be easier to find. It may never get worse.

 

[Knebel]

Okay.... i will observe and check again later. Meanwhile, does anybody know what socket i need for the big lca stud nut? 1 1/16 was too small..

 

[VALNUT]

Have you replaced the strut bar bushes that run from the lower control arm to the front of the frame? Ive had them make that kind of noise on an old Valiant where the bushes weren't installed correctly and wore through.

Val

 

[stubs300]

How much of a gap do you have between the exhaust pipe and the frame cutout under the seats? It sounds like that is your problem. You say you have a loose exhaust hanger. I'd be looking at the exhaust system for complete sturdiness, with no movement while shaking it and the clearance from the under carriage. Good luck

 

[Knebel]

How much of a gap do you have between the exhaust pipe and the frame cutout under the seats? It sounds like that is your problem. You say you have a loose exhaust hanger. I'd be looking at the exhaust system for complete sturdiness, with no movement while shaking it and the clearance from the under carriage. Good luck

I actually fixed that! I also tightened the motor mounts and havent heared the noise ever since...

 

[Knebel]

Well damn this thing. The noise is back, well, it was never REALLY gone. I have no clue where this could come from, the other day I opened the hood and pulled the car up a tad and could hear it pretty loud coming from the driver side suspension/steering/fender somwhere. It did it once and as much as I giggle the car around i cant recreate it by hand anymore. I recently did the engine mount on the passenger side cause it was pretty worn but that didnt change it. I could only imagine that its either the Pitman arm or the steering box maybe those besides from the LCA bushings are the only things not new. I also had the torsion bar adjuster out and inspected and it had a worn "binding" spot in the half moon shaped cutout in the LCA. I made that smooth and greased it up (on both sides) but that didnt solve it. In fact, the suspension never travels enough to hit that spot when I hear the sound. I will check the wheel bearing on the Drivers side next

EDIT: Its not the exhaust, that sounds different. I just had a clearance issue with the new motor mount installed. Its hard to describe a noise but think that the fender is not tight and it shifts a small amount in the screw holes and makes a loud hollow metal "chlunk" once. That happens if I go from a stop, come to a stop, small bumps ect. I tightened EVERY screw on the frame/fenders...

 

[25tj25]

I am still chasing this problem.... this is SOMEWHERE in the front end. I tightened all the bolts and it is also actually doing this when I turn the steering wheel when the car is not moving. The only things i havent replaced yet is the pitman arm, wheel bearings and the lower control arm bushings. I have a bit of respect of that torsion bar and dont have the tool for it :/

I think I have the same noise, did you ever find out what it was? Mine is the drivers side
in behind the wheel somewhere - reading your posts is exactly my experience but I not started repairing anything yet.
tim

 

[Knebel]

It appears that mine were the strut rod bushings.

 

[Welder guy]

I had a noise like that, it drove me crazy. It turned out it was a worn out rubber sway bar bushing. It looked ok but was in bad shape when I removed it for replacement.