Clunk at Random

[outback_aussie]

G'Day,

I've noticed mostly recently there is a single loud clunk that comes from the front of my Pajero at random times, often when it is wet (could be co-incidental) but I've noticed it most often when driving down the driveway/street braking (straight line) and once or twice when turning the car off (stopped).

All when in 2WD no steering, just braking (even softly) but I'm left puzled as it is irregular and irritating not to know

Cheers, Tayler.

[green monster]

if you havnt already done so , then I suggest you change your front swaybar D bushes they are behind the front bash plate and very easy to do, I had a similar issue and it fixed it straight away, they are also fairly cheap ,
cheers Cam

[Darwiniandude]

outback, you jinxed me!

I read this thread this morning, and today while driving around when I pull up and stop most of the time I get a clunk fr the front end exactly as you describe. Will inspect tomorrow.

This thread needs a warning attached, do not read, symptoms contagious!

[outback_aussie]

outback, you jinxed me!

I read this thread this morning, and today while driving around when I pull up and stop most of the time I get a clunk fr the front end exactly as you describe. Will inspect tomorrow.

This thread needs a warning attached, do not read, symptoms contagious!

Haha sorry to jinx you! At least we both have something more to check on thanks to Green Monster Haven't looked yet to find the source but also haven't heard it in a while so I'll be on the lookout

[mmannion]

I have also had something similar lately but only when reversing while turning the wheel. I have checked everything in the front inc all bushes and ball joints and everything is good with no play or movement except when I use a pry bar on the front sway bar it moves side to side through the D bushes so I think I will replace them and see how it goes.

[Dakar-01]

yeh id check the front swaybar bushes for sure... and after repacing them... be sure to bolt the brackets back on nice and tight...
after replacing my swaybar links and bushes only after a few rugged tracks I was getting all sorts of noises from under the front... was a little scared that 'd messed up such a simple job.. tho apon inspection i found that all nuts and bolt included in the removl and fefitting needed a good nipp up... especially the swaybar bush brackets.
Need to invest in a torsion wrench

[Bundyk]

G'Day,

I've noticed mostly recently there is a single loud clunk that comes from the front of my Pajero at random times, often when it is wet (could be co-incidental) but I've noticed it most often when driving down the driveway/street braking (straight line) and once or twice when turning the car off (stopped).

All when in 2WD no steering, just braking (even softly) but I'm left puzled as it is irregular and irritating not to know

Cheers, Tayler.

not that im trying to go against everyone else, but whats mentioned in red above makes me think it might not be suspension. Suspension wont make noise if the car has stopped. Put the car into 4H and drive around for a while. Should the noise disappear I would be looking at the SuperSelect system.

[Pauly Faulkner]

My front sway bar link rubbers are rooted, only a few percent of them left and it makes a little clunk as i start to reverse and turn out the driveway so i concur with the swaybar bushes/link rubbers being the culprit.

I get that clunking noise with the brakes as well Tayler. Usually when i start to roll out the driveway and apply the brakes on and off as i go down. I was thinking along the lines of control arm bushes possibly.

[outback_aussie]

not that im trying to go against everyone else, but whats mentioned in red above makes me think it might not be suspension. Suspension wont make noise if the car has stopped. Put the car into 4H and drive around for a while. Should the noise disappear I would be looking at the SuperSelect system.

Yeah you have a point mate but it happens so randomly (and not very often) that I wouldn't be able to tell for sure. I'm thinking when I turn the car off (only time it happens when I'm not moving) the side to side motion could be causing the sway bar to move slightly? Not sure...

Don't know how to change the bushes either so it could be a while until I figure this one out haha

[Bundyk]

Mounting bushes are dead easy,

1. Take front bash plate off. This will reveal the sway bar mount bushes. (roughly just below the radiator)
2. remove the brackets that hold the bushes in place. They are "D" shaped, and each one is held on by 2 10mm bolts.
3. The bushes have a slit in them so they just pull off the sway bar.
4 Install in reverse order. (remember to add grease between bush and bar if using Nolathane or similar)

Having said all that, I still dont think its your mounting bushes, or your swaybar at all. Swaybar noise wouldnt come and go, once its there, its there.

[hootnah]

I had a similar noise when reversing whilst turning then braking......it was the driver side cv joint.
Cheers, Jim.

[Dakar-01]

So remove the swaybar totally and see if noise is still there... if it is then its not your swaybar bushes or links... helped me before coing down the path of CVs

[mmannion]

New swaybar D bushes fixed the clunk for me. Got the Nolathane ones from autobarn for $24 a set, tightened up the cornering nicely too so happy days. The original rubber ones didn't look bad at all but new ones made all the difference. Did both front and rear.

[Darwiniandude]

Going to try and change bushes today. Pretty sure that's all it is, as a few weeks back when I did a trans flush I disconnected the wrong hose so trans fluid sprayed over the bar and at least one of the old bushes so I think that would've helped them start to slide around a bit although I did clean it up.

[Darwiniandude]

Not home at the moment, but all the parts catalogues list 28mm and 29mm bushes, but they class NM and NP as the same vehicle search.

Anyone know off hand if the NP is 28mm or 29mm?