Here's my problem. If I accelerate real fast, or brake real hard, I hear a loud knock coming from the front passenger wheel well. Once the car settles, I hear the knock again, only not as loud. Also, it feels as if the wheel hops during the knock. It is really hard to tell since it happens so quick. I checked the wheel/fender/strut assembly top to bottom. I don't see anything out of the ordinary, but I'm not sure what I am looking for. I wish I could describe it better or had more information. Any advice? I tried searching and have not found anything. I'm sure there will be questions so ask away!

EDIT: Knock might not be the right word. It definitely sounds like a very loud pop or knock. Kind of like the sound when you hit a big pot hole and bottom out the suspension, but not as harse. Happens way more on very heavy braking than acceleration. The noise that really confuses me is the second pop.

 

You should try searching. There's a TON of threads on this. There's one about 20 posts down.


I think it's a failing strut.

 

I had the same on old struts and having it on new KYB Ultra SR struts.

It happens when you accelerate/brake hard and got in a hole or somethins like that.

I think there are some gremlins that knock with litle hammers...

 

have you taken your wheels off recently or replaced any lug studs? Check your lug nuts for tightness.

Is it only one corner that does it? Is there a difference in sound if you're driving or going over a speed bump? Do smooth roads sound different than bumpy roads, or interstate roads?

Does the problem sound rotational? I.e., It happens at the same quick interval at the same speed, and slows down as you reduce speed of the vehicle? Pops happen faster at faster speeds?

 

Again, I tried searching but to no avail. As for TONS of threads, I didn't find any thread that directly relates to my problem. Changing the strut would be nice, but what if I change the strut and have the same problem? That might cause damage to my new parts. I was kind of hoping to diagnose the problem correctly instead of trying to guess with trial and error. I don't really have the money to keep trying solutions. Besides, when I have a computer problem, I don't start buying parts until I fix the problem, I try to run tests to isolate the problem. Why fix what isn't broken? I was hoping that somebody would be able to tell me what I can check and what I should be looking for. Also, I just moved out of my apartment and I am without internet. I can only get on at work during small intervals. Any help would definitely be appreciated.

BTW, I believe it could be a bad strut as well. I really just want to know what other people think. Maybe you can tell me what you searched for? My searches aren't turning up any relevant results.

 

go back and answer my questions wink1.gif I posted while you were replying

 

Haha, sorry about that! Ok, here are the answers. I recently changed my clutch. I had the help of my grandfather who is an experienced mechanic. The noises only occur during heavy braking and acceleration. If I am doing say, 35 MPH, and I brake to 5 MPH as quickly as possible, the front dives (as normal). Once I get to about 10 MPH or so, I hear the loud pop. Once I hit the gas again, (not heavy acceleration, just normal) it pops again. If I accelerate as quickly as possible, the car squats(as normal). When I get to about 3500 RPM's, it will make the popping noise just once. I will test this again, but it is hard to get it to pop under acceleration, whereas I can make the car pop when braking pretty easily. It sounds like something is popping out of place. I want to say metal on metal, but I'm not sure. No difference in noises or driveability at all aside from those two conditions. I drive over speed bumps, rough roads, smooth roads, dirt roads, and train tracks everyday and nothing is out of the ordinary. Even the handling of the car (although somewhat loose because I'm sure the suspension needs to be changed) is still pretty sturdy. The only other thing that I notice is that the steering wheel begins to shake at about 70-75 MPH, but I am pretty sure that is because I need new tires, inflated and balanced properly. An alignment couldn't hurt either. To finish your answering your questions, it only happens during low speeds; at the end of the heavy breaking, and at the beginning of heavy acceleration. It happens ONLY on the passenger front side. I don't get the pops when I hit pot holes, or bumps in the road.

 

For your description the "pop" is motion related; so I would advise you to inspect the following (in that order):
-Front suspension bushings, specially the lower arm bushings (front of arm/rear of arm)
-Ball joints front
If you wish to change them, they are not too expensive; the 4 bushings (lower arm both sides) would be around $40; and ball joints an extra $50 or so (if your dealer wants to rape you try kspec; Tim always help)
- McPherson upper mounts (the 3 bolt thingies that hold the McPherson together and bolt to the strut) they are very easy to inspect; just take out the little cap on the top and check if the rubber part has any cracks, if cracks are there, they definitely need to be changed because they are going to make sounds.

- Engine mounts (specially the front and rear/bottom)
- Exhaust line and hangers (sometimes with engine movement, they knock on the bottom of the car creating the sensation of a suspension knock)

Well; i Hope that helps, if it's nothing of that it's definitely gremlins!

 

check the wheel bearing... that sounds exactly like what mine was doing before the bearing GAVE OUT and crapped on my new wheels

 

knocking, alot of times, is the strut mount