Mysterious Front End Clunk Cause ?

[ARCHINSTL]

OK - this is not related to a (recent) clunk my car has experienced, but...
There have been a number of posts on front end clunks from various members. Rather than make a posting to all of them, I decided to make a separate thread. While irrelevant as to the side of the car, they are seemingly mostly on the right side for ? reason.
While looking at a TN thread's link to a Paseo forum* today, and recalling my own experience with a control arm mounting bolt, I had a thought - the long bolt goes into a captive nut that is welded inside the body and not visible.
IF that nut were to break loose from its weld to the body, then the whole arrangement would be free to move a bit, which under certain circumstances would probably induce a clunk.
Sound logical - or even possible? Wish I had a suggestion for resolution, short of what the link shows.
If absolutely everything else is tight and confirmed to be tight - maybe this is it?
Tom M.
* http://insaneintention.com/forum/viewth ... p?tid=1232

[Petros]

I have had a clunk for several years now (on my left side actaully), but still have not located it. It is not these mounting bolts, mine are all tight, and there no movement between the the cross member and the subframe, or any other suspention mounting points for that matter. I am beginning to suspect it is the front bearing, that allows some lateral movement, yet still runs smooth without grinding. But do not know for sure.

When I finally get around to doing my engine swap, I am also going to pull apart the front end and see what I can find. I want to put in a set of Camary springs (cut down a bit to not raise the front).

[Tercel_jon]

This is interesting. As I have a clucking sound coming from the drivers side but its only on uneven ground like a gravel/dirt road or trail and only when Im coasting. I know for a fact its not the wheel bearings cause I just replaced those. Need to mount a camera in the wheel well and watch what happens. I also have a shake and clunking when I Put it in neutral at speed and stay striaght. Think its a bushing or balljoint though.

[xirdneh]

i had a front shock that made a clunk now and then
i replaced the whole strut with an old one salvaged from another car
i should take the clunking one apart some time to see why it was noisy

[takza]

This is interesting. As I have a clucking sound coming from the drivers side but its only on uneven ground like a gravel/dirt road or trail and only when Im coasting. I know for a fact its not the wheel bearings cause I just replaced those. Need to mount a camera in the wheel well and watch what happens. I also have a shake and clunking when I Put it in neutral at speed and stay striaght. Think its a bushing or balljoint though.

Probably inner or outer tie rod ends. Could be just one or could be more than one.

[Petros]

I have had the clunk even after new struts were installed, all the tie rod ends and ball joints checked, a heavy pry-bar put to all suspension parts, a large bearker bar with correct size socket applied to all suspension, engine mounts, and chassis bolts and nuts, replaced the steering u-joint: nothing has isolated the clunk. The place that installed the struts and did the alignment checked and doubled check it on the rack (they heard it, but could not find the cause). It might be from the steering rack, but I would think I should be able to feel that at the steering wheel. I know this car well and I can not think of what else would cause a noticeable clunk. When I take it all apart sometime in the next year or so hope to find the cause and fix it.

[Tercel_jon]

This is interesting. As I have a clucking sound coming from the drivers side but its only on uneven ground like a gravel/dirt road or trail and only when Im coasting. I know for a fact its not the wheel bearings cause I just replaced those. Need to mount a camera in the wheel well and watch what happens. I also have a shake and clunking when I Put it in neutral at speed and stay striaght. Think its a bushing or balljoint though.

Probably inner or outer tie rod ends. Could be just one or could be more than one.

Yeah I was thinking that. I remember the guys at the alignment shop mentioning needing tie rod ends but i cant remember if it was inner or outer. when i get the money ill do both though.