Page 1 of 1

clunking in the front

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:37 am
by Red Rover
not familiar with the pajero, but something is clunking in the front when travelling over rought roads. I wouldn't think that was normal. I greased all the ball joints & made no difference. Also I noticed that the body mounts on the front look loose, but when I looked another 3.5 it was the same. Is this normal or are they supposed to be tight down on the chassis.

Cheers Guys

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 9:55 am
by Bitsamissin
Yeah grease everything, upper and lower balljoints, tie rod ends.
Even the front swaybar bushes.
The body mounts at first glance do look loose but it is the design it wouldn't hurt just to nip them all up.
Check the upper wishbone to chassis mounting bolts (there are 2 bolts per upper wishbone that contain wheel alignment shims).
They have been known to work loose.
Other than that if everything is lubed and tight something is on it's way out like a balljoint, wishbone bushes, torsion bar, shock etc.
IFS set ups can produce irritating clunks and squeeks that can be nightmares to trace. I know guys that have replaced just about everything in the front end and still had squeeks but after a few months dissappeared so they didn't know what caused it in the end.

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 10:12 am
by Red Rover
yeah - i feel much better now........ i think

all that aside thanks.

Car has done 150000, so maybe it is ball joints. Why would the torsion bar clunk?

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 11:15 am
by Noisey
Torsion will produce more of a "twang" or "crack" than a clunk.

Also check wheel bearings - mine tend to work loose (produce a dull clunk especially at low speeds)

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 12:03 pm
by Red Rover
MMM i'll check that, well properly anyway. I did see if there was movement in it moving the wheel on the ground & it seemed all right, but i'll do it properly on the jack, AFTER I re ring the td42 patrol this weekend.