Thread: help! clunking knocking noise, how do i diagnose strut mounts?

Hey all, I mobile so forgive me if it's short. I have my 96 se-r and am forever battling a knock or clunking sound from what sound like front wheel driver side area. It occurs around 0-30 mph and stops if I ease up off gas. Punching throttle in those rpm ranges produces it even if cruising on gas. Started reading of instances where upper strut mounts cause this but not sure how to check.

So far I have changed both axles, lca bushings, shifter stabilizer bushing, shifter bushing, and ball joints. I checked my brakes and they are ok, I'm just at a loss. Took it to 3 shops and no one could figure it out. Bearings and tie rods checked out ok.

Help before I either rebuild it or go broke. How do I check strut mounts or what else can I check? Thanks

ok small update. noise is a thunking i guess, if i open the door definately sounds like its drivers side from wheel. on left turns it makes a howling till i straighten the wheel. is it possible wheel bearings? can they clunk?

oh and i checked the strut mount, seems ok. spring isnt binding on wheel turn and rubber is good.

I'm not sure what thunking sounds like??? The auditable version of thinking past tense? Anyways loosen the axle nut on the drivers side, jack the car up and check of bearing play in the hub. If you Have a bad bearing with a flat spot you could be getting a rhythmic sound while moving. Also check motors mounts. Good luck.

I have had that thunking sound as well....check all your motor mounts and transmission mounts....does your shifter bounce up and down at all? Sometimes the thunking sounds can be a busted up bushing moving around in itself.

i changed the shifter bushings and have checked my prothane mounts, which are ok. i am now as i run out of ideas thinking it could be bad wheel bearings. i bought the car at 170xxx miles and its now at 220xxx and i cant tell you how old the bearings are just that i never did them. any how i was driving in a parking lot with the door open and definitely get a howl when turning left and the noise definitely sounds like its coming from the wheel (sitting in the drivers seat). so i am parking it till i get money to do bearings.

sway bar bushings/end-links?

looked good too. can a bearing make tapping or clunking noises?