Lots of clunking front driver's side
 

Hi everyone. Trying to chase down a clunk that I feel and hear below my feet. It's definitely not the UCA since it was recently changed.

One clue... The car makes a small clunking when cold but once I get going and the car heats up, the clunking is bad. I mostly hear it when I brake and turn. I can feel the steering wheel kinda softly lock and if I turn it I hear the clunk... Would the drag link bushing do something like that? It looks worn.

thanks

Guide rod mounts.

Sixto
87 300D

Doesn't look overly worn... Should I be able to see tears?

There's also the front attachment at the LCA. I think it's under the spring perch so it's difficult/impossible to see.

Sixto
87 300D

this? Doesn't look worn...

I am trying to chase down a clunk also. Is there a good way to check the guide rod mount? It looks like it would be a pain to replace. My car is 1985300 SD

I don't know about checking but guide rod mounts are 'normal' wear item. If you have 200K miles on the car, it's very likely new quality guide rod mounts will improve things.

Sixto
87 300D

More than likely the rear guide rod mount if you feel the clunk in the floor. With the car in park, grab a front tire at the 9 and 3 o'clock position and rock the tire forcefully front to rear. As the car starts to move back and forth, look under the car at the rear guide rod mount. If you see it moving in and out.... It is toast.

You CAN NOT tell if it is bad "just by looking" at it.

Here is a thread I put up on this a few years ago.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/248082-guide-rod-mount-fun.html

Both times I've had clunking noises from the front end, it was a lower ball joint on 2 different cars in the last year or two. One of them, every time I'd go over a speed bump, or turn sharp enough to dip a front corner, I'd hear a clunk/bang. The other one (still need to get it worked on one day next week) -- as I rotate the steering wheel, the wheel is noticeably hard to turn and I get a popping noise/feel from the right front, through the floorboard, through the steering wheel, everywhere. That one's so frozen up I think the joint is wallowing out the spindle instead of turning where it's intended to... guess we'll find out how bad that damage is when they get the old one out.

Bustedbenz. Your problem sound exactly what's happening to me. I'm going to check the lower ball joints hopefully this friday.

Could this be what is making the noise? Is this dangerous?

Drove the car a little bit today and didn't notice a peep. Only happens when the car is driven for at least 30mins.

that's the shock mount... it appears fine to me. dirty, but fine.

I vote for guide rod bushings. My car makes a clunk that I can feel in the lower driver's floorboard when I come to a stop, go over uneven terrain or turn the wheel quickly. I have done the test and I the guide rod busing is hot. The boot is torn and I can see the rust, etc. I need to fix this sooner than later. The parts are not very expensive and it seems like a DIY job. I just need the time.