Ever so often when making turns and even when finishing a turn the front suspension will pop while driving. I wanted to check this so, I raised the front end of the car with a floor jack. While I was raising the front end and while the wheels had not yet cleared the ground, both the left and right wheels had a popping sound. I checked everything including the wheel bearings. Everything appears tight and I have moved everthing I could by hand but the problem still continues. I did notice that the tie rods will need to be replaced because the boots are deteriorating, but I did shake and move the tie rod ends and they appear tight. Any ideas?

What year & model car? How many miles?

The car is a 1982 240D with 106,000 miles.

Two things come to mind.
1. Springs and spring seats.
2. Ball joints.
Have it checked by a front end shop..

------------------
Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

What kind of shape are the upper control arm bushings in? They are located at the inside end of the arm, about 5"?? from the upper shock mount. To check if they are bad, put the floor jack under the lower control arm, right under the spring and raise the car. Then you can tug on the top and bottom of the wheel and watch for any play and listen for any clunking sounds.

I own a 1996 Plymouth Voyager .....
Having the same issues with the popping (clunk) noise.

My struts were recently replaced and a front end alignment performed. The techs also heard the noise and said they checked everything under the front end but could not find anything loose.

HOWEVER! ..
I believe it is my sway bar bushings ...
Not so much the ones at each strut, but the one's bolted to the bottom of the frame of the car. The clunk/pop I am having is one being transmitted from underneath the car's frame to the struts.

CAUTION: Be Safe Doing This Step:
Try driving slowly down a street and steer "left to right" hard and see if you can hear the clunk or pop noise each time you make the turn.

I have not had time to crawl under my car to check on them, however, I do plan on doing it this weekend if weather permits.

That works even better if you ride on the hood while someone else drives so you can listen better....




Thats a joke...please don't go out and do it....

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

LOL! ... or best yet ... Do like I've seen on TV ...
Strap themselves to a creeper under the vehicle while it is moving to troubleshoot the problem.

I concur with the joke .. HE HE!