After 6 months and almost every front end suspension part replaced clunk sound GONE!!

[progolfer82]

I bought my car used about 7 months ago and loved it and didn't notice anything wrong. Shortly after I started noticing a mild clunk sound in my front end and this is where my whole life came crashing down on me :( I started researching this issue ( google, yahoo and all the forums) I found A LOT of people with similar problem and was glad I wasn't alone. I started fixing things that people fixed the problem that weren't the most expensive. I fixed sway bar bushing (cheap) and that didn't fix. I then moved on to the sway bar links ( cheap) and that didn't fix. I then moved on to my hub and bearing assembly because it had some play and thought that was it for sure ( semi expensive) and that didn't fix it and my old one was it great shape. I then decided to upgrade my sways to Bwoodys (expensive) and that didn't fix. I then moved on to my tension struts because it seemed like everyone solved there problem replacing these and clunk went away but mine didn't!! BTW: my ball joints were shot ( semi expensive). While doing my tension struts I noticed my tie rods were shot and also replaced ( semi expensive)and didn't fix the problem. At this point I was looking for a cliff to drive my car off of or a charity to donate the car to. ( didn't because felt bad someone would kill themselves over this clunk)

While getting my alignment done the best thing happened to me. I met someone who actually knew what they were talking about and wasnt looking at just taking my $$. He told me I had bad strut mounts and needed a camber kit to fix my alignment. I ordered the strut mounts and the camber kit (upper control arms expensive). While installing my upper control arms and replacing my strut mounts I isolated the creaking sound I was also having and it was from my aftermarket sway bar links. ( I removed and sound was gone and replaced and sound came back).

I replaced the strut mounts (semi expensive) and fixed the clunk and some of my vibration. I also fixed my camber and alignment with the upper control arms and notice the ball joint on the stock upper control arm was way shot! ( expensive) and fixed the problem completely!!!

I have ZERO CLUNK!!!! That's right ZERO CLUNK!!

I just threw a block party for resolving this issue and I'm so happy to have a car to drive that doesnt sound like a cash for clunkers car. (miss my lexus)

I do have 2 problems remaining and are small.
1. still have a creaking sound but its from all new front end parts and Bwoody sways. not a biggie.(fixed got rid of bwoody sways)
2. My new upper control arms are WAY beefier and need to cut a little off the wheel well because it hits when going over bumps. ( will fix tomorrow and not a biggie) (fixed cut out some of the wheel well)

I have taken out almost every part in the front end and can help with almost any sound you are having if you need some. I had a few different clunks and fixed them ALL!!!

Parts repaired:

Sway bar bushings -OEM
Sway bar links-OEM & then upgraded to Bwoody. Removed Bwoody and replaced with Moog. Will be buying RE links soon.
Hub and bearing -aftermarket (forgot brand)
Outer tie rods- aftermarket ( Moog) great
Tension struts- aftermarket ( Mevotech) great
Adjustable upper control arms ( alignment kit) - aftermarket ( Eibach) INCREDIBLE!!!
Strut mounts- OEM

My word of advice from all this is that OEM balljoints are the worse ever!! Dont replace with OEM and buy aftermarket. The upper control arm ball joint and tension strut ball joint were in terrible shape and will cause a very bad clunk!

Please PM if you need any help or post comment and I will be more then happy to answer for the rest.

[richierevs]

Glad that you got the clunk issue resolved.

[formerice]

I tend to agree with you, except at 172,000 + miles I still have most of my stock front end components. I did replace all bushings with Pedders, though only a few actual oem bushings were worn out. A couple ball joints 1 tension strut and 1 upper a arm. Other than rear bushings, everything in the back is original. Oddly my 05 4X4 Ram which goes off road and has the hell knocked out of it has never had a problem at 122,000 mi, my dad's 4x4 GMC with 35,000 babied miles has had to replace about every front end component. I have had Toyota 4x4's that had bad death wobble problems by 75,000 miles also. So it's not just Mopar.

[progolfer82]

true. I think car companies just get the cheap ass ball joints.

I tend to agree with you, except at 172,000 + miles I still have most of my stock front end components. I did replace all bushings with Pedders, though only a few actual oem bushings were worn out. A couple ball joints 1 tension strut and 1 upper a arm. Other than rear bushings, everything in the back is original. Oddly my 05 4X4 Ram which goes off road and has the hell knocked out of it has never had a problem at 122,000 mi, my dad's 4x4 GMC with 35,000 babied miles has had to replace about every front end component. I have had Toyota 4x4's that had bad death wobble problems by 75,000 miles also. So it's not just Mopar.

[Daytona177]

Hey buddy!
Glad to see you fixed your problem. It must come as a great relief. I just wanted to ask you some questions. Thought i would PM but maybe this helps other people.

Do you have any aftermarket sway bars? You seem to allude to BWoody's but when i go on their website i don't see any sway bars.

Are you still using the BWoody sway bar links? I see those are being sold on their website. You say that they creak. Is it really bad? Is it just because you have to lube or grease them or something?? I want aftermarket sway bar end links to complement my aftermarket sway bar and after seeing this post: http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/...ad.php?t=94132 I am leaning to them. Can you please provide more information about your experience with these sway bar end links?

Can you provide a link to the tension struts you bought?

Thanks man,

[progolfer82]

Hey buddy!
Glad to see you fixed your problem. It must come as a great relief. I just wanted to ask you some questions. Thought i would PM but maybe this helps other people.

Do you have any aftermarket sway bars? You seem to allude to BWoody's but when i go on their website i don't see any sway bars.

Are you still using the BWoody sway bar links? I see those are being sold on their website. You say that they creak. Is it really bad? Is it just because you have to lube or grease them or something?? I want aftermarket sway bar end links to complement my aftermarket sway bar and after seeing this post: http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/...ad.php?t=94132 I am leaning to them. Can you please provide more information about your experience with these sway bar end links?

Can you provide a link to the tension struts you bought?

Thanks man,

Thanks! I cant explain how happy I am that my clunk is gone. My wife now talks to me because I'm not talking about my clunk all the time and I'm doing great at work because I'm not thinking about my clunk all day lol

I sold my Bwoody sway bar links because they were the culprit of my creaking sound in my front end. I replaced with Moog links and I'm extremely happy with them. I didnt have luck with them but I know a lot of people who have.

that write up of those bwoody link install is on this forum as well. If you have a very bad clunk its not going to be your sways or bushings but something bigger like your tension strut or upper control arms.

What kind of problem are you having? I'm more then happy to help! Take a look at Stack performance and Razor edge for sway links they make some badass ones!!

[BIG SMOOTH]

Thanks! I cant explain how happy I am that my clunk is gone. My wife now talks to me because I'm not talking about my clunk all the time and I'm doing great at work because I'm not thinking about my clunk all day lol

I sold my Bwoody sway bar links because they were the culprit of my creaking sound in my front end. I replaced with Moog links and I'm extremely happy with them. I didnt have luck with them but I know a lot of people who have.

that write up of those bwoody link install is on this forum as well. If you have a very bad clunk its not going to be your sways or bushings but something bigger like your tension strut or upper control arms.

What kind of problem are you having? I'm more then happy to help! Take a look at Stack performance and Razor edge for sway links they make some badass ones!!

There's a write-up here:

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/...ad.php?t=94132


I've got Hotchkis sways and BWoody end links with oversized Cat 8 washers...not the source of MY old clunk.

Mine was the lower ball joints..I replaced with MOOG K80996

Driving has been awesome again.

[Daytona177]

Hey, thanks for the response. I know what you mean with the suspension troubles weighing down your mind. My suspension has really been on my mind for the past month. I've noticed my trunk rubbing against the bumber. It's worn some of the paint off. Six months ago that wasn't there. Everytime i go over a speed bump the rear of the car sounds like someone hit it.

It's just the cheap ass f*cking parts Dodge put on the car. Monday i'm going in to the dealer and getting the winter tires put on my wheels and while there they can inspect and replace the tie rod ends too and probably resplace them with my aftermarket stuff. Middle of Jan i'm going to do the big ass install of sway bars, struts, shocks, coils, sway end links, and probably going to include upper and lower control arms too. How much do you think they will screw me for?

I get a clunking sound but only when i turn the steering wheel really hard to the left or right like i'm about to do a tight circle. Then it clunks like crazy, but i usually don't make turns like that, if at all. Steering is just really loose. Body roll is just off the charts. I can't live like this i need to do something!! Enough is enough!!

[karfreek]

Thanks! I cant explain how happy I am that my clunk is gone. My wife now talks to me because I'm not talking about my clunk all the time and I'm doing great at work because I'm not thinking about my clunk all day lol

That sounds like me when my busings were bad. It got to the point where my wife would not ride in my car because when it would clunk I would explode. All is good now with the pedders.

Jay

[progolfer82]

It has been over 2 weeks now and still no clunk...knock on wood.

[zero10]

Steering is just really loose. Body roll is just off the charts. I can't live like this i need to do something!! Enough is enough!!

That sounds like me when my busings were bad. It got to the point where my wife would not ride in my car because when it would clunk I would explode. All is good now with the pedders.
Jay

Jay, which bushings, the tension strut ones?
I know the feeling, when I hit a bump and something clunks or rattles I just want to

[cleary524]

clunk!

[BuckeyeRT]

That sounds like me when my busings were bad. It got to the point where my wife would not ride in my car because when it would clunk I would explode. All is good now with the pedders.

Jay

I am there.

[iGeneric]

Hey I bought my magnum back a while back now and for the passed few weeks I have been fixed a few front end pieces and still no luck...I have replaced the ball joints, outer tie-rods and the Steering Coupler for the play in the steering wheel (being the last piece replaced. I still have the clunk in my front end. I have since then taken it into multiple shops to see what is wrong with it. I have been told the struts and the ball joints were bad...Are these two pieces expensive and/or difficult to install yourself? Also, would these be the last of front end parts that could be wrong or are there more yet? Please help and thank you!

[bugsy]

i have a feeling i will just end up buying tie rods, tension struts (for sure those because of the bushings) and sway bar end links, and HOPE thats it