I have a GC coilover kit w/ Koni Yellows and Eibach springs. I've had them on for 6-7 months, along w/ Unobtanium bushings in the front. Just recently, I am experiencing clunking when braking (when the shocks compress) and on the road (seams on the highway or change in surface (small bumps or undulations).

I have had 2 shops (race shops) diagnose it - can't find the source - and they can't be sure because they are not 7 shops. They recommended taking it to a chassis specialist. But befoe I do, can anyone make any suggestions?

I've checked all the nuts and bolts - readjusted the koni settings, checked the brakes (new pads, new rotors). I am out of ideas...

Help...

 

check teh spring seats, and u dont have the helper spring do u? when u jack up teh car does the spring sit loose on teh shock? if it does then you are prolyl hearign teh spring movign around when u hit little bumps and such. this is normal on a setup like yours, though i dont knwo why u never heard the noise before.

 

I've checked to see if the springs were loose.. had the entire car on 4 jack stands. Springs are solid - no freeplay.

 

can u hear if its comming from the left or the right, it could be your motor mount or tranny mount, or even a subrame a little loose. hard to tell, also if you hit some huge pothole the frame could have split along one of the welds. just an idea...

 

place the car in gear and rocked back and forth to see if the was clunking from the tranny - shop said no.

Where are the engine mounts located? Are they visible?

 

u have to go under teh car and look for them

 

An interesting note: I could not duplicate the clunk in reverse - even at a "high" speed, then slamming on the brakes - only forward...

 

oh it could also be your brake caliper/s

 

Check ALL the nuts on the shock tower, including the one for the shock. You will get the Cluncking sould if the center nut is not torqued properly.

By the way, do you have camber plates. If so, you might have bearing wear. It makes that sould only during load. It moves around.

 

I checked all 3 bolts up top - all tight. There's a little play on the ones in the middle... should those 2 bolts in the center be real tight?

 

I checked all 3 bolts up top - all tight. There's a little play on the ones in the middle... should those 2 bolts in the center be real tight?

 

the middle bolts u are talkign about are for the shock bushing, they are not supposed to be all that tight...because in order for teh bushing to work properly it must have some play in the rubber.

 

I'm experiencing the same thing as you, except mine is coming from the rear. Everytime I brake the rear makes a big clunk and this clunk only happens at speeds of 5-15 mph, any higher speeds it won't clunk. I believe it the control arm bushings. Oh year you have the obtanuim bushings.

 

I had a similar noise on another car. It turned out to be a loose caliper bolt.

 

I am gonna recheck my brakes... just to make it's not my calipers.

In case it is the ball joints, I already called Malloy Mazda for a price - list per side is $478 per side - cost is $373! OUCH!

You have to buy the entire control arm if you need the ball joints replaced...

I'm gonna need a second job soon...