Please help diagnose a steering wheel clunk

[flybry07]

I have a 2000 996 with 48k on it. Regular US suspension and 18" wheels.

For the last few months I have been feeling a light clunk in the steering wheel, when pulling away from and comming to a complete stop. I have put the car up several times and checked the ball joints but nothing seems to stand out.

I have been living with it for a while but now it has progressed to that slight clunking when pulling into or out of driveways slowly whel the wheel is turned ( anything with a lip on it) and now I can feel it on the road even on the highway by swerving back and forth quickly.

It feels most like a slight tap or knock felt through the wheel with no audible noise.

Everything feels tight when I check it ( sway bar links, ball joints etc.) Im not sure what it could be. I can only replicate it while moving and not at a stand still. Any help would be great I'm really scratching my head trying to figure out what to replace first!!

Thanks

[flybry07]

No ideas?

What should I replace first??? Is there a common failing part I can replace that this could be??

I need to make some kind of headway with this!!!

[Loren]

My advice is to take it to an alignment specialist and have him check the front end.

[flybry07]

My advice is to take it to an alignment specialist and have him check the front end.

The car drives perfectly straight. What do you imagine he would be looking for? There must be only a few things in the front end that would produce this type of clunking. Im just trying to narrow it down and hoping to find some good sugestions from what may have worked in the past.

[Loren]

Driving straight does not mean that you don't have a broken or damaged coil springs or shocks.

Could be a loose swaybar too.

And, I have seen plenty of bad ball joints that drive straight (until the joint totally fails).

[flybry07]

Driving straight does not mean that you don't have a broken or damaged coil springs or shocks.

Could be a loose swaybar too.

And, I have seen plenty of bad ball joints that drive straight (until the joint totally fails).

Thanks for the response

What can I check for to help narrow this down? With the front end up in the air where should I be checking for play and whats the best way to do so? Which Ball joints would produce that type of clunk. The foward control arm? the main lower control arm? sway bar drop links?

Edited April 26, 2007 by flybry07

[Loren]

Jeez... there is so much to check.

Shock tower mounts (front trunk).

Lower ball joints - by jacking the front end and then using a bar to lift the wheel while watching the ball joint for play.

Swaybar bushings for wear and tightness.

Cracked or front coil spring that is "out of place".

Press down on each fender and let the car rebound to test the shocks (don't press so hard you dent the fender - I know someone that did that once).