"clunk" sound when steering sharply

[kerv]

When ever I am driving slow and turning sharply (ie, if I am parking) I hear a clunk sound coming from the front tires... I was wondering what causes this and what I need to get replaced?  Is this an expensive thing to fix and is it absolutely necessary to get fixed right away?  I don't have any spare "repair" cash at the moment and was wondering if this could wait a month or so... not sure.

I think i might need 4 struts and front ball joints.... at least that is what the mechanic said while he was fixing my brakes <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp;Sound like that would fix the prob?

Opinions and prices?

89 s13 fastback
Thanks,

- Kerv

[gunmetals13]

your mechanic is right..... i had the same thing it was my tie rod.. easiest thing to fix besides the air filter....... well easier

[uiuc240]

oh really? &nbsp;damn. &nbsp;i was hoping i could take care of my clunking sound with new LCA bushings. &nbsp;well, i'll just have to get some new tie rod ends and ball joints next month. &nbsp;it's all good.

Eric

[240sxspeedracer1]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (gunmetals13 @ June 10 2002,11:10)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">your mechanic is right..... i had the same thing it was my tie rod.. easiest thing to fix besides the air filter....... well easier</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
really? &nbsp;can u tell us how to do it?
I never tried fixing things from under the car, only from the top of the engine.

[geeaj]

t/c rod bushings and ball joints make a similiar noise too. Changes are if your outer tie rods are shot, the other two items are probably shot too.

[Broadwayblues]

From the PDM Racing website:
One of the most troublesome bushings on the 240SX and 300ZX, this silicone filled "donut-shaped" bushing which is pressed into the Tension Control rod, is one of the first bushings that wears out. When it fails, the viscous filling will leak out, and corrode your front suspension's paint finish, and will cause erratic steering (especially at highway speeds). The front end will also make a "clunk" noise when you make tight turns. Fix the problem with these Whiteline replacement bushings.
OK, while I have not put these in yet, and I have the same problem you do with the 'thunk', I plan to get them soon. It's next on my &nbsp;list of things to get. I just don't do much driving over 70 MPH (speed limit) Just don't go too fast; I have had them out for a couple of months now. I don't think that it's a huge deal unless you have a lead foot.
Here is the link: PDM Suspension (http://www.pdm-racing.com/products/suspensiontc.html)
I hope that helps!

[240 2NR]

Well the easiest way to check wheel bearings is to jack up that corner (if its really bad this will work without jacking it up) and pull on the wheel from the top and push on the bottom, and switch back and forth. &nbsp;The wheel connection should be solid, but if it rocks back and forth or makes a clunking noise, you found the problem. &nbsp;

The tie rod ends are easy to spot and swap. &nbsp;Check if the rubber boot is still intact. &nbsp;If so it's probably still fine. &nbsp;If not it's loosing or lost all of it's grease and corroding, though it would have to be REALLY bad to make much noise in my opinion. &nbsp;It's literally just a ball socket so there isn't much play in it. &nbsp;Mine had a broken boot for 3 months in the middle of winter and there was no compliance in it, nor did it look worn. &nbsp;It was good that I replaced it, but I highly doubt it was a severe risk, unless maybe it sat for weeks outside before being driven so it had time to rust, break free when driven and rust again for a long period of time.

I do kind of agree with Eric (uiuc240) that you could have some badly worn bushings. &nbsp;My old car lost the TC rod bushing after 14 yeas it it made some bad noises when turning and going over bumps, but I know Eric has replaced his TC rod bushings so it's probably one or some of the others or the wheel bearing.