shifting or clanking noise up front

[95se]

A few months ago I noticed that my steering makes a clanking or shifting noise when I turn the steering wheel or go over bumps. Its hard to say what it sounds like but it has gotten worse and almost feels like something is loose, especially on the right front. I did notice that the rubber on the end of my tie-rods are shot but I doubt that would cause it. The steering rack was replaced abt 3 yrs ago with a rebuilt one because the seals had gone out which cost me about $600. So I sure hope this one hasn't gone out.

[AenjukuCar]

Yeah also have a clunk clunk clunk sound when I turn, and it is coming from the front. I also have a slight vibration from the steering wheel at around 65mph and up. The guy that I bought my car off of said that all the blacktop swaps make the clunking sound when turning up front, but I thought that was B.S.??

[citizen]

check/replace, t/c rod bushings, lca bushings. steering rack bushings, upper strut mount, balljoint, that bout it, checking for play, bustedassness. do bushings first cuz they are the cheapest and will improve driving fill, although i wouldn't bother with upraded t/c rod bushings cuz you can just get adjustable t/c rods which are a vast improvement.

[gsracer]

be careful though for a month i had a clunking noise in the right front and i dismissed it as most people do as being a tension rod busing going bad (very common) well anyway when i got under there out of curiosity to look at it the bushing i found that my lower control arm bolt was loose and only hanging on by two or three threads. This was after 3 track days in a month 1 drag strip and several hundered mile and hour runs down the highway. So the moral of the story when there is a suspension noise check everything.

[95se]

I think I have checked all the bolts and I replaced the tension rod bushings about 3 yrs ago with poly/graphite impregnated bushings. Also, the steering rack was replaced with a rebuilt one. Where is the u-joint? I heard those are really expensive. I notice also when I hit the brakes there initially is a clapping noise. I did the z32 brake conversion a year ago and they have never made this noise until recently which was about the same time I noticed this noise when turning the wheel. I only have 77K on a '95 so I don't know why i am having all these problems.

[Flybert]

For the first two posters, steering clunks or vibrations are usually caused by messed up tie rod ball joints. They can also cause a shimmy due to a change in toe. Blown struts can cause that shimmy as well. As for clunks under initial braking, that would be caused by blown TC rod bushings. With all that weight shifting forward, a lot of pressure is sent to those bushings because the TC rod is what maintains your wheels caster (front-back wheel position).

[AenjukuCar]

Flybert:
So just go get me some new tein tension rods and that will take care of it?

If so, then where's a good company to buy them from?

[Projekt_Sil80]

Top strut mount will cause a clunking noise when turning and going over a bump, T/C rods like said will clunk when braking or stopping, just look at all the suspension bushings and see whats worn out or broken, best way instead of buying and buying stuff you don't need

[nismofeind]

ah I had this happening to me twice in the last 2 months. I lowered my ar two months ago and I started to hear a slight clunking noise. Looked at it tonight my coilovers had some how loosed themselves and where clinking back and forth when i turned. I tighted with the spanners and all good now. So jack it up and check it out first before assuming anything.