Clunking in the front - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ZL1 TIBS · 01-16-2017, 10:01 AM

I have had a clunking in the right front suspension for a few months now. When I tried to pinpoint it back in October, I couldn't find anything loose and couldn't reproduce the sound in the driveway. It has been getting worse since then and yesterday, my buddy helped me isolate the source. While pushing down on the fender, if you put your hand on the strut mount, you can feel it click and if you put your finger between the strut tower and the strut cover, you can feel it move slightly. I looked on Rock Auto and they sell a strut mount and bearing for less than $50. Before I tear into it though, I want to see if anyone else has had the issue and if the strut mount fixed it.
If anyone else has changed this part, what are the tips and tricks to make it easier?

Vroom · 01-17-2017, 02:43 AM

I had my right strut making a clunking noise. Specially over bumps and turning. There was nothing loose external to the strut. Best we figure is the fluid leaked out and that caused the strut to overheat breaking some seal or whatever inside which allowed play inside the strut.

Anyways, I replaced the strut and its all better. I replaced both my fronts at the same time and aligned. ~$1500 professionally installed.

Not sure that helps.

ZL1 TIBS · 01-17-2017, 07:53 AM

I am hoping it is just the strut mount, but your situation could also explain mine. I hope not as struts are pretty expensive.
I read a thread on here where the early Gen 5's had a lot of clunking issues, but that they resolved it with a design change.

nighttowl · 01-17-2017, 11:37 PM

My right front makes noise as well.

BEECHFRONT · 01-18-2017, 06:32 AM

My right front also makes a clunking noise.

ZL1 TIBS · 01-18-2017, 08:25 AM

Well at least I am not the only one. Other than Vroom, have any of you made plans to try to fix it? Rock Auto has the struts for $350 and $370 respectively which isn't too bad considering these are magnetic struts. I just don't want to put out that much coin if it isn't the problem. I guess I need to pull the tire and really inspect the strut and look for signs of leakage.

Vroom · 01-19-2017, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZL1 TIBS

Well at least I am not the only one. Other than Vroom, have any of you made plans to try to fix it? Rock Auto has the struts for $350 and $370 respectively which isn't too bad considering these are magnetic struts. I just don't want to put out that much coin if it isn't the problem. I guess I need to pull the tire and really inspect the strut and look for signs of leakage.

Surprisingly, there wasn't any real fluid to speak of. There was a liquid on the ground under the wheel at one point, but it dried and so I didn't think it was the strut. When we were diagnosing it, when it was up on a lift, you could hang on it, the sway bar, wiggle the wheel, etc and nothing would budge. It was when we put it back down and the wheel took the weight that it made the clunk indicating it was inside the strut itself. One of the indicators to low fluid that I saw was bottoming out when going over a speed bump. The same bump doesn't bottom out with the new struts now.

Good luck

ZL1 TIBS · 01-19-2017, 08:00 AM

Thanks Vroom, it definitely seems to be getting worse and unfortunately, I won't have a chance to really inspect it for at least two weeks.

01-16-2017, 10:01 AM	#1
ZL1 TIBS Drives: 1968 Camaro, 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Aston, PA Posts: 398	Clunking in the front I have had a clunking in the right front suspension for a few months now. When I tried to pinpoint it back in October, I couldn't find anything loose and couldn't reproduce the sound in the driveway. It has been getting worse since then and yesterday, my buddy helped me isolate the source. While pushing down on the fender, if you put your hand on the strut mount, you can feel it click and if you put your finger between the strut tower and the strut cover, you can feel it move slightly. I looked on Rock Auto and they sell a strut mount and bearing for less than $50. Before I tear into it though, I want to see if anyone else has had the issue and if the strut mount fixed it. If anyone else has changed this part, what are the tips and tricks to make it easier?

01-17-2017, 02:43 AM	#2
Vroom Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 325	I had my right strut making a clunking noise. Specially over bumps and turning. There was nothing loose external to the strut. Best we figure is the fluid leaked out and that caused the strut to overheat breaking some seal or whatever inside which allowed play inside the strut. Anyways, I replaced the strut and its all better. I replaced both my fronts at the same time and aligned. ~$1500 professionally installed. Not sure that helps. __________________ 2013 Victory Red ZL1 - 210K+ miles. Mods: Who needs mods...its a freaking ZL1 - Last car: 2006 GTO

01-17-2017, 11:37 PM	#4
nighttowl Sarcasm loading -------- Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TX Posts: 1,907 View My Garage	My right front makes noise as well. __________________ "The salesman actually told me to stop getting it sideways during the test drive" 2018 MBM ZL1 1LE - 652 rwhp, 588 rwtq SAE 2014 CRT ZL1 574 rwhp, 537 rwtq - SOLD 2010 IBM SS Camaro VVT L99 w/ TR6060 swap, 489 rwhp, 444 rwtq - SOLD

01-17-2017, 07:53 AM	#3
ZL1 TIBS Drives: 1968 Camaro, 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Aston, PA Posts: 398	I am hoping it is just the strut mount, but your situation could also explain mine. I hope not as struts are pretty expensive. I read a thread on here where the early Gen 5's had a lot of clunking issues, but that they resolved it with a design change.

01-18-2017, 06:32 AM	#5
BEECHFRONT Drives: 2013-ZL1, 69-Z28, 71-CHEVELLE SS Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: South Jersey Posts: 268	My right front also makes a clunking noise.

01-18-2017, 08:25 AM	#6
ZL1 TIBS Drives: 1968 Camaro, 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Aston, PA Posts: 398	Well at least I am not the only one. Other than Vroom, have any of you made plans to try to fix it? Rock Auto has the struts for $350 and $370 respectively which isn't too bad considering these are magnetic struts. I just don't want to put out that much coin if it isn't the problem. I guess I need to pull the tire and really inspect the strut and look for signs of leakage.

01-19-2017, 08:00 AM	#8
ZL1 TIBS Drives: 1968 Camaro, 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Aston, PA Posts: 398	Thanks Vroom, it definitely seems to be getting worse and unfortunately, I won't have a chance to really inspect it for at least two weeks.