I have a 2007 fiesta zetec s and have noticed that for the past 6 months or so there has been a clunk coming from the front of the car over speed bumps. 

It happens after the bump when the wheels come back down to the level surface. However if I go over a speed bump at an angle so one wheels huts first, the noise doesn't seem to be there. It's only when going straight on at a bump that I have noticed the clunk

I have replaced pretty much everything suspension wise. 

New control arms

Shocks in good condition 

Springs all good

New Top mount and bearings 

New Inner and outer track rods on both sided 

Took it for an alignment yesterday and they couldn't find anything that had any play or was loose, they checked the rack bolts and they are tight. 

Only thing in the front I haven't changed are the anti roll bar bushes

Could these bushes be the problem? 

Cheers for any help 

The bushes can cause problems but not normally a 'clunk'.   Usually a squeak which is easily cured by a spray of silicon grease.

2 hours ago, Bobr said:

The bushes can cause problems but not normally a 'clunk'.   Usually a squeak which is easily cured by a spray of silicon grease.

Ah right, any idea what it could be? It hasn't got worse over the 6 months but something is obviously making noise but everything is tight with no play as far as I and the garage can see

for a couple of quid i'd change the bushes if thats all thats left, and see

 

1 minute ago, Jimpster said:

for a couple of quid i'd change the bushes if thats all thats left, and see

 

Yeah I am thinking about it tbh, the only problem is that it's a bit of a pin to replace as the subframe has to be lowered to get to the bracket bolts for the arb Bush 

Just another thought, my car is lowered on 35mm eibach spring but I'm running standard length drop links. Could this clunk be the drop links hitting there maximum pivot due to them being too long? 

I read this post earlier and was thinking possible drop link wear but since you said that everything had been checked or replaced, I thought you'd have noticed them. However now that you say the suspension has been lowered, then I'd say it's the drop links !!

5 minutes ago, unofix said:

I read this post earlier and was thinking possible drop link wear but since you said that everything had been checked or replaced, I thought you'd have noticed them. However now that you say the suspension has been lowered, then I'd say it's the drop links !!

Yeah I mean, over potholes and uneven roads there is no clunking or anything, it's only when under full compression after a speed bump that it makes a single clunk. I don't think the drop links are worn but rather they are maxing out under full compression and clunking

Just another thought, could it also be the bump stops hitting? Being as its lowered but I still have standard length bump stops? 

Bump stops should be OK. 

Sorry to bump this thread but I'm also chasing down another clunk. When I get in my car after is had been parked for a while, if I move the steering wheel left or right there are a couple of clunk's which feel like they come from the floor. After these 2 clunk's have happened they don't show again untill I leave it parked and come back. 

I have had 2 new top mounts and bearings and track rods and ends replaced but it has made no difference 

Any ideas as I'm stumped? 

Cheers 😁

I seem to have solved the clunking over bumps. I got the front of the car on axle stands and tightened up all the suspension bolts. The steering rack bolt on the drivers side wasn't very tight and easily turned with a ratchet so I tightened that up and it doesn't seem to clunk as much anymore. It's still there slightly but nowhere near as bad. Might get under and tighten it more, access is a bit crap for these bolts as the nut on the back spins. Need a longer spanner to hold the nut while tightening 

On 4/25/2022 at 10:03 AM, Bobr said:

The bushes can cause problems but not normally a 'clunk'.   Usually a squeak which is easily cured by a spray of silicon grease.

I have this issue. Would a person of minimal skill be able to do this or do you need a ramp or something.

On 2/8/2023 at 7:42 PM, country roads said:

I have this issue. Would a person of minimal skill be able to do this or do you need a ramp or something.

Go on my profile and look at my recent guide. You’ll need the exact type of tools that I specify.

If you don’t use those tools (the flex head ratchet and the small 2” socket extension then you won’t get access and you will need to lower the subframe.

 

I wouldn’t advise lowering the subframe as captive nuts spinning is a common thing

DONT use aftermarket bushes. They are way too hard and are almost, if not totally impossible to install 

Engine mount? I had clunking from day one and it took (don’t) Trust Ford Epsom 6 visits over a year to finally get it right after wrongly replacing who knows what to do with the suspension.

New top mount, no more clunking 😀

40 minutes ago, Smartd00d said:

Engine mount? I had clunking from day one and it took (don’t) Trust Ford Epsom 6 visits over a year to finally get it right after wrongly replacing who knows what to do with the suspension.

New top mount, no more clunking 😀

Can confirm that top mounts when broken cause the most annoying clunking noise!

 

55 minutes ago, Smartd00d said:

Engine mount? I had clunking from day one and it took (don’t) Trust Ford Epsom 6 visits over a year to finally get it right after wrongly replacing who knows what to do with the suspension.

New top mount, no more clunking 😀

 

14 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Can confirm that top mounts when broken cause the most annoying clunking noise!

 

Now, did he mean top engine mount, or top suspension mount?  That post was about as clear as Trust Fords diagnosis pathway!