[tareeves2]

First off, I love the site and all the good information I have read on here over the years. This is my first post and i'm in dire need. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix a very annoying clunking noise on the left front end of my 06 Charger R/T. I figured it's time to ask the experts before I spend anymore money and risk the wrath of my wife! The sound is only made at low speeds going over bumps, big and small. When I apply the brake and I go over the bumps it stops. I really don't think it's the break pads rattling but I've replaced inner and outer tie rods, sway bar end links and sway bar bushings, rotors, calipers, pads, and complete strut assemblies on both sides of the front end. I'm running out of options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[Ron380]

Well, rotors, pads and calipers wouldn't have anything to do with it, but you've pretty well covered all the other "possible" suspects.

Best of Luck to you finding the culprit, without spending too much time in the dog house for it.

 

[702RN]

There are numerous guys on here that have encountered and fixed the "infamous front end clunk". Use that term in the search function here on the forum and you will find your answer!

 

[JFotography]

Have you tried the strut tensioner? I am taking mine in next week for it.

 

[electrum]

i have the low speed clunk, almost like a wobble sound also.
i have read posts on here that is the fault of the low quality Mercedes Ball joints.
the prior owner replaced the Ball joints, but he used the same original equipment ones from Dodge which didn't stop the clunk.
i think there are posts in this forum somewhere that say to use Moog Ball joints to fix the clunk..

 

[Silence262]

My '08 R/T is getting new upper control arms & ball joints early next week. Have your mechanic check that on yours.

 

[370 HEMI]

First off, I love the site and all the good information I have read on here over the years. This is my first post and i'm in dire need. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix a very annoying clunking noise on the left front end of my 06 Charger R/T. I figured it's time to ask the experts before I spend anymore money and risk the wrath of my wife! The sound is only made at low speeds going over bumps, big and small. When I apply the brake and I go over the bumps it stops. I really don't think it's the break pads rattling but I've replaced inner and outer tie rods, sway bar end links and sway bar bushings, rotors, calipers, pads, and complete strut assemblies on both sides of the front end. I'm running out of options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

How many miles are on the car?

Regards
Brian

 

[tareeves2]

Ok so to answer a few of the threads...

-Replaced rotors, calipers, and pads just b/c they needed it.
-Around 85k miles on it.
-Strut tensioner/control arms/ball joints/bushings....It's what i'm leaning towards as well, one because it's about the only thing left on the suspension I haven't touched. Second, I as well am reading a lot of info that at this point it's most likely being caused by the ball joints.

With this said, if the lower or even upper control arm is replaced, is an alignment needed if I don't touch the "moveable" suspension parts? I just paid 100 bucks for a four wheel alignment after the tie rod job. Really hate to do it again two months later. Thanks for the responses!

 

[WideBlueEyes]

I had the EXACT same problem on my 09 R/T!

I replaced rotors, pads, upper control arms, lower control arms (strut tensioner), sway bar end links, and sway bar bushings this weekend and mine is completely gone.

I replaced tie rod ends last weekend and it did nothing.

You said you already did end links, brakes and tie rods, so that only leaves upper and lower control arms.

Start with the lower control arms and hope that fixes it, they are way easier to change than uppers.

After seeing how bad my lower control arms were, I believe they were the culprit.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

-Adam

P.S: use a pit man arm puller to pop the lower ball joint rather than a pickle fork, I broke two pickle forks before I bought a pitman arm puller to get mine to pop.


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[WideBlueEyes]

By the way I used all moog replacement parts and will give the part numbers if you like, they are wayyyyyy better and much higher quality and cost the same or less.


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[WideBlueEyes]

I decided just to post the part numbers instead, I'm not saying you can use these part numbers for sure but I'm almost positive they will be the same for you...

Here is a good diagram to use also

Here is the key for the numbers in the picture...

Summit was out of the upper control arms for the passenger side I believe so i got it from Rockauto.com. But the part number for the other side has a 8 instead of a 7 as the last digit.


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[tareeves2]

WideBlueEyes, thanks for all the great info! I've decided the next step is to replace the lower control arms on each side. Might take a whole before I can get to it but I'll be sure to post results once I'm complete. Final question for now, dies the car need a new alignment if only the Connell arms are being changed? Thanks again for all the advice!

 

[Ddaddy]

First off, I love the site and all the good information I have read on here over the years. This is my first post and i'm in dire need. I have spent a lot of time and money trying to fix a very annoying clunking noise on the left front end of my 06 Charger R/T. I figured it's time to ask the experts before I spend anymore money and risk the wrath of my wife! The sound is only made at low speeds going over bumps, big and small. When I apply the brake and I go over the bumps it stops. I really don't think it's the break pads rattling but I've replaced inner and outer tie rods, sway bar end links and sway bar bushings, rotors, calipers, pads, and complete strut assemblies on both sides of the front end. I'm running out of options. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Since I didn't see it mentioned in your post, you might want to check out this thread...

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151800

 

[PlumCrazyDaytona]

Since I didn't see it mentioned in your post, you might want to check out this thread...

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=151800

That's a great link!

 

[WideBlueEyes]

WideBlueEyes, thanks for all the great info! I've decided the next step is to replace the lower control arms on each side. Might take a whole before I can get to it but I'll be sure to post results once I'm complete. Final question for now, dies the car need a new alignment if only the Connell arms are being changed? Thanks again for all the advice!

I'm going to say that you will not need a alignment if you just change lower control arm (aka strut tensioner). But you may want to for peace of mind, I'm getting a alignment.... But I also installed Eibach drop springs...

DDaddy has a very good point about the strut tower brace, i tightened mine before changing parts to make sure that wasn't it, the bolts were loose but that wasn't my clunk.

Every part I took off my car was completely shot, I hope it is your lower control arm, from the limited info you have given, I honestly believe that might fix it. But it's hard for me to say because I did everything at once.

Once it is fixed, you will know it. My car drives like a dream know, tight, responsive, and doesn't flinch at bumps. Before the repairs, I cringed while going over bumps because of the noise and accompanying reverberation I felt throughout the car. It was a tough repair by myself on the floor of my garage, but remember, I rebuilt my entire front end essentially.


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[JFotography]

By the way I used all moog replacement parts and will give the part numbers if you like, they are wayyyyyy better and much higher quality and cost the same or less.


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Part numbers would be great about to do a big overhaul on my 07.

- front end
- timing belt/water pump
- plugs
- possible lifters
- rims and tires
- possibly front and rear Eibach sway bars.

 

[WideBlueEyes]

I posted a screenshot of my summit order with part numbers on it up above but here it is again

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[JFotography]

Perfect thanks. I bet the hat was the issue for the clunk

 

[WideBlueEyes]

Made the whole purchase worth it! Fixed everything, lol. It came free, I didn't order it, haha


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[tareeves2]

Finally Fixed, and Just in time for the Baby Boy!

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay. I finally found time to replace the front forward lower control arms and wouldn't ya know it, clunking gone! After entire strut assembly, sway bar end links, sway bar bushings, inner and outer tie rods, and control arms, the clunk is finally gone and drives great I might add. The wife has done great and is due any day now with our first baby boy. I'm just glad its all fixed before the big day.
The only annoying thing i'm still dealing with (but probably wont fool with anymore) is a squealing sound from my breaks. Every time I break they make a sound like my pads need replacement. I just replaced everything, including rotors, pads, and clips. Took everything apart again to check it out but it all looks fine. Its really weird because every time I break, the squeal comes at different pressures applied to the breaks and different levels of volume, even for the same speed at which i'm breaking. The only think I can think of is the clips are rubbing on the rotor because like I said, everything is new and after driving it a week and taking it back apart and checking it, it all looks fine. If anyone has any ideas they think would help feel free to shoot them my way, other wise.....at least the clunk is gone! haha: grin2: