Front end clunk on braking and right turn - 2 clunks

[TheSheepKed]

Been having this issue with the car since we got the car a couple of months ago but hasn't caused any noticeable issues.
Brought it up with the service team during my last service but they 'could not find any issues' which I found quite hard to believe as I can regularly reproduce the sound.

Basically there is a clunk at the front end when you brake a little too hard. Not emergency braking but pressing the pedal a little harder e.g. at a yellow light where you don't need to come to a screeching halt but need to slow down quickly.
And then it happens when I brake and then turn right. The turning right is when it clunks the loudest and only happens if you're turning and braking simultaneously. If you take the corner without braking, no sound.

I've made this post because today it made a noise louder than I've previously heard. Sounded like either something snapped or got caught and gave way suddenly. It still drove up the driveway but I'm not sure if there are any issues with it as I haven't dared to drive it anywhere else. Can't see any issues when I crawl under the car.


I couldn't find anyone else that had posted an identical problem (few others with various clunks but none described like my issue) so I will also be updating this post in a couple of days after the car goes in for diagnostics. Until then, curious to hear what people think.

[TheSheepKed]

Car drives fine but also noticed that when I turn right, and I go up my drive way, it clunks or 'gives' when my tire goes over the small gutter bump before my driveway. This bump isn't very big but its enough to make the car bob down a bit. So it feels like hitting that bump makes something that is 'stuck', give way and make the noise I am hearing.

[OMEOMAN]

Check the brake caliper bolts

[JamoGLXR]

Check Bash plates mounts and Lower control arm bushes

[shortSteve]

Steering rack knock, common "fault" or character... Someone on pajeroclub was an ex techy and said the spline could be re-lubed or something to stop the knock, caused by body flexing on mounts.

[jack7]

Hi I have the same going on with my MN 2013 sounds very similar to what you have described have changed just about everything in the front end doing my head in.

[ag9111]

Check your upper control arm bolts/ nuts where they attach to the chassis.
Torque them up. You can do it with a couple of 19mm spanners. You don't want them to tight as it crushes the bushes.
This seems to be a big problem with front end clunks, especially if you have had suspension work done.
Mine was clunking and I put nearly a full turn on one of the bolts. Problem solved.

[TheSheepKed]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Will have a look at them.
The sound is incredibly loud though. Sounds and feels like someone has hit the bottom of the car with a hammer. Just wondering if all these issues could possibly cause such a loud clunk/noise.

[coughy]

bash plates and mounting points

[NowForThe5th]

Check your upper control arm bolts/ nuts where they attach to the chassis.
Torque them up. You can do it with a couple of 19mm spanners. You don't want them to tight as it crushes the bushes.
This seems to be a big problem with front end clunks, especially if you have had suspension work done.

Correct, and applies to both UCA and LCA bolts, but torque them up properly with a torque wrench. Overtightening, even just a little bit, can lead to the same clunk.

bash plates and mounting points

Next most likely culprit in my experience. Sometimes it's worth isolating the bash plate a little from the chassis. Adding just a single washer worked in my case.

[Marvin27]

Check your camber bolt mine was loose a quarter turn, tightened it noise gone. Clunking noise was so annoying now all gone. This is the bolt they adjust when doing wheel alignments.

[TheSheepKed]

Got the car back today. For all of those that said or thought control arm, congratulations.
Loose bolt. No idea how or why but it was just loose.
Haven't driven it that much to be able to confirm the sound is gone but the turns that would normally induce a sound have not produced one since.

[lukeyboy2014]

Got same problem with a clunk when off roading after suspension lift . upper control arm just touching upper bump stop. cant see any scrape marks on suspension as it clears control arms trimmed bumb stops noise seems worse like i have no up travel .

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[RHKTriton]

Also might be worth checking the front anti roll bar rubbers.

[lukeyboy2014]

will do thanks the ute is a MR series . only started after i lifted it 2 inchs

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[lukeyboy2014]

will do thanks the ute is a MR series . only started after i lifted it 2 inchs

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turn out to be bull bar flexing on front guard plastic bumper clips

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[RHKTriton]

Good stuff.

Always good to find reason for something.

Have a good New year.