Thanks so much for this video. Have the same exact clunk on my Ion, was getting ready to order struts. Checked with the wheels on the ground, and theres freeplay even still!!! working on getting a new set.
Thank you man you have been more helpful by showing the problem and the s sound because most people just try to have you troubleshoot and they don't even know what this sound is
YES...it happens at such random times....I was parked and car running...turned the wheel a bit accidentally and it was loud . I couldn't get it to make the sound by turning etc.. weird. Time to bring her in... lol It sounded like coming in the steering column. Just bought new tires and had it aligned.. You are good.
Yes. I found the same problem and solved it with Moog urethane bushings. Now BE AWARE, there are several (3 I believe) sizes of sway bars. BE SURE you get the correct size by measuring yours. It's really not a hard job. I could have used an extra elbow joint between my wrist and my elbow.
What do you measure the width of the bar? I’ve replaced almost everything on my front end except this. Guy at part store told me I need to know what bushing it is cause there’s different sizes..
@@BrokenFox9 I measured it with a caliper. Now since the sway bar is measured in mm and my caliper is not metric, I had to do some conversion. I have a 20 mm bar. There is an 18 and a 22/23 mm bar too. Once you get your measurement in inches (thousandths) simply convert it. A 20mm bar will be .787. An 18 mm bar will be .708 and so on. Make sure where you're measuring is clean.
@@alanschwartz1157 ok cool thank you. Just spent over 450$ on struts and sway bar links and cars still clunkin.. these bushings are only about 8$ a piece and at this point it’s either these bushings or the entire control needs to be changed. I got a 2004 ion 2 just base model so I’m not really sure what size mm bushings mine are for the sway bar. Appreciate the help thankx
Sweet I finally got it.. took a hour to get that passenger bolt outta the bracket for the bushing but I took car out for drive, did both bushings and presto! Quite again, no rattling no noises no nothing.. 16$ part, that hopefully I never have to change again!
@@BrokenFox9 Don't fret. Yes, you will. It's a bad design by GM. My car is on its 3rd set. The first two were GM replacements and the last set is Moog. It again clunks like a bitch. Like I said, both control arms (drivers side twice) (DO NOT buy O'Reilly....Garbage! The rear bushing/mount literally DISINTEGRATED FROM NEW). New struts (Gabriel) and lower control arms and sway bar links are Moog. WHY OH WHY did GM make such a screw-up? I even popped for the top-of-the-line GREASABLE links. I've had the front end apart so many times, I've got it down to about 3 hours to do BOTH sides for EVERYTHING. I'm SICK of it. The car is going bye-bye. Got a new Subaru Forester on order.
awesome, did everything in your video...was the sway bar bushings....20 bucks...only thing is that there are a few different sizes...I took one off and took it to AutoZone...so you can compare and find the right diameter...mine is an 06 ion , the bushing was a 20 mil..thanks for the video...no more annoying clunking
I have the same problem too I checked and everything seems fine I know I need new struts too but I really like your video and not only is it annoying it can be embarrassing cuz if I could hear it everybody could hear it
This sounds just like my issue. Clunking like crazy in my 1999 Explorer. It seems to NOT do it when I am going around a left hand curve in the road. But the same degree curve, but a right hand, it clunks. Take it home and I bounce it, rock it, and nothing. Just some squeaking from some bushings, but no clunk. Immediately drive around my driveway and going over small bumps and it clunks haha. I will probably give it a try this weekend.
Did you have to remove the sway bar to install the new bushings? According the the chilton manual you have to remove the steering gear and stabilizer bar! There must be a way to replace the bushings without doing all that.
Dude my Ion makes that noise too. Thanks for the video. Also do you ever sit in a car and hear like a knocking noise coming from the trunk even though there's nothing back there you're not moving?
I have a 2004 Saturn Ion with front end clunking noise as well. So far I replaced steering shaft, wheel bearings, and one control arm/ball joint assembly(getting second one done next week) I figured with all that being fixed it should atleast sound a little better over bumps but I'm still hearing it on Both sides....I suppose I'll have to wait till I get second one on to really know if it's fixed but I was wondering if I'll end up needing my sway bar done too? Just thinking maybe I should have them do it at same time. After watching this though now I have something else they can look at.
You shouldnt just replace parts hoping it will fix a noise/problem. You need to get under the car while someone moved the steering wheel to see where the noise is coming from. It gets real expensive to fire up the parts cannin and hope for the best
@@Equinox866 all those parts needed to be replaced anyways, I was just hoping it would fix the noise in the process. Like I said, it was a 2004 so plenty of wear and tear on those parts. I'm not going to replace perfectly good parts lol I had multiple garages and a couple family friend mechanics try to help me diagnose the sound problem but with needing those parts replaced it was hard to pin point exactly what was causing the noise since anyone of those issues could have been causing/contributing to it. Ended up having to junk the stupid thing anyways after dumping all that money into it cuz the engine went 😕 but I'm happily in a better running car now!!
Please help me I have the same problem just started happening to my 2006 Saturn ion 2.2 and now my engine is sputtering and I hear a squeaky noise when braking
So those got changed. Same with calibers brakes control arm all bushings were changed. Spring changed to. All It's been replaced yet it still clunks. What else could it be?
@@enniosavini6591 I replaced my front sway bar links in the front of my Saturn aura because of those sounds. If you go over a speed bump side ways and it cracks then I would guess sway bar links
I got a blue Saturn ion 2006 in mind sound like a truck, can you tell me what's wrong with it? It almost seems like the engine about to come out of it.
just ordered shocks and struts but im thinking its this bushing now because you nailed it..thank you good sir.
Thanks so much for this video. Have the same exact clunk on my Ion, was getting ready to order struts. Checked with the wheels on the ground, and theres freeplay even still!!! working on getting a new set.
Thank you man you have been more helpful by showing the problem and the s sound because most people just try to have you troubleshoot and they don't even know what this sound is
Fun fact, my sway bar snapped and the bushing is holding it in place. Leave it up to GM to mess stuff up haha. Video helped alot thanks
YES...it happens at such random times....I was parked and car running...turned the wheel a bit accidentally and it was loud . I couldn't get it to make the sound by turning etc.. weird. Time to bring her in... lol
It sounded like coming in the steering column. Just bought new tires and had it aligned..
You are good.
This is exactly the same clunking sound I hear on my ION 05. Thank you this video helped me a lot.
Yes. I found the same problem and solved it with Moog urethane bushings. Now BE AWARE, there are several (3 I believe) sizes of sway bars. BE SURE you get the correct size by measuring yours. It's really not a hard job. I could have used an extra elbow joint between my wrist and my elbow.
What do you measure the width of the bar? I’ve replaced almost everything on my front end except this. Guy at part store told me I need to know what bushing it is cause there’s different sizes..
@@BrokenFox9 I measured it with a caliper. Now since the sway bar is measured in mm and my caliper is not metric, I had to do some conversion. I have a 20 mm bar. There is an 18 and a 22/23 mm bar too. Once you get your measurement in inches (thousandths) simply convert it. A 20mm bar will be .787. An 18 mm bar will be .708 and so on. Make sure where you're measuring is clean.
@@alanschwartz1157 ok cool thank you. Just spent over 450$ on struts and sway bar links and cars still clunkin.. these bushings are only about 8$ a piece and at this point it’s either these bushings or the entire control needs to be changed. I got a 2004 ion 2 just base model so I’m not really sure what size mm bushings mine are for the sway bar. Appreciate the help thankx
Sweet I finally got it.. took a hour to get that passenger bolt outta the bracket for the bushing but I took car out for drive, did both bushings and presto! Quite again, no rattling no noises no nothing.. 16$ part, that hopefully I never have to change again!
@@BrokenFox9 Don't fret. Yes, you will. It's a bad design by GM. My car is on its 3rd set. The first two were GM replacements and the last set is Moog. It again clunks like a bitch. Like I said, both control arms (drivers side twice) (DO NOT buy O'Reilly....Garbage! The rear bushing/mount literally DISINTEGRATED FROM NEW). New struts (Gabriel) and lower control arms and sway bar links are Moog. WHY OH WHY did GM make such a screw-up? I even popped for the top-of-the-line GREASABLE links. I've had the front end apart so many times, I've got it down to about 3 hours to do BOTH sides for EVERYTHING. I'm SICK of it. The car is going bye-bye. Got a new Subaru Forester on order.
awesome, did everything in your video...was the sway bar bushings....20 bucks...only thing is that there are a few different sizes...I took one off and took it to AutoZone...so you can compare and find the right diameter...mine is an 06 ion , the bushing was a 20 mil..thanks for the video...no more annoying clunking
Great video just bought an 03 ion with bad front end clunk figure that's what it is I'll try this tommorow
Just so everyone knows this video is spot on!
I have the same problem too I checked and everything seems fine I know I need new struts too but I really like your video and not only is it annoying it can be embarrassing cuz if I could hear it everybody could hear it
Thank you. That's exactly the sound it makes!
your my number 1 buddy I have had this same problem and couldn't find it wit hthe car on the jacks I'm going to check this now thanks
This sounds just like my issue. Clunking like crazy in my 1999 Explorer. It seems to NOT do it when I am going around a left hand curve in the road. But the same degree curve, but a right hand, it clunks. Take it home and I bounce it, rock it, and nothing. Just some squeaking from some bushings, but no clunk. Immediately drive around my driveway and going over small bumps and it clunks haha.
I will probably give it a try this weekend.
Your video is exceptional on Saturn
Because not many Videos are on Saturn maintenance"
Enjoy your expertise, because I own a Saturn....
Think I have this problem with my Vue. Definitely will look into. THANKS!
Thanks I'll check this out. Did you do a video repairing this?
Really great job on the video, going to try this fix this week. Very much appreciate it!
What about lower engine mounts and transmission mounts
Wheres part 2?
I like to see process replacing the bushings in the tight spot.
Is this the control arms? Or do you have any others about 04 ions? I'm trying to bring her help 😂. You're greatly appreciated 🙏
Did you have to remove the sway bar to install the new bushings? According the the chilton manual you have to remove the steering gear and stabilizer bar! There must be a way to replace the bushings without doing all that.
Thanks for the advice! I have an 08 Vue Xe that is making that exact noise!
Dude my Ion makes that noise too. Thanks for the video. Also do you ever sit in a car and hear like a knocking noise coming from the trunk even though there's nothing back there you're not moving?
I hv an 06 ion and I hear that too. It's always 3 "knocking" sounds, whether it's parked or driving. Still hvnt figured out what it is. 😂
Absolutely good,great video.Thank you very much.
What size bushings are they for a 2.2 with FE1 suspension? I’m seeing listings from 18 to 24mm. I ordered 18 and 20mm cause I wasn’t sure?
Good help bro!
My car has a bad strut on the driver's side. Though I have noticed clunking when I go over bumps too, so I'll check into this
Will this cause vibrations while driving? As I accelerate it starts vibrating like something is rubbing
FYI.....the metal bracket for the Ion is discontinued, but the part for the cobalt is identical, & available.
Saturn's are rattle traps. I've replaced so many parts for nothing, I can't find anything that stops it. A strut mount causes that too.
I had a loose front brake caliper was what i missed about the rattle. so far its quieted down.
Strut mount is what I was thinking too, but I'll check this guy's solution as well.
Good video pretty helpful man
rule #1- replace the cheapest culprit. sway bar bushings 😅
Hm i will look into this! Thank u good sir
Thank You Sir , pain in the ass 2000 SL2 Def Worth the watch
Thank you for sharing, excellent
Thank you so much, you are a lifesaver.
Thanks!
Thank you
I have a 2004 Saturn Ion with front end clunking noise as well. So far I replaced steering shaft, wheel bearings, and one control arm/ball joint assembly(getting second one done next week) I figured with all that being fixed it should atleast sound a little better over bumps but I'm still hearing it on Both sides....I suppose I'll have to wait till I get second one on to really know if it's fixed but I was wondering if I'll end up needing my sway bar done too? Just thinking maybe I should have them do it at same time. After watching this though now I have something else they can look at.
You shouldnt just replace parts hoping it will fix a noise/problem. You need to get under the car while someone moved the steering wheel to see where the noise is coming from. It gets real expensive to fire up the parts cannin and hope for the best
@@Equinox866 all those parts needed to be replaced anyways, I was just hoping it would fix the noise in the process. Like I said, it was a 2004 so plenty of wear and tear on those parts. I'm not going to replace perfectly good parts lol I had multiple garages and a couple family friend mechanics try to help me diagnose the sound problem but with needing those parts replaced it was hard to pin point exactly what was causing the noise since anyone of those issues could have been causing/contributing to it. Ended up having to junk the stupid thing anyways after dumping all that money into it cuz the engine went 😕 but I'm happily in a better running car now!!
Please help me I have the same problem just started happening to my 2006 Saturn ion 2.2 and now my engine is sputtering and I hear a squeaky noise when braking
I have an 2006 Saturn my self an Love it.
Could this also cause my steering wheel to rattle?
So those got changed. Same with calibers brakes control arm all bushings were changed. Spring changed to. All It's been replaced yet it still clunks. What else could it be?
you definitely got to the Bottom of it! Thx !
Can't back to the save video. We fixed it. Bolts had to be lock tighter.
2008 vue redline, cluncking rattling noise on the passenger side driving me crazy will look at it to see if that is the problem
Probably the timing chain lol
Not likely, it only happens on bumps or when it cold in the morning, is got to be sway arm link bushings
@@enniosavini6591 I replaced my front sway bar links in the front of my Saturn aura because of those sounds. If you go over a speed bump side ways and it cracks then I would guess sway bar links
What about clunking in the rear end
It was the control arm on mine
I got a blue Saturn ion 2006 in mind sound like a truck, can you tell me what's wrong with it? It almost seems like the engine about to come out of it.
Mustafa Yusuf Ali upload a video of it and I’ll watch it
Thank u
How to move the dashboard back to mile
Would you happen to remember the torque for the mounts?
NinjaPooop I do not
If your bushings are bad end links are probably shot too
but you did NOT show HOW to actually replace it :(
I Ben here Dad 2022
Why does everyone look at the issue the whole video but don't fix it and show smh....
So why didnt u show it being replaced ??
1keykneedeep I just hadn’t gotten the part yet and forgot about it when I did it
You are blocing everything with your light
Oh it was also the control arm. Such a junk car 😂
Thank you sooooo much!!!! This sound was driving me nuts too!