Mysterious Front End Clunk 2005-2014 Ford Mustang (S197) How to Diagnose.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.พ. 2022
- I've owned two of these cars for quite some time and have been through the frustration of trying to find the source of various front end noses more than once! This video will show you every possible cause and how to repair!
LMR swaybar sizing guide:
lmr.com/products/Mustang-Sway... - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
This should be a must watch video for all s197 Mustang owners! Thanks and great job!
You’re welcome! Cheers
Answered all of my questions, and gave me the most logical roadmap. Thanks👍🏾
Man’s is out here diagnosing and thoroughly addressing issues in depth while in a garage that looks about as warm as a walk in beer fridge in krogers. Mad respect.
There is nothing more frustrating than clunks and rattles imo when you are pushing the vehicle physically. Especially if you have a manual transmission. Most of the time I am listening for revs, and other haptic feedback
from the wheels, suspension, braking and steering, like I imagine most sport minded drivers, “connect” to their vehicles in critical situations. Knowing your car and Listening for mechanical signs of trouble can save your life, and warn you to back off before a failure occurs. Great vid, totally useful information
Damn!!! What a informative video on the S197. Anyone buying a S197 needs to watch this video. Thanks!!
Great video! Loose lumber is a great description. I thought it sounded like dropping a pool cue. Glad that’s an easy fix.
Excellent! Thanks for the torque specs too!
You’re welcome! Cheers
Thankyou,nice condensed and organized run down.
This is by far the best video I have watched. Please do one for the rear.
Awesome video! Thank you, that noise has been driving me nuts!
Excellent information! I found that my inner fender liners need some fasteners replaced. I also found the K member fasteners, radiator bracket fasteners, and front sway bar bracket nuts all needed to be re-torqued.
very nice and through front end troubleshooting video.
You saved my life with this video, very good job :)
Great video! Keep the 3v content going!
I wanted to say thanks for the video. I have a 2015 mustang and the noise was the swaybar. I just change the hole thing plus bushing and links. Thank you man you help me alot.
how much was all that?
Great video. Sway bar bushings was my issue. Easy fix. Just make sure you get both front wheels off the ground when replacing any sway bar end links or bushings. Otherwise its not an easy job!
Thanks, followed you advice, cured my noise Problem, Thank You!
What was the issue ?
@@cristiansolis2688 most of the pins that hold the inner fenders in place were gone, also the sway bar bushings were bad, replaced the pins and bushings, no more noise
This is tremendous! Thank you!
I’m Checking all that out tomorrow!!! 🤣. Thanks. Great video!!!
Great explanation! Thank you
Excellent video on a solid sports car. And then there's those blue eyes on those white eye balls. Kidding. Thank you. Really good video...
Thank your sir, great info and details!
You’re welcome!
Good video I’m gonna tackle this in the coming weeks
Thanks, great video. I was the original poster on the forum about the thunk noise, which ended up being a sway bar link- the looseness was only a thread's worth, but sounded like a drum under the hood... I still have the car and it's noisy now, but at 265k on original struts, I'm guessing it's probably time for new ones!
Yeah! It really doesn’t take much play to make a ton of noise. Just curious did you do the bushings too? If not I bet it’s those making your current noise. I’d take the sway bar off to rule it out before swapping struts. Then again new struts are nice if you’re high mileage anyway.
Fantastic video brother
Awesome!! I’ve got a 2010 GT & getting at these. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Beauty. Keep ‘em alive 🤘🏼
Excellent job. I agree eith chargeron
All s197 should watch
Great video. Ended up being Sway Bar Bushings on mine. Didn't really look bad until I actually took them out and they fell apart in my hand
Yeah man they’re sneaky they look fine till you take them out haha.
Thanks for the video I own a 12 S197. 117,000 miles. Annoying clunk just as it's moving, ended up being front sway bar bushings worn and loose, strut mounts. Your video helped as I just disconnected sway bar, noticed some sound was gone but 100% found one bad strut mount. Thanks again
Glad to hear! I love to see these being kept on the road 🤘🏼
Thanks for a great video to help me zero in on that dang clunking!
You’re welcome. Good luck!
Good video, this car usually has problem with rear suspension .
I instaled gt500 front LCA's and strut mounts, new struts and shocks (KYB), new endlinks from PROFORGED, refreshed all bushings (Pannhard, SWAY-bars). Instaled rear LCA from BMR-poly and new bushings in the third link (UCA). I changed everything besides tie-rods. And this MF-thing continue this thumping noise at washboard roads.
LMAOOOO
--h-hh-h
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H----h&--h---h-h-
Mine as well. Changed the whole system pretty much. Still clunking. Drives you nuts.
Great video.
Great video.! Subscribed
Thank you I found and fix the problem you’re beautiful! I have an 09
Great Video
Just subscribed thanks a lot man 👍🏽
You’re welcome. Cheers!
Your a life savor
Glad I found this video. 07 mustang gt that has never been off road that I took into a local Ford dealer service department with less than 65000 miles on it, and they wanted to replace everything underneath! Front to back! 3300 dollars out the door! Obviously I had a few words. Long story short, car was in a tornado. Broken glass, scratches, dents, and a roof caved in by a dumpster but less than 50000 miles on it! I repaired all of it. Glass, mirrors, roof, and it runs great! But looks as though it had been driven through a barbed wire fence! I think that may be what they thought had happened to it by looking at it, hence the 3300 quote. I believe after watching this video and before checking it, the passenger side stabilizer end link might be the issue. I'll know when I check it but I'll bet that's the problem.
Sounds like you’ve got quite the project on your hands. Let us know what it was!
@@bpifitness7406
You can count on it! I'm sure the struts and shocks are due but I'm betting tie rods and rear trailing arms are fine. Stabilizer end links may be all it needs but I'll know more when I inspect it myself. Shouldn't be too difficult to do. Definitely not 3300 dollars worth for sure! Shocks and struts are around 250 to three hundred for them all and the end links are less than 40 bucks for two. I'll know soon though.
This is on point. I have an 06 V6 stang and I'm hunting down this clunk right now!
Good luck! Let us know what it was😁
Same dude , I always thought I just had old control arms , clunk noise comes from when I turn , haven’t seen the video so hopefully I’ll find out
@@anthonyoceanic9318 if you hear knocking while shaking the steering wheel back and fourth probably just play in the tie rod ends. Either that or loose control arm bolts. I’d also listen close near the wheel while someone turns the wheels and you can hear if the noise is coming from the spring. That means your strut mount bearings are sticking. Hope the vid helps!
@@bpifitness7406 I recently (6 months ago?) completely redid all suspension components... but I used cheap FCS brand struts. I also think my sway bar bushings are slightly larger than they need to be... my sway bar is a weird size maybe? Hard to hunt down info on it, because 34mm seems too big and 32 is too small....
@@AMSOfficial79 yours is an 06 right? I actually used to have an 06 v6. Is it the “pony package” trim level? If so it should definitely be 34mm. What all did you replace?
Never clicked on a video so fast. Have never been able to figure out the noise since I got the car but it drives me crazy
Let us know what it ended up being!
Safe to say you don't know shit about cars 🤣🤦no worries. It comes with experience with owning vehicles and working on cars. I started working on my own cars like 2 years ago to save to money and know I can identify issues by sounds and visual. TH-cam helped me out too
@@TreyGoose aww tough lil trey in the TH-cam comments, wonder how I can work on my 67, 65 & 06 mustang by “not knowing shit” even though here you are in the same comment section? Two years must be enough for you but god forbid the rest of us that click on a video to see if we see anything new to keep in mind
@@TreyGoose Please teach us! I just got my first screwdriver set😂
Great video
Thanks
You’re welcome!
Great video. I'm chasing a clunk/click at low speed brake applications when reversing on my '08, so this is going to be a huge help.
Hm. Sounds unique! Hope it helps
I have the same issue, can’t figure it
Out. Did you end up fixing it?
My money is on the Ball joints...
@@geofferymaxmax that's normal. the pads have springs holding them forward because 99 percent of your braking is going forward.nwhen you reverse and hit the brake it pushes the pad backward against the spring clips. then when you go forward again the pads move back inti the forward position
i have a similar problem but ony when turning and braking the car, going forward nor reverse.
Great video damn
Thank you for the video , it’s appreciated my friend . I’ve got some shake from the front right passenger side , when I’m reaching 70mphs. and the rear drivers side tire is all greasy . Trying to find out exactly what’s happening.
A shake is usually just a tire out of balance. Maybe you just lost a balancing weight? Good luck hunting down that leak though!
i have this problem with my 2014 convertable left front. i’ve checked the lugs and i have to change the longitudinal braces anywho so i’ll be under it. I’ll be following this video step by step. TY!!
Good luck!
Great video, now do one for mystery noises coming from the back:)
Haha good idea. I surprisingly have never had any! I’ve heard of noise coming from the upper control arm though.
The noise turned out to be a loose nut on the adjustable pan-hard bar. I also replaced the wimpy stock stabilizer bar links and lower control arms along with the rubber spring isolators while I was back there.
She is quiet now:)@@bpifitness7406
I have a 2005 that I made into a Tesla powered rocket and you talk about hunting noises. With no engine noise all the S197 noises come out like the boogey man at night. After a month of hunting and fixing I finally got it quiet except for one little squeak that happens in the back which I can not find yet.
Wow I watched your videos. Very cool. I can only imagine what that car sounded like at first without an engine haha.
I have that noise on my 2010, I replace the shocks with the base but still doing it, with your video I think are the sway bar bushings
I’d take the sway bar off and take it for a drive. If it’s gone, you know it’s either the end links or the bushings where it’s held to the body. Good luck!
I had a front end clunk on mine for a while, I kinda said wtvr it's not a big deal, until one day I was on the highway and had a VIOLENT death wobble. I literally couldn't hold on to the wheel hard enough and i went into the lane beside me involuntary (thankfully no one was beside me). After pulling over and checking my pants I babied it home taking small streets since I wasn't far away, lifted the front end and saw one of my front end control arm bolts had completely come off. Even though I had replaced the arms a year ago and torqued them all down. Every time I take it out of storage now I double check all those bolts. Scared the living hell out of me
Straight up! I’ve had mine back off too. Twice! Glad I caught it early haha
Hey watch your video a couple times found my noise makers thanks solve my prolbems
Glad to hear!
I changed all my suspension components in my 2010 mustang. Still
No luck. Finally found that my wheel bearing is making that clunking sound. 😅
Strut mounts make noise if you turn the wheel at very low speed also
this video made me realize i was missing an entire wheel well
Wish I would have watched this video sooner, I had been hearing some rubbing, croaking noise at slow speeds only while turning and I mis diagnosed the problem to my stuts and ended up buying a new front set when the noise I was hearing was a bad wheel bearing in the rear 🤦🏽♂️
Great video! Only wish is that you went more into depth on the source and the sound associated with it. My 12’ has had a chirping noise in the front for a few years now that has slowly gotten louder. Constantly doing it at all speeds and even on the smoothest of roads. Any guesses on the source? Finally have the time and now knowledge to try to tackle it in the coming weeks
There was one time I had a really noticeable chirp. It ended up being loose control arm bolts
Replace one part, two weeks later popping starts again…..been through this crap several times over the past year. Taking a mental break from the darn thing
Thanks for this video , do you have one for the rear end noise issues? Thanks again
Not yet. Only thing I’ve ever heard of going bad in the rear is the control arm bushings. Hasn’t happened on any of mine yet! That and wheel hop I guess haha
I had replaced everything in my front end, control arms, tie rods both inner and outer, struts, ball joints, sway bar bushings and links and still had a noise. Ended up being rack and pinion bushes… something else to look at when having a “clunking noise”.
Oh good call! I haven’t run into that one yet. Was that on an S197 as well?
Yeah, 05 GT. Actually I realized that it doesn’t have any bushings to where it mounts to the frame (I thought it was that), but its the steering rack itself that is worn out.. im just going to replace it with a new one, but there’s a rebuild kit out there too.
I got a 30000mile 2010 gt and the end links werclunking... shot caused excessive cluncking...now wheel seems loose? Any suggestions?
The answer is usually the two front swaybar bushings and it’s the cheapest to fix so start there
I'm getting a loud thud on the driver side. Not all the time every 40 feet. One hood bang any idea afraid to drive it
I have coil overs on my 09 mustang and it makes loud clunking sounds when I brake and go over bumps. I replaced the sway bar end links but it’s still making that sound.
Did you replace the bushings where it’s held to the frame too? That’s where a lot of the noice come from. Easy way to know is take it for a drive without the sway bar on.
Just did endlink replacement and sway bushings were fine but i get this tiny squeak noise not all the time but sometimes when going slow over really bad bumps in the road I suspect my front bumper bracket is loose
2014 s197
Hard to say without hearing it but I had a similar noise more like a chirp when I hit driveway dips and stuff and that was actually control arm bolts loose
@@bpifitness7406 yes a chirp is the best way to describe it just like you just over little dip and coming off a speed bump Ill checked it out thx
When you buy bushings for the sway bar... how the crap are you supposed to get them on without cutting a slit in it??
Great video! I do have a question.. My 05 has a vibration in the steering wheel when you take a left curve or sometimes around 70mph. Changed tie rods and wheel hubs but still happening. If its a really deep curve you have a loud rattling sound.. Almost like the front end is going to fall off but everything is tight including the steering.. You barely touch the wheel and the car responses. Should I be checking the things in this video because none of these parts have been looked at. My son was about to go with bushings in the rack/pinion to see if that helps. Any info would be appreciated.
An 05 mustang? Nothing in this video really addresses vibrations. Most vibrations I’ve experienced in mustangs have been warped rotors or wheels out of balance. Maybe a hub? Really hard to say without feeling it.
My ol man had this very issue wound up being ball joint he replaced both sides and death wobble has disappeared
definitely ball joints
I’ve got a clunk and cannot figure it out. I’ve installed new sway bar end links, lower control arms, tie rod ends (they were really bad), new front struts, lowering springs, and GT500 mounts. Still have a slight clunk. Not sure if it’s due to the front springs not having the lower coil isolator or if it’s a loose bolt somewhere. Strut mount bolts are torqued to spec, strut knuckle bolts are torque, etc. Any help would be great
It really sounds like the sway bar bushings mentioned. The end links are more of a rattle. The bushings cause that clunk. Even if they look fine, if they’re old, I’d replace them.
ive got it cant find it everything still factory i thought brake caliper ill try sway bar then struts
I have a 06 V6 and any bump in the road makes a terrible loose noise. It was taken to a local shop and they replaced the shocks and struts and it was still there after? I’m incapable of actually checking to see what it could be any suggestions of what it may be.
Sounds like a sway bar issue for sure.
Just bought a 2010 with the front end sound. Last owner replaced struts and the lca on the side the sound is coming from. I'm thinking I should check the sway bar know.
Definitely. Good luck!
Have a 06 stang , clunk noise comes from when I turn , not sure what it is , maybe the control arms ?🤔
Try spinning the wheel with the car parked, if while spinning the wheel you can hear the noise it might be the strut mounts.
My s197 is super smooth at higher speeds but it’s a nightmare for anything less than 60
Bro same lol 😂
I had this rattling on the front of my 2014 mustang found out it was my stabilizer bars had them replaced for one hundred thirty dollars parts and labor.
But what if its Clunking feelable in the flor when the Car comes to a Stop?
Or if you’re like me……you forgot to put new insulators on the bottom of the front springs after lowering it. It’s great fun doing the same job twice. noob moment 🤦🏽
I’ve pretty much rebuilt the front end on my 06 GT since I got it with over 100k. Did struts first, then links/bushings, and most recently the lower control arms. After we replaced the lowers I’ve started to hear a clunk on the driver’s side that could be classified as loose lumber but also has a bit of a creaking to it. We’ve triple checked to make sure everything’s tight but haven’t found anything out of place. Can’t do it on command and it only happens at low speeds. It seems worse when it’s cold out. Thinking it could be the strut mounts now since they are Monroe factory replacements with about 40k on them now. But if anyone’s had a similar issue it’d be helpful to know.
This may sound crazy but could be the swaybar acting up again after 40K? I’d at least take it off and drive it for a few days to rule it out before getting into another strut job.
This sounds a lot like what I am experiencing now. I did new strut mounts and front control arms hoping it will fix the problem. It is still making the creaking noise at low speeds especially over bumps. My next step is going to be the front sway bar. Hopefully with a new bar and bearing the noise will go away. All these suspension noises drive me crazy, replaced so much over the past couple years but the car is getting older now. Good luck!
I changed the links...where are the bushings ya replaced
I have a 2008 mustang v6 4.0 and when I go 50 ascending/descending it rattles and shake the wheel but not to where I can control it. the noise is annoying and u can hear clanking when I ease on the breaks
That sounds more like a warped rotor or wheels out of balance
@@bpifitness7406 I disagree. This same thing is happening to my 06 V6. I've replaced tires, links, Struts, Outer tie rod ends. The next thing I'm going to do is take your advice with the sway bar. I'm willing to bet those bushings are bad. It shimmies like a bastard at that 50 mph range decelerating or coasting.
@@Dontana69 well we know the issue because as I was driving the lower ball joint came off on the driver side and the car wrecked and dented the side pretty good😂 but she’ll be on the road again
@@GT_STREAMZ oh no!! I'll have to put good eyes on the ball joint. We did an initial inspection bit didn't see anything out of yhe ordinary.
10 years later and my s197 is finally giving in 😢
I put coilovers all the way around my 07. Now it seems there's a clunk in the right front. I can only replicate it when I turn the steering wheel back and forth...
Same thing for me one time and it was loose control arm bolts. Could be tie rods too though
Bro, I have the exact same rims on my 2014 S197 and when I make a hard u-turn it makes a grinding noise at very low speeds. What could it be?
Well grinding sounds like a week rubbing haha. Maybe a bearing?
Never had a clunking problem until it stayed in my garage and i took it out after a month. Cruising at 30+ mph, i dont hear anything but at way slower then that, the sound is there and i cant tell if something is about to fall out and its pretty worrying. One thing of note is that my car has 270,000 miles on the tachometer
mines high miles like yours i have a 2010gt with the clunking noise i’m definitely going to check everything he told me to. it’s just annoying to hear all the time lmao
@@s197_Nate ive got a 2007 V6, idk if there is any internal difference between the pre and post facelift but same my anxiety is always through the roof hearing it
@@ohwaitchristian haha they didn’t change much chassis wise the 2010 is the same platform just the new body. what you should take out of this is it should make you feel better that you aren’t the only one who has this problem me and many others have it lmao so that makes me feel personally a bit better but i’m still going to get to the bottom of it
@@s197_Nate if you ever figure out a solution plz let me know because i dont have the money to afford a mechanic lol
so my issue is a subtle squeak my car makes wen braking but anything above a firm braking you hear nothing..
pads,calipers,struts and ball joints all changed recently. noise before and still after..
any advice?
Like a slight squeak when breaking gently?
@@bpifitness7406 yeah almost like if ur resting ur foot on top of the break.. very lil pressure to get the squeak..
If it's a normal press and hold on the break, nothing.
@@WONDERBREAD89 sounds pretty normal. Probably just glazed pads or rotors. You could get them machined or take sandpaper to them? Haha
Where can I get your front turn signal lights / DRLs from?
I ordered those from eBay 👍🏼 lots of options on there. Done it quite a few times over the years
@@bpifitness7406 Yeah, I searched and bought new ones lastly, but didn't see these. Would like them
Mine has 111,000 miles on it, none of these have been changed! Should I just do it all?
Haha I did. Depends how long you plan to keep it I guess
Did you mention tie rod ends?
Yep. That’s one of the more obvious things though cause you can feel it just by wiggling the wheel
I find it funny how you bypass all the problems that cause the damn noise to talk about some plastic s***
So, it could be around 30 different things. Thanks! 🤣
I have a 2016 mustang and it’s does a clunking sound on the front right side mainly when I brake on slow speeds or go slowly.
Tbh I have no experience with the s550s yet. This video is mostly targeted towards these clunky s197s haha I’ve had so many front end noise issues with these over the years. Good luck!
When I’m driving and when I turn right while doing 50+ my steering wheels vibrates and shakes
Steering rack
Drive slower around corners. ✌🏼
You forgot the brake pads and caliper issues
what wheels are those?
They’re off an 07 gt500
best. vid. ever.
I had a strange noise coming from mine, so I got a new one...( Wife)
Hy saying nothing but facts I hate hearing my s197 making noise it’s not supposed to be
Fram oil filter. Yikes.
Yeah. I don’t recommend lol
i use the ford racing oil filter
Great !! But the noise i always came from the back of the car in the s197 🥲
Mine creeks when I break any ideas?
i recently noticed a clunking noise when driving at low speeds coming from the front left tire anyone know what it could be
What it was ? Im having the same problem
@@Papirrin-di8cy sway link bars or your lug nuts might be loose
Looking at a completely unrelated topic and I have found a completely relatable tpoic. I have coils and and just started noticing a sound.