loud metallic clunking noise from front on breaking

[Beirut944]

Dear All
i hit a mother of all potholes in Beirut on the left wheel, which resulted now with a loud, worrying sound.

The sound comes on when breaking and when the car goes along a bumpy road but not when driving continuously or accelerating, or turning for that matter.

Please point me out to the obvious culprit. A mechanic looked at it today and was honest enough to say he couldn't find the problem but identified that there was a fair amount of play in the passenger side steering joint.

I don't think this would make this loud metal-on-metal sound though. It almost sounds as though the entire suspension is creaking and giving way

many thanks

MJ in Beirut

[John_AZ]

Front struts.
J_AZ

[Beirut944]

Originally Posted by John_AZ

Front struts.
J_AZ

How would the bump have effected them though? Can you give a little more detail?
thanks

[dgcantrell]

Yeah.. Sounds like you may have popped a strut.. A violent impact can pop a seal or even bend the rod inside causing it to rub inside.

[John_AZ]

+1^
Replaced a set a few years ago that had a "clunking", metallic, sound.
I bought the Sachs inserts-work well and long lasting.
J_AZ

[Beirut944]

Originally Posted by dgcantrell

Yeah.. Sounds like you may have popped a strut.. A violent impact can pop a seal or even bend the rod inside causing it to rub inside.

So, i guess i have to have teh strut removed so as to look at the seal?

But can the rod inside be lubricated so it does not rub? Or rebent back?

[dgcantrell]

Nope... Gonna need a new one. Unless it's a Koni or Bilstein that can be rebuilt, it's probably a sealed Sach's unit. It'd be much easier and cheaper just to replace it.

[Jfrahm]

It could be a broken strut mount or broken sway bar end link or missing A arm bushing. One might assume the wrench could spot this, but you never know.

It's also a good idea to check the caliper mounting bolts.

-Joel.

[mytrplseven]

I had one that was binding. Sounded like a loose wheel whenever the front suspension moved. I found it by pushing down on the front corners of the car and watching for rebound. The bad strut refused to allow me to push down on that corner. Replace both struts at same time so you get a balanced rebound.

[Arizona_928]

My two cents are on a bad control arm bushing.
You really need to add your car to the signature btw.