Troublesome clunking while going over bumps.

[straycatkid]

My '98 Forester has 135,500 miles on it. Lately, I've been hearing some clunky front end sound when I go over bumps. It's gotten progressively worse the past few weeks or months. I don't know a heck of a lot about suspension parts, but is this sway bar endlinks wearing out or some kind of bushings? How can I test it and what kind of cost of replacement am I looking at?

Thanks.

 

[nipper]

Many things can do this, including a bad exhaust pipe hanger. First thing to do is look (physically) at the bushings and links. Do a bounce test, as a bad strut can do this too. You are at the right mileage for any of the above.


nipper

 

[Kevin]

For endlinks a simple test is to hit the joint with the palm of your hand or a rubber mallet; if a clunking metallic noise is the result then the endlink is worn. Another test for endlinks (and sway bushings) is to take the endlinks off, tie the sway bars out of the way, drive around and see what happens.