I have a clunk coming from my front end. I have checked my endlinks and all other nuts/bolts I touched when installing my coilovers.

I got to thinking, my car has nearly 70k on it, maybe the bushings were starting to go bad and the stiffer coilovers have just magnified the issue.

Thoughts?

 

Define 'clunk'. Is it on take off? All the time? On turns only? Over bumps/potholes? Is there any vibration? Does the clunk sound hollow or is it metallic sounding in any way?

After my springs settled in I started getting a harsh sound from my left front when I went over dips. It was a sound that made me very uneasy. It ended up being my tire slapping the fender. Maybe that's what is happening on yours...

I know when the rear sway bar bushings get worn it sounds like something is bouncing around in the trunk. Is it similar sounding in the front?

 

Cluck - solid sounding, like something part of the suspension/body is loose or shifting

Happens - going over short bumps when driving through parking lots, usually low speed

 

The bushing can crack but you can see a failed control arm bushing. It could be one of the two ball joints in your control arm have gone bad.

 

Totally overlooked the ball joints, thanks! Ill look into that as well.

 

Also, in addition to the ball joints I would check your hubs. There's about a 1/100 chance but if it turns out to be the 1 in 100 you're in for some lovely issues. Do you have to service the car soon? If so have the dealer check the hubs and CV joints while they have it. It doesn't sound like either issues but both can be expensive fixes when they aren't prevented. I know that some who have lowered their MINIs have had CV joints fail and ruin axles as a result.

 

Ruled out bushings and ball joints today. Still stumped.

 

Maybe endlinks, Im running stock at the moment.

 

You can always remove one of the endlinks essentially "removing" the swaybar completely. That should help you pinpoint the noise. I wouldn't be shocked if it was your endlinks. Could also be your camber plates. The Vorshlag plates are all metal. Our front end makes all kinds of noises and I'm guessing it's from the Vorshlag camber plate. How long have you had the stuff on? We had to replace the bearings in both plates after about 6 months. I'm sure they're due for another replacement but I just haven't checked wear yet.

 

This is interesting. Watching...

 

We thought we heard a noise coming from my front left coilover, so we disassembled the whole unit and made sure everything was well greased and then reassembled. Didnt change anything.

Ive been thinking about the bearings in the camber plates, they feel fine, but maybe it's just something you arent able to feel?