Annoying clunking/rattle going over bumps - 2003 sunfire

[frankm]

I have 2003 sunfire, 2door, ecotek engine, 5spd. Every time I go over bumps I hear this loud clunking sound from the passenger side, both front and back it seems. More pronounced when coasting slowly over bumps (road construction). I can even get a clunking sound (from front passenger side I think) when coasting fairly slow (10km/hr) and applying the brakes.

It sounds like there's something lose and it's a fairly heavy clunking sound, nothing that could eminate from a door panel or bumper I don't think.

From what I can tell the car has struts all around. I've tried rocking the passenger side, both front and back, and checking for a clunking sound but I don't hear anything significant, maybe a faint noise, but not a big clunking sound.

I'm guessing it's a strut, a strut mount, strut bearing maybe? Could it be a control arm?

I've just had a motor vehicle inspection and no problems were identified, it passed ok. I would have thought that would have revealed any suspension issues, or ball joint or other issues. But every thing was fine. The mechanic said it was likely due to plastic parts rattling around in the bumper. The bumper has minor cosmetic damage from what I can see but when I look under the bumper I don't see anything there that's broken. The noise is definitely coming from the passenger side, mostly front passenger but sometimes from back passenger side it seems.

Any clues on what this might be?

I'm guessing it's a common problem as I've heard similar noises from other sunfires driving down the street

Thanks for any help

 

[djphuze]

there are several reasons for the clunking noises. A bad ball joint, bad strut bearing, bad strut mount both front and/or rear. bad wheel bearing hub or bad/broken sway bar links/bushings. ( I had a mechanic do an inspection once and turned out to be "passe" as I brought the vehicle in a month later after the inspection and the pitman arm was worn beyond acceptable limits, a mistake on the inspection mechanics part) Bring the vehicle in for a throughout inspection and watch the mechanic do the inspection and note if he checks all the parts I has described above.

 

[frankm]

Ball joints and wheel bearings are an easy check for mechanic I'm thinking, even a lazy one So it's probably one of the other issues you mentioned.
I'm going to bring it in and have someone check it out again.

Thanks for your input.

 

[djphuze]

glad to help, one other note...maybe a road test with the mechanic would help. A good mechanic would be able to tell what the problem is just by the sounds the car makes while it is in motion (going over bumps, turning, curves, etc)
A lazy mechanic might not be impervious to the hubs. Me and my friends do several tests, including a road test for noise, a rotational check on a lift for noise as well as lateral checks (rocking the wheel side to side at different angles while on a lift.) I have had a bad hub once which didn't make any rotational noise, but lateral forces (side to side) was causing clunking noises

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[frankm]

Sounds like I'll need to take it in again. Costs 40 bucks just to have them take if for a test run and it doesn't go towards fixing the problem.