Chasing a front end clunk
Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 63
Likes: 3
From: france
i have this happening to my car. What part is the joint that is gone in the column ? Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 124
Likes: 24
From: Yorkshire UK
Loulizjag,
If you read through the thread, you’ll see that several of us have had experience of a ‘knock’ at the front.
A simple way to check is to raise the car on jacks so that the weight is off the front suspension arms and the wheels are hanging down. Leave it over night and then take it out for a test. If the ‘knock’ has gone but returns later in the day then the bushes to the anti roll bar have failed. This was a regular problem I had with my S-Type although my XJ has been fine so far. The weight of the car flattens the bushes into an oval shape. IMO The Jaguar material is not fit for purpose. My independent Jag service garage also increased the torque settings to the swing arms when they replaced the bushes and the clunk was no more.
If you read through the thread, you’ll see that several of us have had experience of a ‘knock’ at the front.
A simple way to check is to raise the car on jacks so that the weight is off the front suspension arms and the wheels are hanging down. Leave it over night and then take it out for a test. If the ‘knock’ has gone but returns later in the day then the bushes to the anti roll bar have failed. This was a regular problem I had with my S-Type although my XJ has been fine so far. The weight of the car flattens the bushes into an oval shape. IMO The Jaguar material is not fit for purpose. My independent Jag service garage also increased the torque settings to the swing arms when they replaced the bushes and the clunk was no more.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 543
From: Spring, TX
Loulizjag,
If you read through the thread, you’ll see that several of us have had experience of a ‘knock’ at the front.
A simple way to check is to raise the car on jacks so that the weight is off the front suspension arms and the wheels are hanging down. Leave it over night and then take it out for a test. If the ‘knock’ has gone but returns later in the day then the bushes to the anti roll bar have failed. This was a regular problem I had with my S-Type although my XJ has been fine so far. The weight of the car flattens the bushes into an oval shape. IMO The Jaguar material is not fit for purpose. My independent Jag service garage also increased the torque settings to the swing arms when they replaced the bushes and the clunk was no more.
If you read through the thread, you’ll see that several of us have had experience of a ‘knock’ at the front.
A simple way to check is to raise the car on jacks so that the weight is off the front suspension arms and the wheels are hanging down. Leave it over night and then take it out for a test. If the ‘knock’ has gone but returns later in the day then the bushes to the anti roll bar have failed. This was a regular problem I had with my S-Type although my XJ has been fine so far. The weight of the car flattens the bushes into an oval shape. IMO The Jaguar material is not fit for purpose. My independent Jag service garage also increased the torque settings to the swing arms when they replaced the bushes and the clunk was no more.
Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 63
Likes: 3
From: france
actually i have 2 clunkings, one when i move the steering left and right and one when i’m driving on bad roads, mzybe they are the same. With a freind we took out the tie rod and the cluncking was still here and was heared from the rack and pinion when mooving right and left. What do you think of that ? Thanks
Last edited by loulizjag; Jul 19, 2018 at 12:48 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 124
Likes: 24
From: Yorkshire UK
actually i have 2 clunkings, one when i move the steering left and right and one when i’m driving on bad roads, mzybe they are the same. With a freind we took out the tie rod and the cluncking was still here and was heared from the rack and pinion when mooving right and left. What do you think of that ? Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 124
Likes: 24
From: Yorkshire UK
I found that out the hard way. On each occasion that the dealership took the car in to find the fault, they raised it on the hoist, checked everything out with the wheels dangling down and because they couldn’t find anything wrong took the car out for a test drive. On each occasion that the weight had been lifted from the bushes the clunking stopped and they thought I was just another moaning nuisance. Within a day the clunking reappeared. The problem when checking out these faults is that the cars suspension needs to be checked when it’s under a load and not with the weight removed.
The bushes had become oval and only held the anti roll bar at the bottom leaving play in the top and both sides.
A poor choice of Bush material that a Jaguar would not admit too.
Last edited by Langstraat; Jul 20, 2018 at 06:10 AM.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 543
From: Spring, TX
That's really interesting because basically the same thing was happening to me the first time I had this dilemma. Everything I tried or replaced would cure the clunk for a day or two only. But I never put two and two together to figure out a good testing method.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
Update : The XJ has 95K miles on it now. I had the plugs changed at an independent shop last month. I told him about the knock and informed him of EVERYTHING I had replaced at the dealership. He called me and said my front sway bar bushings were worn and were causing the clunk. I informed him I already had those replaced. He held to his diagnostic. Since his cost to change the plugs was half of the dealerships price, I gave him the go ahead on the sway bar bushings. I asked him if he would guarantee that this would solve the clunk/knock. He wouldn't, but he REALLY believed this was the issue. Well after 1000+ miles on the new bushings, the knock is finally gone! I didn't want to post right away, just in case the knock came back in a couple weeks. Drove the car from California to Las Vegas and back, and a few weeks going to work and back. NO KLUNK. Like a new car! The sway bar bushings were the first thing I replaced many miles ago? I chased that clunk with many dollars and time. Makes me wonder if they were actually changed at the dealership the first time? Well at least at 95K miles, all of my suspension is near new. Good for another 95K miles.
Oh on another note, I had a mechanic that was trying to locate the noise, he told me that when he removed the sway links on both sides and drove the car the knocking noise disappeared. He said he thought it was the links so he replaced them with one's he had in the shop but the noise came right back even with new links. IDK, why would the noise stop when he removed the links but come back even with new ones? Could this really be because of the sway bushings? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
Veteran Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 521
From: Reynolds Lake Oconee, GA USA
This usually happens when the car has been off the ground. My front bushings have been replaced at 79k and that removed my clunk and am at 92.5k now, but I use OEM parts so cannot help you on aftermarket bushings.
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,344
From: home
The sway bar end links are different than the sway bar bushings.
Both are wear item's and both can cause noise.
He did the correct test: Remove the sway bar ends links connection to the suspension. This is easy and is only 1 bolt on each side.
Then drive the car. If no noise then it's either the sway bar end links, sway bar bushings or both.
Since both items are pretty cheap I would just go ahead and replace both items.
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.
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Both are wear item's and both can cause noise.
He did the correct test: Remove the sway bar ends links connection to the suspension. This is easy and is only 1 bolt on each side.
Then drive the car. If no noise then it's either the sway bar end links, sway bar bushings or both.
Since both items are pretty cheap I would just go ahead and replace both items.
.
.
.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
Problem solved... No more clunk
Man I tell you, this is why having a forum rocks... with all the wealth of experience and knowledge being passed along it makes dealing with car problems easier. I just wish I had joined earlier. I'm happy to report with a big a$$ smile on my face, that irritating knocking, clunk noise is GONE. After spending gobs of money on replacing both upper control arms, outer tie end rods, lower front and rear control arm bushings, alignments, who'd have ever thought that changing something like sway bar bushings would quiet this cat. OMG, man this has been a roller coaster ride... I've had 3 different mechanics look at my car and none of them have said it was the sway bar bushings. Don't get me wrong, the front and rear lower control arm bushings were a little jacked up and one of the upper control arm's bearings was busted, so I'm glad they're replaced, but even with changing those things the noise never disappeared. Did it quiet it a little, yes, but just a little, barely. But replacing the sway bar bushings did the trick. After thinking about what mechanic #3 did by removing the stabilizer bar link, which eliminated the noise, I decided to do a little mechanic investigation myself. With the car on the ground, I turned the wheels just enough so that I could reach under the car, grab and shake the crap out of the sway bar. It took a few times to make it move, but when it did, presto, it was the same sound I was hearing when I drove over road imperfections. That in itself convinced me to order a set of bushings. I will say finding aftermarket sway bar (stabilizer bar) bushings for the car was a chore. All I could find was Jaguar OEM, which obviously don't last long. I was finally able to locate which seems to be some bad a$$ bushings from Powerflex. It's their Front Anti Roll Bar Bushing - Part Number: PFF27-604-31.5x2. I had a local shop install them. The mechanic (number 4 now) admitted that he didn't think the factory one's looked like they were in bad shape when he first inspected them, and after looking at them myself and only looking at the outside of them like everybody else, they did look fine. But the inside was a different matter. You could see that they had expanded and were worn, so it's important to actually take them off to inspect and not just visually look at the outside like my mechanic #3 did.
So I, like others, recommend replacing them first and if your Sway Bar Links look jacked up, replace them too. I didn't because mine looked and sounded like they were in good condition. Overall I'm super happy and now my car sounds like it did when I first purchased it. The only thing I have to figure out is why my steering wheel vibrates a little at speeds over 55 mph. I'll deal with that in the near future... for now, I'm just enjoying the quiet ride, outside of my exhaust, which I love too.
Oh here's the info for the sway bar bushings just in case. You may have to copy & paste. Thank to those who replied and to those who have given their insights.
https://powerflexusa.com/jaguarstype...ing-1-1-2.aspx
So I, like others, recommend replacing them first and if your Sway Bar Links look jacked up, replace them too. I didn't because mine looked and sounded like they were in good condition. Overall I'm super happy and now my car sounds like it did when I first purchased it. The only thing I have to figure out is why my steering wheel vibrates a little at speeds over 55 mph. I'll deal with that in the near future... for now, I'm just enjoying the quiet ride, outside of my exhaust, which I love too.
Oh here's the info for the sway bar bushings just in case. You may have to copy & paste. Thank to those who replied and to those who have given their insights.
https://powerflexusa.com/jaguarstype...ing-1-1-2.aspx
Veteran Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,328
Likes: 543
From: Spring, TX
So those are polyurethane bushings, right? Have you noticed any harshness in the ride quality or any squeaks?
Edit: I just noticed you're running on 22" wheels in Los Angeles! You are a brave man, sir!
Edit: I just noticed you're running on 22" wheels in Los Angeles! You are a brave man, sir!
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
Nah, itsi been quiet. 
Took a quick weekend trip to Palm Springs and had no issues with squeeks or noticible unbearable harhness. I'm used to the ride being a little harder because of the 22 inch wheels. I've only been here in LA less than 6 months by way of Texas, and had a little knowledge that the streets are like driving off-road. LOL I'm cool with it because when I purchased my car I opted for the lifetime warranty that covers any wheels and tires that I have. I'm pretty sure I'll be using it in the near future. So yes, I'm a brave man with a warranty. LOL 
Took a quick weekend trip to Palm Springs and had no issues with squeeks or noticible unbearable harhness. I'm used to the ride being a little harder because of the 22 inch wheels. I've only been here in LA less than 6 months by way of Texas, and had a little knowledge that the streets are like driving off-road. LOL I'm cool with it because when I purchased my car I opted for the lifetime warranty that covers any wheels and tires that I have. I'm pretty sure I'll be using it in the near future. So yes, I'm a brave man with a warranty. LOL
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
same clunk
Hi!! So I got a 2011 xj 5.0 s/c, just a month ago and it has this chunk noise I think similar to yours... did it stops or went more silent when you were braking?
Thanks a lot and greetibgs from Chile!
greatibgs
Thanks a lot and greetibgs from Chile!
greatibgs
Update : The XJ has 95K miles on it now. I had the plugs changed at an independent shop last month. I told him about the knock and informed him of EVERYTHING I had replaced at the dealership. He called me and said my front sway bar bushings were worn and were causing the clunk. I informed him I already had those replaced. He held to his diagnostic. Since his cost to change the plugs was half of the dealerships price, I gave him the go ahead on the sway bar bushings. I asked him if he would guarantee that this would solve the clunk/knock. He wouldn't, but he REALLY believed this was the issue. Well after 1000+ miles on the new bushings, the knock is finally gone! I didn't want to post right away, just in case the knock came back in a couple weeks. Drove the car from California to Las Vegas and back, and a few weeks going to work and back. NO KLUNK. Like a new car! The sway bar bushings were the first thing I replaced many miles ago? I chased that clunk with many dollars and time. Makes me wonder if they were actually changed at the dealership the first time? Well at least at 95K miles, all of my suspension is near new. Good for another 95K miles.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 311
Likes: 92
From: SoCal
It is important when replacing the sway bar bushings to make sure when they torque them down, the wheels are on the ground under load, not hanging in the air on the lift. You want the car and on a drive on lift, not a frame lift.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks a lot!
just receive the powerflex usa bushings... with all the problems here in Chile by now I have to wait to put them... I’ll be telling you if it works... thanks again!
just receive the powerflex usa bushings... with all the problems here in Chile by now I have to wait to put them... I’ll be telling you if it works... thanks again!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 117
Likes: 4
From: Las Vegas
Since I purchased this 2011 XJ Base N/A CPO car, there has been a slight clunk over small bumps in the road at low speed. Also, while driving slow, you rock the steering wheel left and right, you can hear the clunk. The clunk is slowly getting louder.
I took it in and had the following replaced.
*Front shocks
*Upper Shock mounts
*Sway bar Bushings
*Sway bar links
*front control links
*upper wishbones complete with bushings and ball joints
*1 engine mount (CPO warranty would only replace one) warranty expired 14 days ago.
*transmission mount
The only things left are the other engine mount, which I am going to do and the lower Ball joints. (but they are tight).
Now I am wondering if it is actually anything to do with the suspension, or is it something structural or steering or? Any suggestions where to look would be great.
Note, every time I take it in and they do an alignment. The clunk seems to go away for a little while, but it slowly returns. It seems after the car was lifted up in the air, it solves the clunk issue for a little while until it settles back down, then it returns. I was hoping they would find it under warranty, but that time is passed.
I took it in and had the following replaced.
*Front shocks
*Upper Shock mounts
*Sway bar Bushings
*Sway bar links
*front control links
*upper wishbones complete with bushings and ball joints
*1 engine mount (CPO warranty would only replace one) warranty expired 14 days ago.
*transmission mount
The only things left are the other engine mount, which I am going to do and the lower Ball joints. (but they are tight).
Now I am wondering if it is actually anything to do with the suspension, or is it something structural or steering or? Any suggestions where to look would be great.
Note, every time I take it in and they do an alignment. The clunk seems to go away for a little while, but it slowly returns. It seems after the car was lifted up in the air, it solves the clunk issue for a little while until it settles back down, then it returns. I was hoping they would find it under warranty, but that time is passed.