I'm trying to identify a randowm clonk that I have in the front suspension of my 2002 XJ8. I suspect that it may be the upper wishbone bushings. I have about 3/16" lateral movement on the upper bushings on both sides but no up and down movement. How much should there be?

How difficult is it to replace them for a reasonably competent home mechanic?

So far I've replaced the lower ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links, wheel bearings, and shocks.

many thanks,
Andy

 

Have you read the threads about two other items?

The engine mounts could be loose enough to allow the bolt head on the bottom to come away from the front cross member and then rebound upwards to make a clonk. You can inspect from under the car by removing the rubber plugs in the legs and checking the torx bolt. First mentioned by Sean B.

The vee mounts could be delaminated.

 

I have replaced my upper wishbone bushings and they also have some lateral movement in them so I think that is normal. Based on the components that you have already replaced you should replace the sway bar bushings (very easy to do and inexpensive to purchase).

You should also check the upper shock bushings. You can buy a replacement bushing kit without buying the entire upper mount which is crazy expensive. The kits are available from vendors on this forum and are not difficult to install. You can press out the old ones and install the new ones with a large C clamp or use a long bolt with some washers and sleaves. Do a search on this forum for threads and photos of the bolt and sleave option. I used a heavy duty C clamp made for ball joint replacement and it was just large enough to fit around the steel mount

 

Thanks for your input guys. I'll get the car on the lift over the weekend and check out the engine mounts and recheck the sway bar bushings and upper shock mounts.

Thanks Andy

 

Ten bonus points if you can find the clonk on mine too!

 

Don't worry - you guys are not clonking alone - I am with you!

Shock bushes I think, but looking to change all front bushes soon so will suffer on until then....

 

i have same clonk over bumps sometimes....the only thing i have left to replace would be the wishbone bushings which do not appear bad, and then the sway bar bushings which i'm told won't look bad but can be just not tight enough....

 

I think that I might have found the reason for my clonk. I had the car up on my lift and was checking the tightness of all nut and blots on the front suspension. The bolt that connects the bottom of the left hand sway bar link to the bottom wishbone was loose. On removing the bolt the nut thread was stripped and the end of the bolt was bent and the tread was damaged. The part #s are JFB110185B (bolt) and JFX11004E (nut). I replaced them with original parts and the clonk has disappeared. I still have a slight click occasionally and I feel that the sway bar bushings should be replaced. I'll do that next and see if there's any more improvement.

Andy