I have a 98 civic hb and I am experiencing a clunking/knocking noise coming from the front drivers side suspension. This started about a month ago. I have a full coilover strut setup. The ride is not that low (1-1.5" between fender and tire) and I've had the coilovers for about 3 years now. I don't think it's the strut because the car still rebounds and feels the same. It's just that when I go over a small bump or pot-hole at 10-35mph the car goes "clunk". It's not super loud and it doesn't happen all the time, but it is a noticable noise when it does happen. If I'm on the highway or cruising at speeds higher than 40mph then there is no such noise. My Chilton manual says that it could be a loose suspension bolt, a weak/bad suspension bushing, or a loose wheel bearing. What do you guys think? Has anyone had the same problem?

 

Do you have a camber kit? If not it could be your upper or lower balljoints I replaced mine on my 95 and problem solved. Hope it helps
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This is what I ordered to get mine fixed best 150 I ever spend on my car, it feels like new again.

 

sounds like an upper or lower balljoint. see if they're stubborn by moving them around when it's unbolted.

 

Mine did the same thing and it was the balljoints.

Jack up the car, grab the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and shake it. If it moves I think it could be the wheel bearings. You can also remove the nut from the balljoints and separate the knuckle from the LCA. If you can grab the stud from the balljoint and move it all around it's likely bad. Same thing for the upper balljoint.

Grab the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock and shake also to test the tie rod ends.

 

Thanks for all your insight guys!

 

i'm thinking a front LCA (lower control arm) bushing if those haven't been replaced.. otherwise could be a ball joint going bad or a loose bolt somewhere... basiclaly gotta go under the car and shake parts see if they move and if metal touches metal anywhere in suspension

i used to have a similar knock and it turned out to be the front LCA bushing completely worn out... replaced them with ES bushings and it's tight now