I have a knocking noise coming from the driverside, have had it for a while, but while driving today it seemed louder. The knock comes from near the front wheel sometimes, other times it sounds like it's right under or behind the driver's seat. Happens quite often: when I hit bumps, shift, and begin to accelerate from a stop. Just checked CV boots and they have some slight cracking, but they're not torn. Any ideas?

 

Check your inner CV joints - I've just discovered a worn inner joint as the source of an annoying vibration on acceleration / deceleration and the occasional rhythmic knocking. Apparently others have had this problem also.

 

A bad CV joint will make a clicking noise when turning hard, just find an open parking lot and drive in circles (each direction) with your window down. If you hear a clicking it's the CV joint. If you get a knocking over bumps that's probably a bad shock. A bad inner joint will cause a vibration like stated above, it does this because a "divot" is worn into the joint housing where the spherical bearings contact and when the bearings walk into and out of that spot you get a vibration.

 

Thanks, no signs of a vibration, but I do have one last thing to add, my car pulls to the right (already did an alignment a while back, but unfortunately the warranty was up when it came back). Also, I don't hear clicking when turning. Often all I hear is a "clonk" knocking noise and I can't pinpoint what triggers it or when it happens, it just does it randomly to **** me off. I'm thinking shock might be culprit of knock, but does that explain the alignment?

I'll have someone else look at it, I suck at diagnosing problems.

 

Check your ball joints (both lower and upper) and tie-rod ends - ANY play in these will throw your alignment out.

 

Check your driver's side engine mount.