When I start from a dead stop in first (standard tranny) I hear a "clunking" sound from the front end. Any ideas?

 

hrmm... not sure, but maybe this is related
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=327015

 

Proabably not tranny related. More than likely it is the front control arm bushings. I have the same problem but it only happens when it's cold. As I understand it the bushings shrink, crack and dry out. They are a PITA to replace (never done it myself but they need pressed out) and I know of at least one person who has had them replaced and had the problem return.

Gabe

 

I don't think its tranny related either, its almost like a bad motor mount thunk, like something is slamming into something else with rubber in between them. Gabe, if you knowingly have the problem and haven't corrected it, is it just something that I can live with and not worry about, or could this be a safety problem later?

 

It's probably one of the motor mounts, our cars are notorious for eating them. I had a blown up front one too, and mine was doing this.

 

check your ball joints

 

I don't think it's anything that is going to serisouly affect the car in the long run, that's why I haven't fixed it yet. On top of that it only happens when it's cold out so I usually forget about it until winter. And it's a little spendy to fix since the control arms have to be taken off the car, the bushings pressed out and new ones pressed in.

As for it being a motor mount, it is something to check but I have yet to hear of someone eating a motor mount on that new of a car. I have ES poly inserts in my mounts and I still have the noise (which tells me it's not a mount, at least on my car).

Gabe

 

sounds like a control arm bushing...i had the same problem....

you'll have to buy new control arms as they come from the factory with pressed bushings

 

Or buy some ES polys..

 

I'll lend my clunk to this-it was the mounting bolts for the front upper control arms on the passenger side. Seems that they were not sufficiently torqued when we redid the setup-the arms were removed to swap the adjustable ball joints in and the anchor bolts are difficult to get at with every on the car-one was so loose you could turn it with finger power-take a look there. You can check bushing play very easily with the wheel off the car-try moving the control arm from front to rear of car and in and out in a straight line. should be solid in both planes.
Have you considered your CV joints? that is another possibility.

 

I have the exact same problem...i started a thread about it somewhere, but no real resolve! It came down to my ball joints by what people told me! It basically is that, or my control arm bushings like buddy said above, or what i thought it was.. motor mounts!
Haven't done anything about it yet, and it usually just happens when it is cold, or when i first start driving it for the day, but it also depends on how smoothly i release the clutch, the smoother the engagement the less clunking, but it still clunks! ****!!!

 

well, I'm putting mine in the shop. there is a ball joint recall on the 97-98 preludes, so they will replace the front ball joints for free. We'll see if that clears it up, if not I'll keep looking. thanks for everyone's help though.

 

Please let me know if that fixes the problem, would be greatly appriciated!! thanks

 

Got the car back today, got the front ball joints replaced under the recall on 97-98 cars. No more thunk. I pulled away from the dealer from a stop with a decent pull, no tire spinning or anything, but something to try and make it thunk. Nope. seems to have solved the problem.

 

thanks man, i'll check it out!