hey, i've got an '05 tl and there's an audible clunk coming from the front passenger side of the car. i hear it when i hit bumps, mostly while cornering. i'm worried it's a suspension or steering issue, since it sounds like something's loose. any suggestions or fixes? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!
NATE

 

It could be a few things, a failed shock, bent suspension comonent, loose brake caliper, the front swaybar bushing, etc. It would be best to put the car on a rack and check underneath.

 

so if it's a failed shock, how will i know? if nothing else seems loose?

 

so since this post, i took my car into the shop and replaced the control bushing on that side, but if anything it made the sound worse. i guess it makes sense since when you tighten up the play in one spot it'll all go to another. i then replaced the struts on the front with kyb gr2's and have really been happy with the ride, but after a few days and weekend road trip, the clunking is back. also, after replacing the struts, if i accelerated hard in a straight line from a standstill, the car would pull hard right and left, and it'd be a fight to keep it in a straight line. i'd never had anything like that happen, and it seems to have stopped now, but i can't help but think it's related to all of this. anybody have suggestions?

 

p.s.-- the clunking is most pronounced over speed bumps, where it'll make the noise two or even three times in rapid succession. the strange thing is that it sounds not when the car actually hits the bump, but afterward, when the suspension is unloading. hopefully that helps in a diagnosis.

 

Check to see that the sway bar end links are tight. I had a similar issue lately and it was resolved by tightening all the sway bar linkages. This will require a 14mm open end and a 5mm allen key. The end of each ball joint will accept the 5mm allen key, this will keep it in place when you tighten the nut with the 14mm open end.

 

I have the same clunking noise coming from the front passenger area. A week later I heard the same clunking sound coming from the rear right, so I decided to replace all 4 shocks (OEM). The first 2 days, the noise went away,and then the clunking sound came back even louder now. So I decided to bring it to an Acura service center to let them diagnose the problem, and they found it was a bad motor mount. They replace it under warranty. My 06 TL ride and sound like new agin.


Here is what they change from the invoice:

Replace 50820-SEP-A01 RUBBER ASSY., ENGINE SIDE MOUNTING (AT)

 

hey thanks, i'll have to check into that. as i mentioned above, i had a nearly identical experience when i replaced the struts. but i do have a couple of questions. how was a failed engine mount responsible for a clunking noise in the back? also, my car is no longer under warranty as it has a rebuilt title, so do you have any idea of how much the mount replacement would have cost without the warranty? thanks!

 

When I went the the Acura dealer this morning they diagnosed it and found that the mount was bad. I thought 90% they were wrong. 2 hours later they said they were done. I expected that I would hear the noise again when I left. I drove all day, hitting every speed bump and pothole. 100% the noise is gone and the car handles like a beauty. As far the part it is under $60. I checked online. I am pretty sure that Acura will charge you 2 hours labor to put that in. My was still under warranty.

 

Parts#

50820-SEP-A01 RUBBER ASSY., ENGINE SIDE MOUNTING (AT)<<<AUTO


50820-SEP-A11 RUBBER ASSY., ENGINE SIDE MOUNTING (MT)<<< MANUEL

 

thanks revolt. please keep me posted, as i thought the problem was fixed when i replaced the struts, until it acted up only a couple days later. now you mentioned the handling of the car. did you actually notice a difference with the new mount or were you just stating it as a general fact? thanks again.

 

You do feel and notice a difference with the new mount going over speed bump. (NO clunking at ALLL, very smooth ride compare to before it was fix)

what state u from??

 

^^^ try replacing the endlinks attached to the front sway bar. I had the same clunking over bumps! Changed my endlinks and im good as new! let me know if this helps!

 

i'm from utah, which means the roads are fairly crummy. that is, when they're not closed for construction! haha! i've had someone else recommend replacing the swaybar linkage, so i'll be sure to bring up both potential problem sources to my mechanic.

 

i FINALLY got the problem resolved! sure enough revolt, you were right. the right engine mount was cracked. the part cost me about $120 plus an hour of labor, so for under 200 frosties, i'm squared away. the clunking is totally gone, and i'm amazed at how tight this car is. no rattles, no clunks, and wow, the front end handles so tightly! now i remember why i loved to drive this car when i bought it. thanks again, revolt!

 

Ive had that clunking since I bought it new....and I thought it was a speaker/bass problem. It hasn't gotten any worse....should I have it looked at. Its only on my 08 Royal Blue, my partners Alabaster doesn't have the rattle. But his rattles in the rear sub. Both were bought zero miles from Pem Pines Acura.....Advice?

 

well, a lot the 3rd gen tl's had a bass rattle problem with the sub, including my '05, but i've only heard of that being an issue when the stereo is going. if that's the case, there's a service bulletin out on it and acura will fix it for you. if it rattles even when there aren't bumps, and especially if anything feels loose in the steering or suspension, i'd get it checked out. you've got nothing to lose if it's under warranty, right?

 

hell yeah this thread was soo dammmm helpful.. because i tried everything and nobody could find out what the problem was... im takin it to acura tomorow

 

I also had a bad clunking noise from the front passenger side. I know my side engine mount was done as I took a look at it and it was just ripped. decided to change all my mounts and sure enough, the clunkiing is gone!! I thought it was not going to fix it because it so sounded like it was suspension related. but luckly, its fixed. saw the old mounts after replacement and they were all blown. all of them. can definitely notice the difference when I drive.

Thanks

 

i have a clunking noise to mine was from when i had my h&rs installed the top washer wasnt put back on and it rattles when i hit bumps dont know if you had anything like that done before you changed the struts

 

Wow atlast my answer to my clunk noise after spending nearly almost 2gs and still nothing..I'm going to fix the mount this week and sure enough I should have the same results..thanks guys I have faith mines has a bad mount cuz it did look cracked the last time I saw it

 

I had the same issue. Ended up being the two front motor mounts.

 

Acura's had a problem with the engine mounts causing a clunking sound and/or causing a vibration at about 1500-2000 RPM. A new. improved set of mounts fixes the problems. It's a relatively easy fix, something you can do yourself if you're mechanically inclined; BUT, Acura has been replacing them under the 100k power train warranty. Check with your dealer. Hy