Im at a loss with this noise... 2007 TLS

I hear a CLANK noise when I hit abrupt cracks in the road. Metal on metal noise, Like two flat pieces fo sheet metal banging to only when hitting cracks, never when the suspension is actually being compressed. Only abrupt bumps seem to cause the noise, somethings loose... Not a thud or a bump or a fucking clunk, its a clank.

Replaced both front sway bar links with Moog links. Sway bar bushings looked good too.

Dealer did both compliance bushings less than a month ago.

I have had the car up on a garage lift two separate times banging around under there as well as jacked up in my driveway shaking the tires etc. Nothing...

Im at a loss, its driving me crazy. Brake calipers? something loose in there? FUCK!

 

Make sure the sway bar link nuts are still tight. You wouldn't be the first one to have this happen.

 

Have you noticed any cracks/deformities in any other bushings?

 

pics would really help here. any chance the dealer didnt press in the bushings correctly? that would certainly cause a clank noise

 

control arms and bushings?, what side if the clank coming from?

 

Believe I have the same thing on both sides. Dealer said it was compliance bushings, but you said you had yours replaced.......

 

Thing is, this sound has been happening since I got the car, with the old links and the new ones I put on, sounds exactly the same. I definitely tightened the hell out of the new ones too. Ill have my guy see if he can get them any tighter this evening.

 

No, not that I can see. When I had the car in they mentioned only the front end links were shot, and I replaced those.

Tech mentioned the bar bushings were ok

 

It sounds to me like the front left, other times it almost sounds like its coming from under the middle of the car. Its so hard to tell though.

I cant seem to reproduce it when its on a lift either. I thought loose exhaust hanger for a while but that turned out to not be it.

Maybe something in the brake caliper rattling around?

 

I'll try and get some taken tonight. The sound was pretty much the same before and after the c bushings were replaces, which led me to start looking into other possible causes....

Ill get pics of both sides control arms and compliance bushings. I feel like its almost to much of a rattle to be something as big as a control arm.

 

when on a lift, use a pry bar to locate it....

 

Same thing happened to me this week on my 2008 TL-S. Immediately took it to the dealer and they found the front sub frame was loose. Tightened her up and all is quiet now.

I was shocked something like this could work itself loose. The dealer had no explanation on what caused this. My car is 100% stock. It was a little disconcerting to say the least.

 

Oh great... mine makes the same noise. Now I am scared my front end is just going to fall off. ):

 

As noted above, I am having this similar issue and seeing you have the same car (08 TL-S) , was wondering if you could share a little bit more about the sounds you specifically were hearing and under what conditions. If you could PM me or post more details here, I would appreciate it.

I think it would take a lot for it to fall off, but you never know.........

 

I think i might be having same noise but it only makes the noise when my wheels is turned while driving and its on and off doesn't happen all the time. 04 base btw

 

2 most common overlooked issues are the sway bar mount bushings and the nuts on top of the struts.

 

It started with a faint metal on metal knocking sound when hitting large bumps.
Very soon after it made the same noise on smooth roads with minor imperfections. Sounded like something was loose.
Noise occurred when either/or going straight, turning, braking or accelerating.
Same noise then increased in volume.
When the noise occurred I could also feel a slight tap (vibration) in the steering wheel.
The noise itself was a 1 time “knock”. Not multiple knocks.
I won’t say “you will know the noise when you hear it” because while the noise is noticeable, it’s not crazy loud. I’ve driven in people’s cars with all sorts of suspension noise and it doesn’t seem to bother them.

It still bothers me on how this could have occurred. I bought the vehicle 2nd hand from a lady who was a real estate agent. The only possible conclusions/clues I have is maybe she hit something hard enough that bent the rim (which I replaced some time ago).

 

Thank You se05