I have read a ton of posts here about random front end clunks and how hard they are to diagnose. So I was wondering what the opinions would be on the following problem:

A mild clunk can be felt in the steering wheel of my 2006 TL AT when going over speed bumps at low speed or on uneven roads that cause some bounding in the suspension. Hard bumps like cracks and tar strips don't seem to cause any clunk. The car has 55k miles on it now and the problem has been getting worse since starting around 35k. I had an alignment check done a few months ago and it was fine and the tech said he could feel the clunk but it wasn't enough to diagnose the problem, saying to wait until it got worse (great!)

The other symptom is that the car becomes noticeably more unstable at speeds over 55, feeling kind of like a shopping car with bad front wheels, meaning it doesn't track like it should. No pulling, it just takes extra attention to keep it in the lane. The steering wheel itself it still tight, no slop can be felt when turning the wheel left or right. The tires are original and have about 3/16" on them, which is low, so I might go ahead and replace them anyway and see if that trues up the road feel, but I doubt it will help. The shocks were replaced at 45k (I drive on bumpy roads obviously!) and the clunk didn't get better or worse.

So the list of suspects would probably be tie rod ends, ball joints, steering rack, motor mounts (would that cause a steering problem?), wheel bearings, etc... Since the labor cost of inspecting the tie rods and ball joints (most likely bad parts) is probably (?) the same as replacing them, I'm wondering if I should just buy the parts on-line, replace them all, and take a gamble that one of them is bad? Otherwise it is a crap shoot to just have someone pull everything apart looking for the one (or more) bad ones. The bill could easily be $1-2k to swap everything out if they can't find an obvious problem, so buying the parts myself would save some cost. A mechanic around here is $80-120/hr.

I also plan to look at the lower control arms this weekend, some of the posts said the bushings sometimes split. Not sure if that would result in a clunk, but it could probably account for the loose feel on the road.

Is there anything else I should look at? I hate to wait until the clunk is so loud and the car is so loose that a deaf and blind tech could find the problem.

Thanks for any help

 

you might try the 3G forum

 

This is getting to be an old thread I see, but if you never had the clunk issue figured out, check the front upper ball joints. I've replaced quite a few of them on the 3G TL as well as the previous generation. You just will end up changing the entire upper control arm which from Honda will have the new ball joint it it. About an hour per arm or less to change.

 

does this sound like your issue? -

"Service Bulletin
12-041
December 22, 2012
Applies To: 2009–12 TL – ALL 2009–12 TSX – ALL
Front Suspension Clunk in Hot Weather SYMPTOM
TSX Model Parts Information
Part Number
Snap Ring
(if knuckle replaced)
90681-SJK-000
Knuckle Assy, Left
51215-T A0-020
Knuckle Assy, Right
51210-T A0-020
A clunk is heard in the front suspension while driving over irregular surfaces and in hot weather. The noise goes away temporarily when the vehicle is lifted in the air (the suspension is allowed to hang) and then returned to the ground.
PROBABLE CAUSE
The lower ball joint in the knuckle can make noise during hot weather conditions.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Replace both of the front lower ball joints with the service parts made to address this specific symptom. If prior replacement, then replace both front knuckle assemblies; press out the new lower ball joints from the new knuckles, and press in ones listed in this bulletin....."



see - AcuraZine Community > AcuraZine TL Community > Fourth Generation TL (2009+)
>>> 4G TL Service Department: Questions & Answers- CHECK HERE FIRST! <<<

 

Thanks for the post. I was half-waiting for a bulletin to surface about this issue....Im glad its spelled out pretty clearly here. Yes, those symptoms do match perfectly. Mine actually goes into the dealer tonight for this and some other issues. I just hope that given the cold temps here, they can still get it to act up for them, or else them doing anything involved in the bulletin will be a pain Im sure.

 

An updated regarding the bulletin listed here for the front end noise. Unfortunately my dealer couldnt duplicate it now that its colder out, as it tends to be a warm weather type of thing. After calling honda customer relations earlier about my propeller shaft issue, we talked about the front end ball joint thing. The guy I spoke with was very good and also thorough, and explained that the problem with the ball joints is merely lubrication; the grease settles to the bottom of the ball joint over time, causing part of it to operate dry. Raising it on a lift temporarily remedies it, because the hanging of the suspension moves the grease around enough to quiet it. But it comes back. The updated ball joints basically just have a different type of grease in them that wont settle as much. The noise is more apparent in warmer weather, because like oil, grease gets thinner the warmer it is, so its settling more in this case. Bottom line is, the noise isnt coming from the ball joints being loose or worn or anything...its just a lubrication thing.

 

Damn..old thread. Got me again.