Just joined the site last week... bought a used 2005 RL with 80k miles last Saturday. I have a problem with the front suspension making a clunking noise when there is a bump on the road. Sounds like metal on metal. I jacked up the car and checked the Ball joints and axles everything looked fine.

I am assuming the shocks/struts are blown... could that be an issue also?

If it is the struts, the ride quality would decrease and the front end would bounce more instead of dampening over bumps.

any help is appreciated.

 

motor mounts

 

crap...do you know which particular mount is bad?

I do have a 3 month powertrain warranty. I would hope that would cover the mounts when I take it to the dealership later today.

 

front and passanger side mounts are the most common to fail. also shocks could be bad

 

Ok thanks, I will let the service advisor know of this when I get there.

 

Mounts have notoriously poor quality on Hondas, so that is a good guess. However, the explanation sounds like a strut to me.

You likely will not notice a blown strut until you hit a bump. The spring is what keeps the ride smooth, but you are correct about the spring resonance not getting dampened as much. Still, this is a hard thing to notice until you go from a blown strut to a brand new one.

Cliffs: Check both.

 

Could it be the glove box?

I know you said front, but there have been parking brake noises on other cars

 

No this is a noise coming from the front driver/passenger wheel well area. everytime car goes over a bump there is a clunk.

I am getting the car lowered within the next couple weeks. Thinking I should just get new a-spec struts.

 

I had the same issue on an RL 103k miles, fix was motor mounts and front struts. Drives very well now.