Thread: Clunking noise in front end 04 gtp!!!!

I can't for the life of me figure out where this clunking noise is coming form in the front end??? I have has it in and has the left outer tie rod replaced, sway bar link and the steering intermediate shaft all replaced and still does it, they can't seem to find it and two shops say that everything is tight. Anyone else have any other suggestions or experience's with this???? Also are these cars typically more road noisey it seems that my front strut mounts are rattling only 60,000 on it???? The front end clunk is when I put it in drive or reverse and start moving, going over a bump while turning and taking off from a stop and not all the time just when it wants to.
PLEASE HELP!!!!

It sounds like you and I have the exact same problem with our cars. I have a '04 Grand Prix GT that does the exact same thing. I've had the tie rods, wheel bearings, and the intermediate steering shaft replaced and the clunking is still there. I've done a little research online and have seen people talking about the engine mounts being the problem. One in particular said that he had a misaligned engine mount. When he got it fixed the noise went away. I don't know what the problem is with my car. It's in the shop right now being looked at for the noise...again

Did anyone check all the bushings, on each lower control arms?

I had a clunk in somewhat quick turns, and over bumps.. I had inner/outer tie rods/power steering pump/rack and pinion all replaced(not for the clunk), and haven't noticed it since.

I'm at the point where I'm tired of spending money for shop visits and the problem is still there. This is frustrating and a little ridiculous

Originally Posted by justin98

i can't for the life of me figure out where this clunking noise is coming form in the front end??? I have has it in and has the left outer tie rod replaced, sway bar link and the steering intermediate shaft all replaced and still does it, they can't seem to find it and two shops say that everything is tight. Anyone else have any other suggestions or experience's with this???? Also are these cars typically more road noisey it seems that my front strut mounts are rattling only 60,000 on it???? The front end clunk is when i put it in drive or reverse and start moving, going over a bump while turning and taking off from a stop and not all the time just when it wants to.
Please help!!!!

look it sounds like its the motor mounts since ur only hearing that clunk sound when u put the car on drive and reverse, i bet its when u press on the gas that the noise can be heard since im guessing ur mounts maybe bad causing ur engine to be off balance therefore causing the noise check it out it might cause u more problems in the long run, just my two cents.

Originally Posted by justin98

I can't for the life of me figure out where this clunking noise is coming form in the front end??? I have has it in and has the left outer tie rod replaced, sway bar link and the steering intermediate shaft all replaced and still does it, they can't seem to find it and two shops say that everything is tight. Anyone else have any other suggestions or experience's with this???? Also are these cars typically more road noisey it seems that my front strut mounts are rattling only 60,000 on it???? The front end clunk is when I put it in drive or reverse and start moving, going over a bump while turning and taking off from a stop and not all the time just when it wants to.
PLEASE HELP!!!!

I'm getting that exact same "clunk" noise. Sometimes in drive just starting off, sometimes when it shifts, or down shifts, going into reverse and back..Had the tires off and looked at the mounts going into drive / reverse nothing stands out. but not
much weight on the system on jackstands and no tires....No ideas...Transmision craddle, lower mounts, upper torque struts(mounts) ? No clues....

Have you had the brake pads replaced? Does it not clunk when you have your foot on the brake?

In my 91 Camaro, I had a "clunk" in the front end. I replaced everything steering related, and still there was a clunk. Then I realized that there was no clunk when I was braking, even if the road was bumpy. I was thinking about the problem as being associated with driving rather than not being associated with stopping. Upon inspection I noticed the brake pads didn't sit quite perfectly. I pulled them off and bent in the tabs just enough that they were tight to the calipers (and silicone the contacts). I have since come to learn that most mechanics do not adjust the tabs, and so once the silicone wears away they clunk like hell except when you are braking. I too replaced the whole front end before realizing that it could have been a free fix. I hope this helps.

I had a Camaro with a clunk in the front end, after replacing all steering components, I realized that the noise didn't happen when I had my foot on the brake. It was the pads themselves clunking. I pulled them and tightened the tabs to keep them tighter to the calipers. No more clunking.

Now I have the GP, I was in school and had a shop install new tires and change the pads, 2 months later when the grease wore off, I had a clunk in the front end. I should have done the change myself and made sure the pads were tight. If you don't have clunking while braking, check your brake pads before paying to have the front end rebuilt. Hope this helps.

my dealer ship said it was the sub-frame and they would have to inject it with special foam or something and my luck when my car was undercoated they sprayed it in where they need to spray this stuff so i would have to pay to have it removed with some other special sauce and then pay for the other special stuff plus labour about 5-7 hours b/c it wasnt covered by the warrenty, im was only at 73000km... so i pretty much didnt care about the noise anymore and went and picked my car up 20min after she told me that, so after driving another 6 months and going down the drag strip the car doesnt make that noise anymore... so just drive the car it might stop eventually.. maybe.. im at 85+k now so??

intermediate steering shaft is one of the common issues . I looked at the back history on my 06 and it was replaced . I was asking a GM mechanic and he said is its not a safety issue just bugs people with the noise. So I asked him is it a pain to change and the answer was Yes !@! So I think I will try to live with the clunking

The intermediate steering shaft should only clunk when you turn. My Wife's 01 Bonneville SSEI did the clunking, we had the intermediate steering shaft changed and really it is not a bad job. The NEW intermediate steering shaft is also making a clunking sound, GM has had an issue with them for years. The issue is that they use a nylon type of spline inside a steel housing and the nylon just does not hold up. May not be nylon, but a plastic type of spline. I took my old one apart and looked at it, hopefully they have improved it.

The clunking noise I have noticed in my 04 GTP is not in the steering Intermediate shaft, but up in the front end. Only 42 K on the car and the thump noise is noticed even going straight down a smooth road. NOT in turns or braking as much. Front end seems tight, but I will also raise it up and check things out. I raised the front end and got the wheel off the ground and started the car and put it in gear and I could hear the thump noise, seemed to be coming from the inner RH CV Joint. I replaced the CV joint and then drove the car down the road. I still hear the thump thump, but not as bad, maybe the other CV joint is bad or some bearing inside the transmission ? no idea at this time??

I had a similar problem in my 94 grand am, which is very similar but a little different. After replacing cv joints struts and bushings it turned out to be a bad tranny mount. The fact that your getting this problem when your shifting into gear makes me wonder if it could be a tranny or motor mount.