Could alignment work bring in clunking noise?

hueyhy · 12-19-2012, 07:12 PM

Done my control arm and tie rod end replacement yesterday.
after that I immediately drove to a alignment shop and done the alignment.

while I was driving to there, there's no clunking IIRC

Today when I drove the car I found there's clunking in the front when have small bumps on the road.

my question is, is it because some loose nuts/bolts (maybe because when I tighten them, the car is not loaded)
or it might be caused by the guy doing the alignment?

(I have a camber plate, and he adjust it by loosen the three bolts holding the strut mount to the chasis, and smack the top )

Where could I check?

another thing I could think of is, when I put on the control arm, I tightened the bushing bracket first, and then the ball joints. I don't know if this is a wrong sequence and don't know if this could cause loose nuts when the car is loaded.

heechkass · 12-20-2012, 08:54 AM

Check the lock nut on the tie rod. Maybe they didn't tighten it.

djantlive · 12-20-2012, 11:23 AM

a loose nut would make the car wonder and loose alignment. not necessarily a clunking noise.

VMRWheels · 12-20-2012, 01:25 PM

Could be a loose nut or something. You should go back to the alignment shop and let the person who performed the alignment know that you are now experiencing some clunking/noises that weren't present before the alignment, so you want to double check to make sure everything that was adjusted is to the proper torque specs.

Mango · 12-20-2012, 03:54 PM

Why do you have camber plates?

DenverSooner · 12-21-2012, 11:29 PM

Sway bar end links.

peytonracer4 · 12-22-2012, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverSooner

Sway bar end links.

Bam. 9/10 this is it. For some reason these often need to be tightened twice. Once. And then once again after like 50-100 miles.
Hope this helps.

bmw4130 · 01-02-2013, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peytonracer4

Bam. 9/10 this is it. For some reason these often need to be tightened twice. Once. And then once again after like 50-100 miles.
Hope this helps.

Hmmm is that a common issue? I just changed the front sway bar links right before thanksgiving. Tonight I'm hearing knocking noise in the front left. I was thinking swaybar links also. I was shaking my head saying I just changed these???

Whinojosa · 01-05-2013, 11:11 AM

+1 on the links - tighten them with suspension loaded on ramps. I've experienced that issue - it's LOUD and vibrates tremendously.

12-19-2012, 07:12 PM	#1
hueyhy Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 123 My Ride: E46 330i View My Garage	Could alignment work bring in clunking noise? Done my control arm and tie rod end replacement yesterday. after that I immediately drove to a alignment shop and done the alignment. while I was driving to there, there's no clunking IIRC Today when I drove the car I found there's clunking in the front when have small bumps on the road. my question is, is it because some loose nuts/bolts (maybe because when I tighten them, the car is not loaded) or it might be caused by the guy doing the alignment? (I have a camber plate, and he adjust it by loosen the three bolts holding the strut mount to the chasis, and smack the top ) Where could I check? another thing I could think of is, when I put on the control arm, I tightened the bushing bracket first, and then the ball joints. I don't know if this is a wrong sequence and don't know if this could cause loose nuts when the car is loaded.

12-20-2012, 01:25 PM	#4
VMRWheels Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 8,822 My Ride: 1:25 Scale Enzo View My Garage	Could be a loose nut or something. You should go back to the alignment shop and let the person who performed the alignment know that you are now experiencing some clunking/noises that weren't present before the alignment, so you want to double check to make sure everything that was adjusted is to the proper torque specs. __________________ Kevin @ *VMR* \| Wheels Tel: 714-442-7916 \| Email: kevin.a@velocitymotoring.com Facebook! \| Flickr! \| Blog!

12-20-2012, 03:54 PM	#5
Mango Platinum Plus Quality Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 16,260 My Ride: M54B30 View My Garage	Why do you have camber plates? __________________ Cooling \| Maintenance \| Vacuum \| Suspension \| Costs "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." -Steve Jobs

12-21-2012, 11:29 PM	#6
DenverSooner OEM ///Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Castle Rock Posts: 178 My Ride: 2003 325xi View My Garage	Sway bar end links. __________________

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12-20-2012, 08:54 AM	#2
heechkass Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: california Posts: 127 My Ride: 323i Touring, 2000 View My Garage	Check the lock nut on the tie rod. Maybe they didn't tighten it.

12-20-2012, 11:23 AM	#3
djantlive Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 97 My Ride: E46 M3 View My Garage	a loose nut would make the car wonder and loose alignment. not necessarily a clunking noise.

01-05-2013, 11:11 AM	#9
Whinojosa Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Posts: 20 My Ride: 2004 BMW 325i View My Garage	+1 on the links - tighten them with suspension loaded on ramps. I've experienced that issue - it's LOUD and vibrates tremendously.