need help diagnosing

[smashed s4]

recently i have been hearing the "clanking" noise near my front drivers side wheel. whenever i go over bumps in the road, small potholes, indicators, etc its this CLANK. the other side is normal. its been getting worse and worse.

anyone have something like this before? i need a few clues on where i should start looking and diagnosing the issue

thanks!

[nkbks4]

control arms, tie rod ends???
mine would clunk when i pulled into the driveway. lower control arms cured me...

[quattEUro]

probably one of your controll arms. you lowered?

[smashed s4]

probably one of your controll arms. you lowered?

stock height. ZERO suspension mods

could it be sway bar bushings?

[quattEUro]

yea it could be. but dont rule out the control arms either. bushings wear out, and it is a 10 year old car. pop the wheel off and check all your control arm and swaybar bushings. if theyre clunking is should be pretty obvious which ones are bad

[Turbo Nerd]

Have you ever drove a car with bad sway bar bushings? When you hit bump or something else it feels like you have no control of the car, the steering wheel will go left and right will the front end is doing whatever.

If it doesn't clunk on hard left or right turns I'd forget about the CV's/axles, I honestly don't think it's your sway bar bushing's. Take off the wheel and start inspecting, or you can take it to Belle Tire (if you have one) and they do free inspections (I'm sure other places will do free inspections too, just have to look around).

Get yourself a whole control arm kit, there's some great prices and nothing like having a new front end.

[smashed s4]

ill inspect first thing tomorrow morning. then take it to a local inspection shop

thanks guys

[AudiNFS]

I have the same problem. Except I know I need control arms because of the damn squeaking when turning the wheel.

OP: Do no let it get to that point, just change all your control arms. I recommend FCPGroton.