08 with cluck after pothole

[veener79]

My fiance had a 08 with the 3800 and last winter she hit a pot hole going up to my folks and ever since she has had a one and off cluck in the driver side front of the car. You hear it when she hits a bump in the road or a pot hole. You also hear it when she turns the tires all the way to the right or left. But we hear the sould. You do not feel it in the wheel or feel it in the body.

I jacked up the front of the car and there is no play in the wheel. The sway bar also looks in good shape. I do not see a crack in the spring. This is the weirdest part if she hits a large bump the sound will go away till she hits anouther large enough bump or pothole.

I am wondering what is causing this sound. How do I fix it.

 

[gtpinsc]

may have blow out the strut itself.

 

[redlinepontiac]

strut or strut hat probobly

 

[jakewet28]

Check the brake caliper bracket there might be a bolt missing. This happened to me a couple weeks ago every time I hit a bump It made a clunking noise. I looked at it when I got home that day to discover that one of the two bolts was just completely gone. Dunno if that's it but if it is its an easy fix

Also an easy way to check is to rock the car back and forth while in park and if you see the caliper bracket have some play that's probably it

 

[veener79]

I push down in the corner and the rebond is correct and nice. I did not see any oil leakage out of the strut.

What is the best way to test the hat? Or is it built into the strut? I have done struts in the past on Honda's so this should not be much harder if I have to relace the front. I know if I do the left side I have to do the right side also.

 

[veener79]

I am thinking I am going to be tearing down the front end soon on the car. Is there a good way to test the strut mount if that is where there car is damaged? I do not want to be replacing parts and having to do the same tear down 3-4 times for different parts.