Clunking while turning

JB2008

MEMBER
1993 GMC SONOMA
4.3L
V6
4WD
AUTOMATIC
227,733 MILES

I have got a bad clunking/thumping when I turn my steering wheel barely to the left while driving. Not a full turn but like when going around a curve, and it is only to the left. I can feel the thumping and hear a clunking. Any help is appreciated!

Friday, September 13th, 2019 AT 12:50 PM

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi,

Is this a clunk when turning the wheel or do you have to be moving in order for the noise to happen? Also, is it repetitive or is it a single clunk?

The most common cause would be a suspension component like a loose ball joint or sway bar link.

If it is loud enough to get a recording of it, I think I would be able to identify it. Let me know and we can go from there. Thanks

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Saturday, September 14th, 2019 AT 1:19 PM

JB2008

MEMBER
2 POSTS

It only happens while driving. Any speed doesn’t matter. Also it only does it when the steering wheel is slightly turned like when you are going around a curve not making a full blown turn. Its a loud thumping sound that you can feel under your feet when it happens. Doesnt seem to really be confined to one side of the truck more than the other(basically you can feel the thump about the same amount from driver or passeneger side). Have included a video, kinda hard to hear but the thumping you you hear about 3 seconds in is the sound. I did have someone suggest the crossmember may be bad?

Video (Click to make bigger)

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Monday, September 16th, 2019 AT 8:47 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Yep. That is a bushing that is worn out. That deep thumping is the play between the different components and it sounds like a dampened or dead thump. Not a metal on metal because there is still rubber in between the two pieces of metal. Given enough time it will be more of a metallic snapping.

Problem is, there is no real way to tell you which bushing. Could be a mount or a suspension component or one in the steering system. Basically just climb under there and any bushing that looks cracked or worn needs to be replaced.

I attached a picture of a cracked bushing. Just do a google search for more examples. Again, anything questionable should be replaced.

Image (Click to make bigger)