[NOS2Go4Me]

I've had it sporadically for a little while now, and I can go weeks without hearing it. However, in the last week the number of times it has reared its ugly head has increased dramatically.

It happens on medium to severe suspension travel (thank you, City of North Bay Works department), in a straight line or while cornering. It's a quick clunk that can repeat itself with enough suspension travel, but only on a compression motion so far (not extension travel). Road heaves aren't normally enough to trigger it, unless they're quick and savage, and the ride the remainder of the time isn't beat or overly floaty (for the stock sedan setup). To see if it was steering-gear related, I behaved quite badly on the way back from the dump today and took corners at 80-90 KM/H on a road that was rated for 40 (NON-RESIDENTIAL - just thought I'd clear the air there). Nothing was amiss... the car handled like a champ, actually.

Nothing happens during heavy braking with the associated brake dive, heavy acceleration... it doesn't feel like a ball joint at all or anything. Thanks to my old Celeb wagon, I know exactly what one of those feels like when its going. :/

Also, it's on both sides of the front suspension... and I'd swear I heard it once at the rear on the passenger side.

Ideas?

Anthony, you said something similar before was strut tower bearings? Or perhaps my front springs are actually broken? I tried to visually inspect everything, but so far it looks good. Once I get back from course this week... the new S2 suspension is going in and a full inspection of the running gear / underpinnings is being performed as well. I'm paranoid about this stuff and I just want the car to run right.

Also, what's the rod that runs from the bottom of the front wishbone to the top of the wheel hub assembly, perpendicular to the road? Looks like soft metal, rubber bushing at the top. Is that supposed to have any play to it when the car is parked and the wheels are straight? The bar is aft of the halfshaft.

Thanks guys.