Front end clunking?

[Usmc1968]

Hey folks-

My wife drives a 2005 EX with 104,000 miles. Car has been superb in terms of reliability and usefulness. We drive on rough roads everyday and noticed a strange clunking/rattling noise coming from the front end. I can feel it through the steering wheel. I took it to the shop and they replaced the front engine mount, right wheel bearing (also had rubbing sound when turning right) and the front brakes. Still getting the sound. The shop said the shocks and everything are still good. I question that and hence my posting here. Any ideas what it could be? Also popped that dumb catalytic converter bank 2 code that it is running below efficiency or something. Should I bee too concerned with that one?

Semper Fi

[noront]

Try the stabilizer links and bushings. Also, I recently had a persistent rattle that I finally found to be the large washer on the top of my left front strut. The nut had loosened just enough to cause this. Sounded like a squirrel in my dash!

[pilot_man_dan]

sounds like it could be your swaybar bushings. have a reputable shop take a look at them. the parts cost should be around $11 a side, and labor should only be 1 hour. good luck

[junior1954]

I'm an X-tech and just had a tie-rod end replaced and didn't really notice it was bad. If you can get the vehicle up on a rack or jack and remove weight from the tires (with jack stands, of course) grab the tie-rods and sway bar and if you feel play, replace the worn parts. You have to apply pressure to the bottom of the tire and move it up and down, simulating driving wheel travel, (like a long pipe used as a lever-but don't lift it off what's supporting the car!) to check for control arm bushing and other wear, but anything that has visual movement is bad. Fortunately, Honda over-builds their suspension parts-it's probably a cheap fix. As far as the sound while turning, sounds like a CV joint. We also replaced an engine mount. This work was done at 90,000 miles. We just turned 100,000.

[Usmc1968]

Update-

Thanks guys. I had all the above checked out, struts replaced (they were shot) and still the clunking. The mechanic is stumped as am I. I also had the 105K mile service done. One thing I did notice was a lot of loose plastic underparts that have lost their little push pin thingys. Going to tighten them all up and see if that does anything.
Currently at 109,000

Semper Fi

[humanoid]

Did he check the motor mounts?

[Usmc1968]

Yes, they did the foot on brake then accelerate test. He said the all looked good. This shop specializes in front ends. Maybe time for a second opinion. It definitely drives better with the new Struts, but clunking on speed bump like humps is driving me nuts.

Semper Fi

[dustino8]

Have a look at this thread: Front End Chatter

Sway bar bushings are sitting in my garage. I just have to find the time to swap them out.

[rocky]

Got this to. Sounds like a common problem so here is hoping for a common solution!

[Usmc1968]

Thanks for the link, sounds exactly what my problem is.
Where would be a good place to buy some Sway bar bushings with the Zerk? Are they relatively easy to install?

Semper Fi

[dustino8]

Can't get them with zerks. The passenger side is easy to remove and install. One bolt on the driver side looks difficult, but I think with a knuckle on a ratchet it may be possible.

[noront]

I experienced the same clunking and successfully replaced both sway bar bushings. Passenger side was a breeze. The driver's side is a pain because of the lack of clearance but with a lot of patience, I was able to remove and replace the bushing. There's no room for a socket - I used a small open-end wrench, one partial turn at a time...clunks are gone

[Usmc1968]

Who makes good sway bar bushings for a 2005 Pilot? A bunch online like Moog, Beck/Arnley, OES Genuine or Mevotech. Are they all pretty much the same? Alo, will I need an alignment after changing the sway bar front end links? I hope not since I just had the struts replaced and car aligned...yikes!
Thanks,

Semper Fi

[noront]

I used Honda bushings - you shouldn't need an alignment after changing your sway bar links.

[Usmc1968]

Good to go, thanks. Ended up ordering Moog end links and bushings on Amazon. I will let you all know if this fixes things.

Semper Fi