2005 Town & Country with "clunking" front end over bumps

Seems like a shock problem.

There is a "clunking" sound in the frond end coming from the wheel area.
It is noticeable on small bumps in the road and usually less on bigger
bumps.

I assume the shocks need to be replaced but it seems awfully early in
it's life.

I had an older T&C that seemed to always have CV joint problems and
wondered if anyone thought they still used the same bad parts and a
clunking would come from there instead of shocks.

Thanks.

"Just Me (remove <nospam> to reply)" > wrote in
message news:Pr5lj.18927$9t4.15898@trnddc08...
> Seems like a shock problem.
>
> There is a "clunking" sound in the frond end coming from the wheel area.
> It is noticeable on small bumps in the road and usually less on bigger
> bumps.
>
> I assume the shocks need to be replaced but it seems awfully early in
> it's life.
>
> I had an older T&C that seemed to always have CV joint problems and
> wondered if anyone thought they still used the same bad parts and a
> clunking would come from there instead of shocks.
>
> Thanks.

Sway bar bushing and or sway bar links bad.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

On Jan 21, 1:47 pm, "maxpower" > wrote:
>
> Sway bar bushing and or sway bar links bad.
>
> Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech


amazing... I typed up a message a while ago saying that I noticed
the plastic ends of the anti-roll bar links on my grand-dad's 2004 are
partially broken at 25,000 when i changed the brakes and rotors..
but i didn't think it was relevant.

this thing is worse than a benz! lol!

"Nza" > wrote in message
...
> On Jan 21, 1:47 pm, "maxpower" > wrote:
> >
> > Sway bar bushing and or sway bar links bad.
> >
> > Glenn Beasley
> > Chrysler Tech
>
>
> amazing... I typed up a message a while ago saying that I noticed
> the plastic ends of the anti-roll bar links on my grand-dad's 2004 are
> partially broken at 25,000 when i changed the brakes and rotors..
> but i didn't think it was relevant.
>
> this thing is worse than a benz! lol!
>
The ends usually aren't. its the ball and socket that wear out. I guess
unless they are all beat up it could affect it. It is just a **** poor set
up. Been like that for a long time

In article

m>,
Nza > wrote:

> this thing is worse than a benz! lol!

Impossible.

"Just Me (remove <nospam> to reply)" > wrote in
message news:Pr5lj.18927$9t4.15898@trnddc08...
> Seems like a shock problem.
>
> There is a "clunking" sound in the frond end coming from the wheel area.
> It is noticeable on small bumps in the road and usually less on bigger
> bumps.
>
> I assume the shocks need to be replaced but it seems awfully early in it's
> life.
>
> I had an older T&C that seemed to always have CV joint problems and
> wondered if anyone thought they still used the same bad parts and a
> clunking would come from there instead of shocks.
>
> Thanks.
Check out the bushings that hold the sway bar in place. If they get loose
you get a "clunk" over small bumps (like railroad crossings & such) from the
sway bar bouncing up & down. This happened to my 2004 Caravan after less
than 60K miles. New bushings and the noise is gone.

Glenn Beasley is right on about this clunking sound. I inspected the sway
bar bushing on my Van and they looked like new. I could not believe they
were the problem, but it was the problem. I used the red plastic bushings
and that cured it. The Mopar dealers will only want to put in the factory
bushings, or, that is all the 2 dealers I checked with would do. One service
writer tried to convince me the steering rack was bad. I bought the bushings
from Advance ($9.00) and put them in myself. George
"maxpower" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Just Me (remove <nospam> to reply)" > wrote
> in
> message news:Pr5lj.18927$9t4.15898@trnddc08...
>> Seems like a shock problem.
>>
>> There is a "clunking" sound in the frond end coming from the wheel area.
>> It is noticeable on small bumps in the road and usually less on bigger
>> bumps.
>>
>> I assume the shocks need to be replaced but it seems awfully early in
>> it's life.
>>
>> I had an older T&C that seemed to always have CV joint problems and
>> wondered if anyone thought they still used the same bad parts and a
>> clunking would come from there instead of shocks.
>>
>> Thanks.
>
> Sway bar bushing and or sway bar links bad.
>
> Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech
>
>

What kind of job is it to do these?
I mean can someone that has 'some' mechanical abilities easily do it, or is
it a pretty involved job.
I ask as I am getting the same clung/thumping noise as I travel over bumps
or dips in the road and suspect this may be the problem.
How much should I expect to pay if I decide to have someone do it (Virginia
area). ?



"George Rhude" > wrote in message
. ..
> Glenn Beasley is right on about this clunking sound. I inspected the sway
> bar bushing on my Van and they looked like new. I could not believe they
> were the problem, but it was the problem. I used the red plastic bushings
> and that cured it. The Mopar dealers will only want to put in the factory
> bushings, or, that is all the 2 dealers I checked with would do. One
> service writer tried to convince me the steering rack was bad. I bought
> the bushings from Advance ($9.00) and put them in myself. George
> "maxpower" > wrote in message
> . ..
>>
>> "Just Me (remove <nospam> to reply)" > wrote
>> in
>> message news:Pr5lj.18927$9t4.15898@trnddc08...
>>> Seems like a shock problem.
>>>
>>> There is a "clunking" sound in the frond end coming from the wheel area.
>>> It is noticeable on small bumps in the road and usually less on bigger
>>> bumps.
>>>
>>> I assume the shocks need to be replaced but it seems awfully early in
>>> it's life.
>>>
>>> I had an older T&C that seemed to always have CV joint problems and
>>> wondered if anyone thought they still used the same bad parts and a
>>> clunking would come from there instead of shocks.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Sway bar bushing and or sway bar links bad.
>>
>> Glenn Beasley
>> Chrysler Tech
>>
>>
>
>

"PC Medic" > wrote in message
...
> What kind of job is it to do these?
> I mean can someone that has 'some' mechanical abilities easily do it, or
is
> it a pretty involved job.
> I ask as I am getting the same clung/thumping noise as I travel over bumps
> or dips in the road and suspect this may be the problem.
> How much should I expect to pay if I decide to have someone do it
(Virginia
> area). ?
>
>
>
> "George Rhude" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > Glenn Beasley is right on about this clunking sound. I inspected the
sway
> > bar bushing on my Van and they looked like new. I could not believe they
> > were the problem, but it was the problem. I used the red plastic
bushings
> > and that cured it. The Mopar dealers will only want to put in the
factory
> > bushings, or, that is all the 2 dealers I checked with would do. One
> > service writer tried to convince me the steering rack was bad. I bought
> > the bushings from Advance ($9.00) and put them in myself. George
> > "maxpower" > wrote in message
> > . ..
> >>
> >> "Just Me (remove <nospam> to reply)" >
wrote
> >> in
> >> message news:Pr5lj.18927$9t4.15898@trnddc08...
> >>> Seems like a shock problem.
> >>>
> >>> There is a "clunking" sound in the frond end coming from the wheel
area.
> >>> It is noticeable on small bumps in the road and usually less on
bigger
> >>> bumps.
> >>>
> >>> I assume the shocks need to be replaced but it seems awfully early in
> >>> it's life.
> >>>
> >>> I had an older T&C that seemed to always have CV joint problems and
> >>> wondered if anyone thought they still used the same bad parts and a
> >>> clunking would come from there instead of shocks.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks.
> >>
> >> Sway bar bushing and or sway bar links bad.
> >>
> >> Glenn Beasley
> >> Chrysler Tech
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
Having the vehicle up in the air makes it a lot easier. The sway bar
bushings are underneath the vehicle so you would have to crawl under it on
ramps. The links are on the outside near the wheels. Assuming the bolts
aren't frozen the links are easy to do. Spray them with penetrating oil
first. The going rate is about an hr labor for the links and bushings. If
you get them both done at the same time figure 1 1/2 hr. What part of VA.
Northern VA?

Glenn

"maxpower" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "PC Medic" > wrote in message
> ...
>> What kind of job is it to do these?
>> I mean can someone that has 'some' mechanical abilities easily do it, or
> is
>> it a pretty involved job.
>> I ask as I am getting the same clung/thumping noise as I travel over
>> bumps
>> or dips in the road and suspect this may be the problem.
>> How much should I expect to pay if I decide to have someone do it
> (Virginia
>> area). ?
>>
>>
>>
>> "George Rhude" > wrote in message
>> . ..
>> > Glenn Beasley is right on about this clunking sound. I inspected the
> sway
>> > bar bushing on my Van and they looked like new. I could not believe
>> > they
>> > were the problem, but it was the problem. I used the red plastic
> bushings
>> > and that cured it. The Mopar dealers will only want to put in the
> factory
>> > bushings, or, that is all the 2 dealers I checked with would do. One
>> > service writer tried to convince me the steering rack was bad. I bought
>> > the bushings from Advance ($9.00) and put them in myself. George
>> > "maxpower" > wrote in message
>> > . ..
>> >>
>> >> "Just Me (remove <nospam> to reply)" >
> wrote
>> >> in
>> >> message news:Pr5lj.18927$9t4.15898@trnddc08...
>> >>> Seems like a shock problem.
>> >>>
>> >>> There is a "clunking" sound in the frond end coming from the wheel
> area.
>> >>> It is noticeable on small bumps in the road and usually less on
> bigger
>> >>> bumps.
>> >>>
>> >>> I assume the shocks need to be replaced but it seems awfully early in
>> >>> it's life.
>> >>>
>> >>> I had an older T&C that seemed to always have CV joint problems and
>> >>> wondered if anyone thought they still used the same bad parts and a
>> >>> clunking would come from there instead of shocks.
>> >>>
>> >>> Thanks.
>> >>
>> >> Sway bar bushing and or sway bar links bad.
>> >>
>> >> Glenn Beasley
>> >> Chrysler Tech
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
> Having the vehicle up in the air makes it a lot easier. The sway bar
> bushings are underneath the vehicle so you would have to crawl under it on
> ramps. The links are on the outside near the wheels. Assuming the bolts
> aren't frozen the links are easy to do. Spray them with penetrating oil
> first. The going rate is about an hr labor for the links and bushings. If
> you get them both done at the same time figure 1 1/2 hr. What part of VA.
> Northern VA?
>
> Glenn
>

Thanks for the response.
I am in S.E. Virginia (Virginia Beach) and car is pretty clean underneath so
may not be hard to get them off.
No factory Service Manual for this one yet so was not sure what was involved
as not a job I have ever done.
Does not sound bad so have to decide if I want to attempt it. Ohhh how I
hate getting underneath the vehicles to work on them. Must be an age thing
:0)