Why does my car make a clunking noise under load or when turning?
A clunking noise and binding sensation during turns, acceleration, or shifting between drive and reverse usually point to worn-out suspension components like bushings or ball joints. This sudden clunk prevents a smooth transition of power from a dead stop and creates an unsettling experience while driving.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
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Why does my car make a clunking noise under load or when turning?
- 1putting the vehicle on stands to free spool the wheelsDid this help you?
- 2changing transfer case fluidDid this help you?
- 3turning components by hand to check for playDid this help you?
- 4Checking lower control arm bushingsDid this help you?
- 5Inspecting motor mountsDid this help you?
- 6Examining ball joints for wearDid this help you?
- 7Checking for loose heat shields around the exhaustDid this help you?
- 8Inspecting the catalytic converter for broken internal piecesDid this help you?
- 9Securing hanging scrape platesDid this help you?
- 10checking the radiator fan for clearance or forgotten toolsDid this help you?
- 11inspecting the serpentine belt and pulleys for obvious wear or obstructionsDid this help you?
- 12spinning the fan manually with the vehicle offDid this help you?
- 13Trying to use AI to identify the soundDid this help you?
- 14Recording a video and asking experienced people on forumsDid this help you?
- 15Running the motor with the belt off to isolate the noiseDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I have a 2016 jeep Cherokee limited 3.2 v6, it’s an automatic I had just gotten my water pump fixed, serpentine belt, and thermostat housing fixed. Sound started after a long distance trip”source ↗
“the first part of the video is me slowing down to 30/20Kph and stops after I get down to 10kph, and that sound is me going highway speeds around 100kph, and sound starts around 100+ and keeps on making the sound but stops for a second or two and picks up again!”source ↗
“Work truck. Noise only happens when in gear. In park there is no noise.”source ↗
“This sound started along with a revvy whine when under load.”source ↗
“It’s making the noise everytime I make any turn under load, when I start accelerating and it’s now doing it when switching from drive to reverse.”source ↗
“I only notice it in turns or when starting to accelerate and the switching of reverse to drive. I don’t feel any wobbling outside of that it rides smooth after it does it’s clunking”source ↗
“It started to make a clunking noise whenever i go from a deadstop to start. It doesnt do it on turns or any other situation, just from stop to start”source ↗
“It doesnt clunk when coming to a stop, it clunks when going from a stop to a start. Like when i press the accelerator at a red light it clunks but doesn't do it any other time”source ↗
“All the bushings and ball joints are shot on this damn thing so imma take a look”source ↗
Where this came up
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