fignewton

Replaced my strut bearings and bushings about 6 weeks ago. Have noted clunking in the front suspension over small bumps that has gotten worse over the last week. Rechecked tightness of all suspension stuff last week when I was replacing my grille and had it up on the ramps. All is tight, including brake caliper bolts.
Sounds to me like something is defintely loose in the strut area, so I'm suspecting the OEM end link(s). Did a search and saw that a couple of people had diagnosed their prob as the same, and one person found that the hole in the end of the bar where the link goes through had worn to where it was binding and popping.
Anyone offer opinions/experience? Everything appears to be real tight and together, no steering or handling problems, but it sounds like it's falling apart... Will also check subframe bolts, but they've never been loosened to my knowledge. Motor mount bolts were loosened when timing belt was done. Will also check stock swaybar bushings and bolts that hold them, as one person said he had a bolt missing!!
Thanks
fig

joe@vwvortex

if you tightened them while wheels are off the ground - they might not have seated correctly. Loosen, lift car and lower car and then retighten when car is on the ground. Could also be your sway bar bushings as well.

fignewton

Strut can't go anywhere, literally. Springs are seated right in their perches and under load, so that's not what's making all the fuss. My suspicion keeps coming back to the swaybar somehow.
I've got the same knocking under the rear of the car that lots of other people have too. I've checked everything there, incl exhaust, and wonder if that is sway bar end links, too. Sounds like it's more to the right side of the car.
fig

joe@vwvortex

That being said my guess would be swaybar or motor mount related