Clucking Noise While Braking - Is It Ball Joint Wear Or Control Arm Bushings Problem Or Something Else?

rookiemechanic · Post by **rookiemechanic** » 24 Dec 2016, 16:02

Hello again Volvo specialists!
Problem:
Besides the reduced engine performance issue I am having in my car, which I have posted as a separate topic in this forum, I came to suspect that there are some mechanical problem in the car as well. I want to discuss about and get your advice and suggestions on the CLUCKING NOISE I am getting in my car when I brake a litle hard or a bit sudden.
When I apply my brakes a little hard or suddenly on a red light or a stop sign I hear a loud clucking noise from the front and when I drive out or reverse from the stop I hear another knock sound. I don't get the sound when on gentle braking and stop the car gradually. I am suspecting its a sign of BALL JOINT wearing out. Or it has to do with the CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ? I am pretty afraid to drive the car on a highway with this problem. To have the wheel come off at 80 mph is not how I want to say goodbye. Any suggestions, advice or experience with similar issue would be awesome.
I am waiting on your expert advice to order the parts from FCP, IPD or e-europarts. if there is a specific model or brand that you recommend please let me know. I am just a poor student so I am not leaning towards purchasing a genuine volvo part for these and I believe cheaper alternatives can do the job equally well.
Here are some (link is below) that I am currently looking at to purchase. Let me know what you think.
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/V ... 303-2.html
http://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=252071300860 ... lpid=82,82 (Ebay)
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... s60-xc70-2

Related problems?
Also I recently found out from an alignment shop that my inner tie rods are loose and needs to be replaced. Is there any chance that could be a possible source for the clucking noise? However, I doubt that is the problem here.

Thanks

Post by **oragex** » 24 Dec 2016, 19:27

For the control arm, turn the wheel to lock and look at the front bushing. For the rear one, have the wheel jacked.
For the ball joint, don't touch on anything else but the Lemforder or original Volvo. Control arm again only Lemforder.
A little suggestion. Some parts, such as the control arm or ball joint can be a pain to replace. Have them checked visual/by hand before removing them. The ball joint can be checked after the rod is freed from the control arm.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Dec 2016, 19:57

Jack a wheel up, and have someone hold the steering wheel tightly

Push/pull wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock. If you feel or hear play, it's control arm

Push / pull wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. If you hear or feel play, it's tie rods, usually outers

rookiemechanic · Post by **rookiemechanic** » 27 Dec 2016, 10:18

oragex wrote:For the control arm, turn the wheel to lock and look at the front bushing. For the rear one, have the wheel jacked.
For the ball joint, don't touch on anything else but the Lemforder or original Volvo. Control arm again only Lemforder.
A little suggestion. Some parts, such as the control arm or ball joint can be a pain to replace. Have them checked visual/by hand before removing them. The ball joint can be checked after the rod is freed from the control arm.

Thanks. I have not tried to move the tires yet and will hopefully get on it today but do you think the most likely reason for the clucking noise I described is either the ball joint or the control arms?

rookiemechanic · Post by **rookiemechanic** » 27 Dec 2016, 10:22

abscate wrote:Jack a wheel up, and have someone hold the steering wheel tightly

Push/pull wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock. If you feel or hear play, it's control arm

Push / pull wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. If you hear or feel play, it's tie rods, usually outers

Yeah, I am working on that today. I know for sure that the inner tie rods needs to be replaced. Do you think the clucking noise I described above is either either due to the ball joints or control arms. I am happy if its not something with the transmission or the engine.

rookiemechanic · Post by **rookiemechanic** » 27 Dec 2016, 17:59

so I went to a volvo specialist indy mechanic. He is an experienced mechanic with years of experience in repairing volvo. We did see some play on the iner tie rods which I was suspecting too but the ball joints and control arms looked ok or it was not bad enough to make the noise I was hearing. he suspects its something else. He also checked the engine mount to make sure if it was the reason but it was fine. So it came down to two things: either something wrong with the transmission or the drive/propeller shaft. I suspect its not the transmission since I get that clucking/noise sound only when I brake hard but not during normal driving. I am more inclined to believe its either the drive shaft or the propeller shaft. It looks to me like a component in the shaft is loose or wearing out that makes it push all the way in when brake is applied hard, thereby making the clucking noise and when driven out, (forward or reverse) that same component is relieved making the knock sound. I hope my lingo is understandable. I am just learning about cars so I don't know the right terms to describe them. Pardon me for that!
Also sometimes when driving the car on a heavy traffic in slower speed (stop & go & repeat style driving) for long time sometime there is a sudden jerk that comes somewhere from the middle of the car. That also makes me doubt if it is the drive shaft. I am not sure if my reasoning is correct or not but let me know if it makes sense or not.

rookiemechanic · Post by **rookiemechanic** » 01 Jan 2017, 13:42

happy new year everyone!
So I went under the car to take a look to the drive shaft. I pushed and pulled the drive shaft with my hands and it did move. is it normal or there should not be any play at all? At some point while I was moving the drive shaft I did hear a sound similar to something pushing onto some fluid or grease in the joint.
On the other hand I found out that transmission torque mount is worn out. The rubber layer or threads between the nuts is almost gone and the whole mount moves easily sideways. Could this be the cause of the clucking sound I am hearing all along?
Many thanks!

Post by **abscate** » 01 Jan 2017, 17:38

That torque mount can definitely cluck, as can the henway.

Post by **800artfreed** » 04 Mar 2019, 20:42

For me it was definitely a lower control arm. I was able to easily move it when I separated the ball joint from the strut. I could then grab it by the ball joint and move the arm forwards and back. The bad bushing on the control arm at the sub-frame was obvious. A new control arm eliminated that noise.

Post by **abscate** » 05 Mar 2019, 05:13

Old thread but I missed this earlier

am just a poor student so I am not leaning towards purchasing a genuine volvo part for these and I believe cheaper alternatives can do the job equally well.

The poorer one is the more important you save money for good OEM PARTS

On suspension part six for Volvos, the cheap parts have lives measured in months, and you will be doing the job again shortly thereafter.

Ball joints, control arms, bushings, inner/outer tie rods....Volvo or proven OEM.