clunk clunk when turning sharply

Hello all.

I have a symptom that I can't place and I thought I would throw it out
here.

My car (2003 Outback Sport, 5spd, 140,000kms) clunks rather harshly
when I turn sharply.

The clunking does not sound like the CV joints on my old Honda. The
clunking is somewhat speed dependant, but also at the same speed but a
tighter circle, the clunking speed increases. I can feel the
clunking, not just sound. The clunking occurs even when I coast in a
circle, not applying any engine power. The clunking does not occur if
I am not moving. It occurs for about the last half turn of the
steering wheel at both limits (left or right turns). It started about
a month ago, went away, but seems worse today. The tires are not
rubbing against any part of the wheel well. No marks on the tires.
The sounds appears to come from the front, but as with sounds it is
hard to tell for sure.

Any ideas?

My money's on a bad CV joint.

"Chicobiker" <chicobiker (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

Hello all.

I have a symptom that I can't place and I thought I would throw it out
here.

My car (2003 Outback Sport, 5spd, 140,000kms) clunks rather harshly
when I turn sharply.

The clunking does not sound like the CV joints on my old Honda. The
clunking is somewhat speed dependant, but also at the same speed but a
tighter circle, the clunking speed increases. I can feel the
clunking, not just sound. The clunking occurs even when I coast in a
circle, not applying any engine power. The clunking does not occur if
I am not moving. It occurs for about the last half turn of the
steering wheel at both limits (left or right turns). It started about
a month ago, went away, but seems worse today. The tires are not
rubbing against any part of the wheel well. No marks on the tires.
The sounds appears to come from the front, but as with sounds it is
hard to tell for sure.

Any ideas?

Chicobiker <chicobiker (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> writes:

Hello all.

I have a symptom that I can't place and I thought I would throw it out
here.

My car (2003 Outback Sport, 5spd, 140,000kms) clunks rather harshly
when I turn sharply.

The clunking does not sound like the CV joints on my old Honda. The
clunking is somewhat speed dependant, but also at the same speed but a
tighter circle, the clunking speed increases. I can feel the
clunking, not just sound. The clunking occurs even when I coast in a
circle, not applying any engine power. The clunking does not occur if
I am not moving. It occurs for about the last half turn of the
steering wheel at both limits (left or right turns). It started about
a month ago, went away, but seems worse today. The tires are not
rubbing against any part of the wheel well. No marks on the tires.
The sounds appears to come from the front, but as with sounds it is
hard to tell for sure.

Any ideas?

Different car, different sound. My money's on CV joint.

Can you find evidence of a split boot or grease thrown out of a broken
boot?

--
Todd H.
2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4
Chicago, Illinois USA

On May 15, 9:50 pm, ujdu... (AT) null (DOT) void wrote:

The only thing left is the front differential. It only does it when the
steering wheel is near steering lock (either left or right), the vibration
frequency is directly related to speed of travel, the intensity is related
to steering wheel position (the tighter the turn, the stronger the
vibration), and it does it regardless if it's in gear or not. And I notice
it a lot more when the car is hot.

Yes! Only when the car is hot! It was fine this morning. I'm going
to take it for a little drive after work to heat it up and see if the
clunking returns.

The service dept at local Subaru is hesitant to call it a CV joint
because it does not appear to be present when the car is cold. They
can only look at it next Tuesday.

I don't like the sounds of this ...