Mysterious Front End Clunk 2005-2014 Ford Mustang (S197) How to Diagnose. 

This should be a must watch video for all s197 Mustang owners! Thanks and great job!

Man’s is out here diagnosing and thoroughly addressing issues in depth while in a garage that looks about as warm as a walk in beer fridge in krogers. Mad respect.

There is nothing more frustrating than clunks and rattles imo when you are pushing the vehicle physically. Especially if you have a manual transmission. Most of the time I am listening for revs, and other haptic feedback from the wheels, suspension, braking and steering, like I imagine most sport minded drivers, “connect” to their vehicles in critical situations. Knowing your car and Listening for mechanical signs of trouble can save your life, and warn you to back off before a failure occurs. Great vid, totally useful information

Damn!!! What a informative video on the S197. Anyone buying a S197 needs to watch this video. Thanks!!

Great video! Loose lumber is a great description. I thought it sounded like dropping a pool cue. Glad that’s an easy fix.

Great video. Sway bar bushings was my issue. Easy fix. Just make sure you get both front wheels off the ground when replacing any sway bar end links or bushings. Otherwise its not an easy job!

This is by far the best video I have watched. Please do one for the rear.

Excellent information! I found that my inner fender liners need some fasteners replaced. I also found the K member fasteners, radiator bracket fasteners, and front sway bar bracket nuts all needed to be re-torqued.

Thankyou,nice condensed and organized run down.

Great video! Keep the 3v content going!

Awesome video! Thank you, that noise has been driving me nuts!

Excellent! Thanks for the torque specs too!

I wanted to say thanks for the video. I have a 2015 mustang and the noise was the swaybar. I just change the hole thing plus bushing and links. Thank you man you help me alot.

very nice and through front end troubleshooting video.

I instaled gt500 front LCA's and strut mounts, new struts and shocks (KYB), new endlinks from PROFORGED, refreshed all bushings (Pannhard, SWAY-bars). Instaled rear LCA from BMR-poly and new bushings in the third link (UCA). I changed everything besides tie-rods. And this MF-thing continue this thumping noise at washboard roads.

I’m Checking all that out tomorrow!!! 🤣. Thanks. Great video!!!

Thanks, great video. I was the original poster on the forum about the thunk noise, which ended up being a sway bar link- the looseness was only a thread's worth, but sounded like a drum under the hood... I still have the car and it's noisy now, but at 265k on original struts, I'm guessing it's probably time for new ones!

Fantastic video brother

Great video. Ended up being Sway Bar Bushings on mine. Didn't really look bad until I actually took them out and they fell apart in my hand

Thanks for the video I own a 12 S197. 117,000 miles. Annoying clunk just as it's moving, ended up being front sway bar bushings worn and loose, strut mounts. Your video helped as I just disconnected sway bar, noticed some sound was gone but 100% found one bad strut mount. Thanks again

This is tremendous! Thank you!

Thanks, followed you advice, cured my noise Problem, Thank You!

Good video I’m gonna tackle this in the coming weeks

Thank your sir, great info and details!

Great explanation! Thank you

Excellent video on a solid sports car. And then there's those blue eyes on those white eye balls. Kidding. Thank you. Really good video...

Thanks for a great video to help me zero in on that dang clunking!

Awesome!! I’ve got a 2010 GT & getting at these. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Great video.! Subscribed

Great video.

Thank you I found and fix the problem you’re beautiful! I have an 09

Excellent job. I agree eith chargeron All s197 should watch

Great Video

Just subscribed thanks a lot man 👍🏽

Good video, this car usually has problem with rear suspension .

Glad I found this video. 07 mustang gt that has never been off road that I took into a local Ford dealer service department with less than 65000 miles on it, and they wanted to replace everything underneath! Front to back! 3300 dollars out the door! Obviously I had a few words. Long story short, car was in a tornado. Broken glass, scratches, dents, and a roof caved in by a dumpster but less than 50000 miles on it! I repaired all of it. Glass, mirrors, roof, and it runs great! But looks as though it had been driven through a barbed wire fence! I think that may be what they thought had happened to it by looking at it, hence the 3300 quote. I believe after watching this video and before checking it, the passenger side stabilizer end link might be the issue. I'll know when I check it but I'll bet that's the problem.

Never clicked on a video so fast. Have never been able to figure out the noise since I got the car but it drives me crazy

Your a life savor

Great video damn

Thank you for the video , it’s appreciated my friend . I’ve got some shake from the front right passenger side , when I’m reaching 70mphs. and the rear drivers side tire is all greasy . Trying to find out exactly what’s happening.

This is on point. I have an 06 V6 stang and I'm hunting down this clunk right now!

i have this problem with my 2014 convertable left front. i’ve checked the lugs and i have to change the longitudinal braces anywho so i’ll be under it. I’ll be following this video step by step. TY!!

Great video. I'm chasing a clunk/click at low speed brake applications when reversing on my '08, so this is going to be a huge help.

I have that noise on my 2010, I replace the shocks with the base but still doing it, with your video I think are the sway bar bushings

I have a 2005 that I made into a Tesla powered rocket and you talk about hunting noises. With no engine noise all the S197 noises come out like the boogey man at night. After a month of hunting and fixing I finally got it quiet except for one little squeak that happens in the back which I can not find yet.

Great video Thanks

Strut mounts make noise if you turn the wheel at very low speed also

Great video, now do one for mystery noises coming from the back:)

Wish I would have watched this video sooner, I had been hearing some rubbing, croaking noise at slow speeds only while turning and I mis diagnosed the problem to my stuts and ended up buying a new front set when the noise I was hearing was a bad wheel bearing in the rear 🤦🏽‍♂️

Replace one part, two weeks later popping starts again…..been through this crap several times over the past year. Taking a mental break from the darn thing

this video made me realize i was missing an entire wheel well

The answer is usually the two front swaybar bushings and it’s the cheapest to fix so start there

Great video! Only wish is that you went more into depth on the source and the sound associated with it. My 12’ has had a chirping noise in the front for a few years now that has slowly gotten louder. Constantly doing it at all speeds and even on the smoothest of roads. Any guesses on the source? Finally have the time and now knowledge to try to tackle it in the coming weeks

I have coil overs on my 09 mustang and it makes loud clunking sounds when I brake and go over bumps. I replaced the sway bar end links but it’s still making that sound.

I had a front end clunk on mine for a while, I kinda said wtvr it's not a big deal, until one day I was on the highway and had a VIOLENT death wobble. I literally couldn't hold on to the wheel hard enough and i went into the lane beside me involuntary (thankfully no one was beside me). After pulling over and checking my pants I babied it home taking small streets since I wasn't far away, lifted the front end and saw one of my front end control arm bolts had completely come off. Even though I had replaced the arms a year ago and torqued them all down. Every time I take it out of storage now I double check all those bolts. Scared the living hell out of me

Just did endlink replacement and sway bushings were fine but i get this tiny squeak noise not all the time but sometimes when going slow over really bad bumps in the road I suspect my front bumper bracket is loose 2014 s197

When you buy bushings for the sway bar... how the crap are you supposed to get them on without cutting a slit in it??

I changed all my suspension components in my 2010 mustang. Still No luck. Finally found that my wheel bearing is making that clunking sound. 😅

I'm getting a loud thud on the driver side. Not all the time every 40 feet. One hood bang any idea afraid to drive it

Thanks for this video , do you have one for the rear end noise issues? Thanks again

Hey watch your video a couple times found my noise makers thanks solve my prolbems

ive got it cant find it everything still factory i thought brake caliper ill try sway bar then struts

I had replaced everything in my front end, control arms, tie rods both inner and outer, struts, ball joints, sway bar bushings and links and still had a noise. Ended up being rack and pinion bushes… something else to look at when having a “clunking noise”.

I got a 30000mile 2010 gt and the end links werclunking... shot caused excessive cluncking...now wheel seems loose? Any suggestions?

I’ve got a clunk and cannot figure it out. I’ve installed new sway bar end links, lower control arms, tie rod ends (they were really bad), new front struts, lowering springs, and GT500 mounts. Still have a slight clunk. Not sure if it’s due to the front springs not having the lower coil isolator or if it’s a loose bolt somewhere. Strut mount bolts are torqued to spec, strut knuckle bolts are torque, etc. Any help would be great

My s197 is super smooth at higher speeds but it’s a nightmare for anything less than 60

Just bought a 2010 with the front end sound. Last owner replaced struts and the lca on the side the sound is coming from. I'm thinking I should check the sway bar know.

I have a 06 V6 and any bump in the road makes a terrible loose noise. It was taken to a local shop and they replaced the shocks and struts and it was still there after? I’m incapable of actually checking to see what it could be any suggestions of what it may be.

Great video! I do have a question.. My 05 has a vibration in the steering wheel when you take a left curve or sometimes around 70mph. Changed tie rods and wheel hubs but still happening. If its a really deep curve you have a loud rattling sound.. Almost like the front end is going to fall off but everything is tight including the steering.. You barely touch the wheel and the car responses. Should I be checking the things in this video because none of these parts have been looked at. My son was about to go with bushings in the rack/pinion to see if that helps. Any info would be appreciated.

But what if its Clunking feelable in the flor when the Car comes to a Stop?

I’ve pretty much rebuilt the front end on my 06 GT since I got it with over 100k. Did struts first, then links/bushings, and most recently the lower control arms. After we replaced the lowers I’ve started to hear a clunk on the driver’s side that could be classified as loose lumber but also has a bit of a creaking to it. We’ve triple checked to make sure everything’s tight but haven’t found anything out of place. Can’t do it on command and it only happens at low speeds. It seems worse when it’s cold out. Thinking it could be the strut mounts now since they are Monroe factory replacements with about 40k on them now. But if anyone’s had a similar issue it’d be helpful to know.

I have a 2008 mustang v6 4.0 and when I go 50 ascending/descending it rattles and shake the wheel but not to where I can control it. the noise is annoying and u can hear clanking when I ease on the breaks

Have a 06 stang , clunk noise comes from when I turn , not sure what it is , maybe the control arms ?🤔

Never had a clunking problem until it stayed in my garage and i took it out after a month. Cruising at 30+ mph, i dont hear anything but at way slower then that, the sound is there and i cant tell if something is about to fall out and its pretty worrying. One thing of note is that my car has 270,000 miles on the tachometer

I put coilovers all the way around my 07. Now it seems there's a clunk in the right front. I can only replicate it when I turn the steering wheel back and forth...

I had this rattling on the front of my 2014 mustang found out it was my stabilizer bars had them replaced for one hundred thirty dollars parts and labor.

Or if you’re like me……you forgot to put new insulators on the bottom of the front springs after lowering it. It’s great fun doing the same job twice. noob moment 🤦🏽

Bro, I have the exact same rims on my 2014 S197 and when I make a hard u-turn it makes a grinding noise at very low speeds. What could it be?

10 years later and my s197 is finally giving in 😢

I have a 2016 mustang and it’s does a clunking sound on the front right side mainly when I brake on slow speeds or go slowly.

so my issue is a subtle squeak my car makes wen braking but anything above a firm braking you hear nothing.. pads,calipers,struts and ball joints all changed recently. noise before and still after.. any advice?

Mine has 111,000 miles on it, none of these have been changed! Should I just do it all?

You forgot the brake pads and caliper issues

Did you mention tie rod ends?

I find it funny how you bypass all the problems that cause the damn noise to talk about some plastic s***

Where can I get your front turn signal lights / DRLs from?

best. vid. ever.

When I’m driving and when I turn right while doing 50+ my steering wheels vibrates and shakes

So, it could be around 30 different things. Thanks! 🤣

what wheels are those?

I had a strange noise coming from mine, so I got a new one...( Wife)

Hy saying nothing but facts I hate hearing my s197 making noise it’s not supposed to be

Fram oil filter. Yikes.

Great !! But the noise i always came from the back of the car in the s197 🥲

Mine creeks when I break any ideas?

i recently noticed a clunking noise when driving at low speeds coming from the front left tire anyone know what it could be

Looking at a completely unrelated topic and I have found a completely relatable tpoic. I have coils and and just started noticing a sound.