Warranty covered suspension issue

[Savage_383]

A few weeks ago my car started making a very annoying "clunk" noise when I hit bumps in the road.

I looked and looked to see what was causing the issue since I didn't feel like swapping the stock air box back in to take it to the dealer. After 3 hours of looking I gave up and flashed the car to stock and put the stock air box back on.

I took it to the dealer this morning and after messing with it for 4 hours, they found the stabilizing bar had a loose socket.

They said the parts have to be ordered from some weird supplier so its going to take one to two weeks to get them in. fortunately they said the car is safe to drive until they can get it fixed AND it is under warranty.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up in case anyone else came across this.

 

[dvn]

They said the parts have to be ordered from some weird supplier so its going to take one to two weeks to get them in. fortunately they said the car is safe to drive until they can get it fixed AND it is under warranty.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up in case anyone else came across this.

You seem surprised. Why wouldn't it be under warranty?

 

[Savage_383]

You seem surprised. Why wouldn't it be under warranty?

I wasn't too surprised. I just wasn't sure when the "bumper to bumper" warranty ran out. I have had the car about 4 months now with 10000 miles. I have been screwed over with warranty stuff a few times so I wasn't sure what to expect.

 

[oldertech]

Interesting. I was noticing clunking from up front over bumps and was going to the dealer to ask about it. Wasn't sure if I was imagining it.

 

[Wolfhound]

Sounds like the same loose backing piece behind the grill that I have. It runs the length of the grill & you can feel it by putting a finger or two thru the top of the lower grill & feel upward. Mine should be back from the dealer tomorrow & this is one of the things being fixed.

 

[omniman]

Sway bar end links they connect the sway bar to the strut. Ill have to keep an eye out haven't seen this on Sonics yet but lots of gm vehicals have the same problems if you open a door and have somebody rock the vehical up and down you can recreate the noise on most vehicals listen near the strut area.

 

[wasteoffilm]

I've noticed what I think is my RF link making noise. One of the roads on my commute would put the lunar rover though its paces, endless patched potholes within patched potholes... It makes just a little bit too much noise for my liking. Someday I'll crawl under there and check it out.

Also, I notice a squeak or 'skritch' noise from both sides on modest bumps, kind of annoying with the windows down, maybe the bushings need some lube.

 

[oldertech]

The noises from the front of the car are about the only issue I have with my car. I've about given up on it and have been thinking it's just the general harmonics of this car. I did ask the dealer about it, and we took the car on a bumpy stretch to have the service manager listen. Of course, nothing could be heard that day. But the stretch of road near my house that I drive on every day always makes the noises. I'm going to try the door open rocking thing mentioned in this thread. When I did my first oil change I tried to find something loose, and everything seemed tight.

 

[omniman]

Thats how i verify end links after a test drive with customers.Works most of the time

 

[Kenny]

Here I thought it was the loose nut between the seat and the steering wheel. I better get it checked.

 

[Shane]

Hi there, first post...

Just got our Sonic back from the dealer this morning, having resolved this issue.

It started making right front wheel clunking noises over every small bump around town about a month ago, getting very pronounced. My wife noticed the issue first (she's very skilled at listening for unusual noises in vehicles ) since it's her daily driver.

Parts took about a week to arrive, repair took just a few minutes.

Apparently the OEM parts are a dry fit--the replacements are greased. Allegedly.

Interestingly, our car was the first with this issue that the service fellow had heard of. By the time he ordered parts and got them delivered, he had heard of several more. Instead of just one set of replacements, now they have 4-5 sets on order for other customers.

All quite now.....ahhhhh....

Shane

 

[houser]

Swa bar links

Ya, I had my sway bar links replaced a couple weeks ago. For my 2012 Sonic 1.4L with only 5K miles. Clunkin nois is all gone. I noticed the original sway bar links were plastic and so are the replacement links. I did some online shoppin and found a set of all metal replacements. Look to be the same dimentions. Made for a 2009 Cobalt/Malibu/G5 etc
E-bay motors new in box. $29 free shipping. I ordered a set just in case the new plastic ones dont hold up.opcorn:

Mike
Palmer, Ak.

 

[wingman]

Taking mine in for an oil change and airbag recall check this Friday. I have heard the aforementioned clunk a few time on mine as well. I will have them check my end links. Thanks for bringing this issue, and solution to our attention Savage.

 

[LS1notFOUND]

Have a noise from the front right as you describe, guess the pain of first model year.

 

[cheddarlump]

Any chance they'll post a TSB about this? I think mine's starting to do it, but it's pretty minor (only hear it on really rough roads). If I take it in now, I don't want to hear them say "Nothing wrong here, everything's fine.."

 

[law242]

any one hearing a clinking noise in the rear when its parked and sometimes moving? its very annoying, sounds to be something in the brakes, dunno what it is yet. does it allot though

 

[Machine]

what the joint is made of is important, not the entire link. Manufacturers are moving towards plastic for everything, and for good reasons.

Lighter, stronger, doesn't corrode, cheaper to produce.

A plastic sway bar link is significantly (percentage wise) lighter than a metal one, and this is unsprung weight (sort of). And if set up correctly, is stronger and stiffer (these are different things).

For example, the corvette has been using plastic leaf springs for some time. (yes, if your not familiar with corvette, it has LEAF SPRINGS, on the FRONT and REAR.
and its actually a great setup as far as packaging and control go).

 

[EVOX_SPEED3]

any one hearing a clinking noise in the rear when its parked and sometimes moving? its very annoying, sounds to be something in the brakes, dunno what it is yet. does it allot though

I got the noise coming from the back more than front! I posted a couple of weeks back asking about this exact thing, so happy to know I am not the only one, and that it's a known issue.

I just hate flashing back and then reflash ing again when getting things fixed at dealership.

 

[ahtoxa]

Count me in. Left front has been getting worse and worse - loud clunks over small but sharp bumps. Also started squeaking badly today. Taking to dealer tomorrow.

 

[68mgc]

Had the sway bar end links on my LTZ 1.4 turbo replaced at the dealers on Monday. No more front end clunk.