Clunking Noise in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
A clunk is almost always something with a little too much play in it, most often a worn suspension or steering part, and when it happens tells you which one.
Maybe it is the railroad crossing on the way into Hillsboro, a heavy thunk from the front end every time, or a bang from underneath when you drop the truck into Drive with a trailer on. Clunks rarely fix themselves and the loose part usually wears whatever is next to it, so bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
We answer texts the same day we get them.
Clunks, decoded by when they happen
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Text us which onesHow we track down a clunk
We find the loose part, not just the loud one. A clunk can travel through the frame, so it often sounds like it is coming from somewhere it is not, and we check every joint on that corner.
We fix what is worn and tell you what is not. If it is a sway bar link, we will not sell you a full set of struts.
We check the alignment when the repair calls for it. Replacing a tie rod or control arm moves the wheel, and we would rather set it right on our Hunter equipment than let it eat your tires.
Then we drive it over the same bumps. The clunk should be gone before you pick it up.
Why Hillsboro brings clunking noises to Moxie
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We show you the worn part
You see the play in the joint before you approve anything.
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Hunter alignment equipment
When a repair affects the alignment, we set it on equipment built for every make.
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An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
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Warranty in writing
Most repairs carry the NAPA 24/24 nationwide warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles, and engine and transmission work carries Moxie's own one-year warranty. We tell you which one covers your repair before any work starts.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Clunking myths we hear at the counter
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Sounds like yours? Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you straight.
Can I keep driving?
Short trips, carefully, until we look at it.
A clunk over bumps from a worn sway bar link is annoying rather than dangerous. A clunk from a ball joint or tie rod is different, because those parts hold the wheel in place and steer it. You cannot tell which one you have by ear, so keep it local and get it checked soon.
Stop driving and call us if
- The steering feels loose, wanders or pulls suddenly
- The clunk comes with a wobble in the steering wheel
- A wheel looks tilted, or a tire is rubbing
- The clunk gets louder quickly, or you feel it through the floor on every bump
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What causes clunking noises around here
- Washboard gravel roads, which hammer at every joint and bushing on the front end
- Potholes after the spring thaw, and the edge of the pavement on narrow county roads
- Towing trailers and hauling heavy loads, which strain mounts, U-joints and leaf spring bushings
- Rubber bushings that crack after years of summer heat and winter cold
- Worn sway bar links, which are the most common clunk of all
How we diagnose a clunking noise in Hillsboro
- We ask when it clunks, whether bumps, turning, shifting or braking, because each one points to a different part.
- We drive it over the same kind of bumps and through the same turns you described.
- We lift the vehicle and check every joint for play by hand and with a pry bar, which is how a worn part shows itself.
- We check the engine and transmission mounts and the driveshaft while someone shifts it in gear.
- Then we show you the loose part, not just tell you about it.
A clunking noise across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Clunking noise questions we hear every week
Is a clunk over bumps always the shocks?
It usually is not the shocks. The most common clunk over bumps is a sway bar link, and worn ball joints and control arm bushings are next on the list. Shocks tend to make a truck bouncy rather than noisy.
Why does it clunk when I put it in Drive?
A clunk when you shift usually means something in the driveline has too much play, like a worn engine mount, transmission mount or U-joint. It can also be the transmission itself, which is why we check the cheap and simple parts first. Tell us if it also slips or shifts late.
How long can I drive with a clunk?
It depends which part it is, and that is the problem with waiting. A worn sway bar link can go a while, but a worn ball joint can separate and let the wheel fold under. Get it checked soon, and text us if the steering starts to feel different.