That clunk has
a name
Bushes, links, strut tops, ball joints: a field guide to the noises suspension makes and which ones can wait.
'It goes clunk over speed bumps' is the single most common sentence in this workshop. Good news: every clunk has a name, and on a hoist with a pry bar they introduce themselves pretty quickly. Here's the guide we use to translate noises into parts.
You don't need to self-diagnose. That's what the free shake-down is for. But knowing the usual suspects makes the quote a lot less mysterious.
The usual suspects
- Sway bar links: light rattle over small bumps, gone on smooth road. Cheapest fix in the book, usually $120 to $180 a side.
- Control arm bushes: deeper clunk, sometimes a wander under brakes. The bush that lives hardest in most cars.
- Ball joints: knock over bumps and a little steering looseness. Safety item: a failed one is a bad day.
- Strut top mounts: clunk plus a steering-wheel knock on full lock. Common on Mazda and Hyundai around 100k.
- Shock absorbers: not usually noisy, but a dead one means bouncing after bumps and longer stopping distances.
The pry-bar test
On the hoist we lever every joint and bush in sequence. Play shows up as visible movement, and the worn part is obvious next to a healthy one. That photo goes to your phone with the quote, which is why our suspension quotes come with pictures instead of just a number.
Can it wait?
Honest ranking: sway links and tired bushes can usually wait a month or two. Ball joints and anything affecting steering shouldn't. They fail by degrees, then all at once. The shake-down will tell you which category your noise sits in, free with any booked repair.
Why alignment matters after
New parts change geometry. That's their job. Fit suspension parts without an alignment and the new parts wear unevenly while eating your tyres. It's why every under-car job here ends on the 3D rack with a printout, no exceptions.
One more for the road
Suspension quick answers
Clunk still a mystery after all that? Note when it happens and drop it in the contact page, that detail usually halves the diagnosis.
Find out what it's called
Book the shake-down. Twenty minutes on the hoist and your clunk gets a name and a price. Bookings and questions both land at +61 2 9724 0853, and the shake-down results come to your phone in writing.