Ok I’ve helping folks in here for as long as I can remember and I don’t know why I haven’t come here to get opinions until now. I can’t stand the thought of taking this in to get diagnosed but I’m about a pubic hair width away from doing this.
2016 Patriot, 2.4, 4wd. 5 speed.
2024, installed 4 KYB strut assemblies. Started to hear a creaking and occasional clunk. Went home lifted the car and right away noticed the ball joint had play. Fixed that, clunk was still there. Happens on bumps,
It took a while but I figured out that the seat bar link mounting bracket on the new struts was lower than the oem struts, so the sway bar was contacting the control arm. Ended up having to buy adjustable sway bar links.
Later on, started hearing a clunk. We had a crazy snow which packed my wheels and made it super unbalanced on my way to work. I assumed that the seat bar had shifted from the vibration. Then I noticed where the nut for the sway bar link contacts the strut bracket looked like scuffing from movement. One of the ball joints in the way bar was toast, ended up having to buy another set.
Clunk remained
Control arms were replaced, I had already replaced the bushings once.
Clunk remained.
Rubber sway bar bushings replaced.
Clunk remained.
Unrelated replacement of passenger side cv axle.
Clunk remained.
I don’t see evidence of strut failing.
Calliper bracket bolts are tight
Calliper bolts are tight
Strut mount bolts are tight.
My brain is falling out.