Your not going to believe this, but I have found that if
your windsheild washer tank has just the right amount of fluid
in it, it may cause a clunking noise, as if there is a front
end problem. Try cleaning the front window with the on board
washer fluid for a few minuites. This fluid level is just below
full when this happens.

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler

On Tue, 14 Apr 1998, db25 wrote:

> I have been going crazy trying to locate a similiar clunk in my front end.
> It almost sounds like there is a bowling ball under the front seats.
> I started with the most obvious parts, the shocks, but that made no
> difference.  I thought for a second that I had found the source of the clunk
> when I noticed that the cone shaped part was missing from the right lower shock
> bolt. Adding this with the new shocks didn't help.  Next part that I replaced
> were the upper ball joints.  Nope, that didn't do it either.  I finally gave in
> and spent an hour of shop time at the closest VW dealer.  He said that it
> was definitely upper control arm bushings.  For $650 they could replace them
> and add a front end alignment and I would be good to go.  I thanked him
> kindly and did the work myself.  About $100 for the bushings and a
> remarkably short 2 hours and both sides were like new again.  (I have access
> to a mig welder).  The first bump out of my driveway lt me know that that
> wasn't it.  The dealers second guess was the outer tie rod ends.  I had just
> replaced them less that 5000 miles ago with a rebuilt rack and the inner tie
> rod ends.  He says they are the loosest part in the system, I'll
> chang'em out.  As I suspected, that made no difference at all.
> I stopped going back there. There guesses were getting too expensive.  I can
> guess for much cheaper.  The only parts left were the sway bar bushings.  I
> don't know who said the doughnut looking bushing slips right on with soapy
> water, but mine sure didn't.  I must have spent 2 to 3 hours trying to get
> those bushings on, while honing my creative language skills.
> Nothing.
> I've almost given up.  I'm starting to actually like the noise.
> Any suggestions are alway welcome.  The lower ball joints are the only parts
> that are original.  The alignment guy said that they are in great shape,
> those aren't the problem.  I just don't know where to look anymore.
>