On my 01 Monte SS I am having a loud clunk when turning the wheel to the left. It doesnt matter if the wheel is straight or not, as soon as it goes left it pops. So if I turn the wheel all the way to the right as soon as I start to go left I get 1 loud pop then its fine again untill I turn it to the right and back to the left it clunks again.

I was standing outside the car (even does it in park) when I turn it and it clunks I can actually see the wheel look like it skips. Its kind of like a jerk as soon as it goes left. There is no noise or anything coming from the right side.

The noise sounds like it is right at the wheel (on the outside). I can also see the Tie rod arm skip with the wheel.

Any ideas what could cause this? Could this be the ISS, I thought with the ISS the sound was more from the steering wheel and not the tire/wheel itself.

Any help for a newb is appreciated.

EDIT: I know the wheel bearing just started to hum a little the other day. Could the bearing cause a loud clunk?

 

Perhaps it's the whole hub assembly... usually turning left = right hub so it could be that.

Also try jacking the car up and seeing if the tire has give left or right

 

i was going to say cv but if does it park.hmmm.... jack it up and take a good look try wiggling things.... sounds like somthin is binding but hard to say...

 

Ok, so I took the day off work because I need to get this fixed. I jacked up the car and the driverside wheel has a lot of movement going side to side. There is no play top to bottom but a good 1" of side to side play. Sound like a tie rod end?

 

Definitely something, try to clean up around the area and check out the bushings.

Don't forget to use the other side as a great reference point

 

well go to the next step pull the wheel and give it a visual inspection.. and mess with it side to side see if you can see whats moving so much

 

Thanks guys! Took the wheel off to get a better view, then I saw it was definitely the outer tie rod. Ran to the parts store tossed the new one on and wala, problem solved.

 

Glad it was that easy