Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting clunk or knock in front end

my 1998 Contour GL (129000 miles) makes a clunk or knock noise when you first start out...I am thinking engine mount? once you get going down the road you dont hear it again unless you hit a bump....


anyone experience this?

Does it do it when you just start out and hit a bump or when you also turn? I have that problem and it's a broken spring, check your front suspension springs that COULD be the cause, not saying it is.

yes when i turn as well.....do you mean the springs on the struts? is there a recall for that...?

1998 Ford Contour SVT NHTSA Recall ID Number: 01I013000
Recall Date: AUG 08, 2001
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Potential Units Affected: 203426
Summary: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1998 FORD CONTOUR/MERCURY MYSTIQUE PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION.
Consequence: SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy: FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR FRONT COIL SPRING REPLACEMENT FOR THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS FOR 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OF A VEHICLE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.
Notes: FORD MOTOR COMPANY,

Yeah the springs on the struts im talking about, and no there is not a recall for it (that I know of), mine has 73K miles and it already has a broken spring. I'd check for that, just jack up the car on each side (or the side you hear it on) and look at the spring, I found mine that way.

My broken spring.

BTW, that recall you just found is for the SVT's not the non-SVT.

Edit: I just looked up recalls and it is a recall for the 98 model year, you might want to take a look at that it said there was 108,000 cars affected by that.
Also another way to find out if it is a broken spring, I've noticed mine make a noise when I stop and turn the wheel, almost like a clunk/toing noise.