Chrysler Repair: 01 chrysler t&c 91000 miles:clunk noise from front, loose bolt, alignment shop

Question
there is a small clunking noise in the front end.  i hear it whenever
one side of the car hits a small bounce but not when both sides hit
simultaneously.  the sound resembles a rattling tail pipe but there is
nothing apparent.

I don’t have to hit a bounce to hear it.  For example, my driveway entrance has a slight rise to it.  When I turn in at a slight angle, so that one wheel goes up first and then the other wheel,  it can be heard again, first on one side and then the other.

thanks - paul


Answer
Hi Paul,
There are many possibities. If you have a helper you could try re-creating the sound by putting your weight on the edge of the bumper or body to jounce the suspension down and up while the helper listens under the van to try and localize it. I would suspect a worn bushing or loose attachment of the anti-sway bar that crosses the vehicle and connects the strut assemblies. Putting the vehicle up on jack stands and doing some tightening of anything related to the suspension might also reveal a loose bolt.
Those would be my approaches. An alignment shop would be the next step if you can't find it.
Roland