Car Making Clunky Noises? What Could Be Wrong
If your car is making odd noises, don't wait for it to simply go away. There's a good chance your car needs to be repaired, so don't wait to have it looked at. You could have a number of different issues, and driving your car from here to there and back again is only going to make whatever is wrong worse, and the repair will just get more expensive. If you are hearing a clunky noise when you are driving, read on for a few possibilities and what you may be able to check to repair your car yourself.
Low Tires
A clunky noise from your tires when you drive may be caused by driving on tires that don't have enough air in them. The noise you hear is the tire flapping because it isn't full of air like it should be. Stop at a gas station or some type of service station that offers air and get a tire gauge to check the amount of air in your tires. Check the inner door of your car to see how many pounds it should have it, and air it up if need be. If your tire is flat, it may also make this noise and you should have the tire repaired or replaced.
Worn Out Rotors
If your rotors are worn out, there's a chance that your brake pads are worn out as well. You most likely had some sort of warning prior to the clunking noises you are hearing now, such as a squealing noise, or some other type of noise such as a grinding noise. If you are hearing a clunking noise and you heard those other noises before the clunking noise started, you are most likely going to need your entire brake system replaced.
Broken Struts
If you hear the clunking noises when you hit a bump, it may be broken struts. You have lost the ability to absorb the shock in your car, which is why you are hearing this noise now. This is something that can cause a domino effect with other parts of your car as well, including your tie rod. If you have a broken strut, you should have this repaired by a professional auto mechanic to prevent further damage to your vehicle.
If your car is making clunky noises, or you hear any odd noises at all, you need to have it inspected and repaired as needed. Don't wait to have your car repaired, or you could end up with an even more costly repair.
Call an auto repair shop for more information.