PSteele Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 My 2012 Fusion started making an awful clunking noise a month or so ago, which sounds like it's coming from the front end. I only hear this sound if the temperature outside gets above 70 or so. I drove 500 miles on a trip a few weeks ago and didn't hear the noises once the whole time. It stayed cool outside the whole time though. I don't have issues with it pulling in either direction. It happens when stopping or starting, fast or slow, bumpy road or not. The temperature outside seems to be the primary instigator in causing this noise. A shop looked at it last night and quoted me $700 for lower ball joints but I'm not convinced this is the issue based on different forums I've been reading. I called my dealer today to see about having them check it out, I didn't tell them what the other shop said it was. The service guy said he had never heard of a problem with noises in the front end that happen only in warm weather. Any thoughts. Seems most the info I've found is a few years old so I'm hoping someone has figured this out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodmanhd Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 I've got an '11 w/ 85K doing the exact same thing. It only clunks when its I'd say 80 or above. Driving into work in the am, its fine, no noise, driving home from work, it clunks leaving the parking lot and all the way home. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indifferent Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 I had this same issue along with 2 friends one had a 06 milan one was a 06 mazda 6. It was more of a creaking it would be a warm day some one would get it and it would creak. In all three it was the forward lower control arm, well the ball joint that bolted into the wheel assembly(you can't just replace the ball joint the whole ARM has to go). On mine i replaced both lower forward and reward got luck went smoothly took maybe 4 hours(maybe because my car is newer). http://www.happywrenching.com/mazda/6/mazda-6-front-lower-rear-control-arm-replacement-removal-and-installation.html you can also google LCA noise fusion and a few more videos will pop up on youtube if you want to confirm. Here is a walk through on how to do it. now in all three cases it was the forward Lower control ARM, on my friends due to budgetary constraints we didn't replace the reward, i am not a mechanic so i am not sure if it is ideal to replace both but i would if you can swing the additional $50ish for the other LCA. In no way do i considered myself a gear head i have done brakes/rotors and oil changes. you CAN do this on your own i highly recommend a buddy for assistance. the other two times i did this did not go as smooth as when i did my car. It can be a real PITA to separate the LCA from the bushing, no joke this will take a majority of the time of the repair. We seriously had hit it with the pickle for quite some time on one if you feel like your not doing it right you are just keep pounding and get a bigger sledge hammer. Also a torch handy is nice to help heat it up if it is stubborn. On the really stubborn one when it finally came out the bushing came with it. most local auto parts stores rent a 5 piece front end service kit that comes with jaw pullers(for if the bushing comes out too). I'd recommend renting that along with a nice pickle fork set. the only thing i needed to purchase was a 23mm socket. Also a 2nd jack can be handy. When replacing the lower lowering the sub frame is not as intense as it sounds just take your time. Also the forward lower arm depending on the engine you have the bolt that attaches to the frame can be a bit of a PITA. I have the 3.5 and the oil pan was right there so i did not have a lot of space to work so its just time consuming. Rockauto seems to have the best priced i went with moog for mine just because i have friends that swear by them. It think bother lowers cost me just over $100 for the moog. So good luck if you decide to go this route just remember a good pickle fork and at least a 5lb sledge hammer or heavier is key along with conviction you may not feel like it's work just hit the fork harder. I'd start with he forward if you want to do it on the cheap replace it on a warm day take the car for a ride and see if just replacing that did the trick. Again i would recommend doing bother lowers but i am not a mechanic. This is fairly common on this platform. I'd find a new "service guy". 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJinQC Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 My 2012 Fusion started making an awful clunking noise a month or so ago, which sounds like it's coming from the front end. I only hear this sound if the temperature outside gets above 70 or so. I drove 500 miles on a trip a few weeks ago and didn't hear the noises once the whole time. It stayed cool outside the whole time though. I don't have issues with it pulling in either direction. It happens when stopping or starting, fast or slow, bumpy road or not. The temperature outside seems to be the primary instigator in causing this noise. A shop looked at it last night and quoted me $700 for lower ball joints but I'm not convinced this is the issue based on different forums I've been reading. I called my dealer today to see about having them check it out, I didn't tell them what the other shop said it was. The service guy said he had never heard of a problem with noises in the front end that happen only in warm weather. Any thoughts. Seems most the info I've found is a few years old so I'm hoping someone has figured this out. I have the exact same problem. I have had the lower control arms, right strut and sway bar links replaced. I have over $1600 in this "repair" and every time I drive away, it sounds the same. The dealership has been no help. I can't keep throwing money at it. I'm thinking of trading it in and buying something else. I hope somebody can figure it out. I'm done paying for unnecessary repairs. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olldspice Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 I have a similar situation. Just replaced struts due to a bad drivers side spring. Installed monroe quick struts... twice because I thought it was a bad assembly. I have been chasing this fast knocking noise for a month now. I was a technician for 13 years. Let me tell you... I AM FRUSTRATED!!! So, I found my passenger side forward control arm and ball joint assembly was popping and squeaking... replaced it. So far the struts I replaced (twice), forward control arm ball joint assembly. I se No movement in anything else. Went as far as disconnectin the sway bar link... no change. I am ready to set this car on fire. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewbabich Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Hi old spice did you ever get your popping creaking noise figured out? i just picked up a 2011 MKZ hybrid that ONLY makes noise when the wheel is turned to do 90 degree, u turns and figure 8s. It makes the same creaking popping noise when going left or right, on smooth roads even. No noises when stationary or when jacked off the ground. But drive in a smooth 5 mph circle left or right and it sounds terrible creak creak creak creak creak. Never heard anything like it. i did shoot the four lower ball joints full of grease with a grease needle, didn’t fix my issue. ill gladly replace control arms and ball joints if I can figure out which ones are causing this issue if it’s them at all anyway. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eGuru Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Not likely that you will get a response on a 4 year old post, Suspect that you are experiencing a CV joint issue. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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