"the clunk" in 2004?

[Ex President]

I have been car shopping for a Terminator the last week or so and had the pleasure of test driving a 36k mile, one owner, 2004 Cobra today. After about 100 feet of driving the car, i noticed that this particular car did in fact suffer from what is IMO "the clunk" that everyone speaks of. I did a search on it and came up with some descriptions and a few explanations for it, but i didn't really find any solutions.

So i guess i have two questions:

1. What "if any" is the gauranteed fix for this?

Or.......

2. Should i just pass on this EXTREMLY clean 04 because of "the clunk" issue?



Also... Does anyone have the link to the original TSB with the description of this problem?

Any info. would be appreciated!

 

[Tom's_03SVT]

the clunk isnt a big deal IMO.

I wouldnt pass on a clean car for just that....

Tom

 

[01tahoe]

These cars clunk a lot. Nature of the beast.

 

[suaveflooder]

mine "clunks" no issues here .... 48k and still ticking on the stock clutch

 

[Ex President]

If someone could maybe pin point exactly what it was that causes the issue, i'd have no problem remedying it.

I'd like to not just "live with it" if at all possible though. :shrug:

 

[Tom's_03SVT]

If someone could maybe pin point exactly what it was that causes the issue, i'd have no problem remedying it.

I'd like to not just "live with it" if at all possible though. :shrug:

pinion angle and back lash. search it, there are a lot of threads on this.

Tom

 

[HandoZiZle]

The “clunk” is a moderate volume sound which typically occurs after depressing the accelerator following a coast. It is very noticeable in 6th gear in most cases. This is caused by play in the driveline (fairly normal in Mustangs). Here is the official Ford directive about this issue.

Special Service Message 17510 (1999-2004 Mustang 4.6l - Driveline Clunk During Gear Changes And/or Quick Acceleration After Coast (tip-in Clunk)
Some 1999-2004 Mustangs equipped with a 4.6 Liter engine may exhibit a 'clunk' noise from the driveline during gear changes and/or a quick acceleration just after a coast (tip-in clunk). The clunk may be present in multiple gears and is considered normal. This is caused by driveline lash reacting to the rapid response of the engine when the throttle is suddenly opened. The clunk noise has no effect on the performance or durability of Tthe vehicle. Inspect and check the driveshaft attaching bolts, axle mounts, transmission mounts and sub-frame mounting bolts for proper torque. No other service should be performed.

straight from cobra bob's website

 

[Ex President]

I would have to say that this particular issue that i'm experiencing is slightly different. When the car is in any gear cruising or other wise, i hear/feel no slack. The only time i notice it is when you are at a dead stop and you go to let the clutch out to move. Whenever this happens, it "clunks" then it's all good after that.

It acts like more like something in the driveline dept. rather than the subframe/ring & pinion area.

I'm headed back over there tommorow to check it out in further detail. epper:

 

[Charles236]

The "clunk" seems to be the result of tolerances stacking up in the driveline. My '04 Mach 1 had a clunk with the solid axle, and when I swapped it over to the IRS, it still clunked. Some of the clunk may be in the tripod joints (inner CV joints), it seems that there is a fair amount of variation from the factory in the tightness of these joints.

 

[AUSTINSCOBRA]

Mine make a thud, clunk, pop, tsik.....I'm brining it in next wednesday.

Thud - in & out the driveway
Cluck - depressing the accelerator during a coast = Normal
Pop - Whenever I have a passenger it would make a popping noise. During a stop or slowing down
Tsik - it makes this tsik, tsik, tsik, tsik sound when i'm roll'n

Other than that, I f***ing love this car!

 

[fjules]

I had the clunk but when I had the clutch replaced it dissappeared. Not saying it is clutch related but whatever they did when they re-installed the driveshaft solved it. :shrug: That was with the IRS. I now had a solid and still no clunk.

 

[Fonz]

The clunk is a factory installed option forcing you to be a smoother driver. I have an 04 and it clunks. Dealer said its normal.

 

[Mystic03]

mine "clunks" no issues here .... 48k and still ticking on the stock clutch

+1 stockers are strong mofos!

 

[Mystic03]

Mine make a thud, clunk, pop, tsik.....I'm brining it in next wednesday.

Thud - in & out the driveway
Cluck - depressing the accelerator during a coast = Normal
Pop - Whenever I have a passenger it would make a popping noise. During a stop or slowing down
Tsik - it makes this tsik, tsik, tsik, tsik sound when i'm roll'n

Other than that, I f***ing love this car!

haha! :thumbsup:

 

[Fast99Snake]

i believe the only fixes are a cf driveshaft which doesnt really fix it, but more "absorbs" it and u wont hear or really feel it,
or I believe a viper spec t56 fixes it due to the tighter tolerances in the trans,
the clunk is caused by ford's enormous trans tolerances

 

[demongeist]

It's the nature of the beast, mine clunks, farts, whines, especially when driving like a ass.

 

[mrose75]

Don't sweat it. Driveline slack, etc. Nothing major, annoying at most. Part of the character of the car.

 

[Tom's_03SVT]

I think he posted another thread saying he bought the car already.

Tom

 

[keith89]

my 03 has the clunk. just gotta be smoother with the gas to load up the drive train softly.
even my 5spd 02 focus has a clunk.

 

[Ex President]

I think he posted another thread saying he bought the car already.

Tom

I actually decided to pass on the car that had "the clunk" and bought the Comp Orange one that i had to drive 5 hours to go get. :rollseyes

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394578

So far the only thing it does is some creaking when i'm backing out of the driveway.