What’s Causing That Clunking Sound When I Go Over Bumps?
You’re cruising along, hit a speed bump, and clunk!—your car makes a sound that definitely wasn’t there before. It might feel like something shifted, knocked, or even bounced under the car.
At Wayside Garage, we hear this concern a lot, and the good news is: you’re not imagining things. That clunk is trying to tell you something.
🚗 Is a Clunk Over Bumps a Big Deal?
It might be. While not every noise is an emergency, clunking when you hit bumps often means there’s something loose, worn out, or broken in your suspension system—the parts that help keep your ride smooth and your tires on the road.
And when suspension parts start to fail, it doesn’t just make your car noisy—it can mess with your handling, steering, and even your braking performance.
🛞 What Could Be Causing That Clunking Noise?
Here are the most common things we find when a customer says, “My car clunks when I hit a bump”:
Worn Out Shocks or Struts
These help absorb road impacts. When they’re blown, you might hear clunking and feel extra bounce after hitting a bump.
Broken or Loose Sway Bar Links
These connect the left and right sides of your suspension. When they wear out, they can rattle or clunk with every dip or bump in the road.
Ball Joints or Control Arms
These allow your suspension and steering to move. If they’re worn or loose, they can make a knocking or popping sound—especially over uneven roads.
Loose Suspension Mounts or Bushings
These rubber parts cushion the metal suspension pieces. When they wear out or crack, metal can hit metal, creating—you guessed it—clunks.
👀 How Do I Know If It’s Serious?
Here are some signs it’s time to get your suspension checked out:
The clunk is getting louder or more frequent
Your car feels floaty, like it’s bouncing too much
You hear squeaks, rattles, or knocking on turns or rough roads
Your steering feels loose or off-center
You’re feeling every crack in the pavement like never before
Whether it’s a small fix or a bigger repair, the sooner we look, the better. Clunks don’t go away on their own.
🧰 What Can You Do About It?
Bring your car by for a suspension check. We’ll test drive it, inspect key components, and let you know exactly what’s going on. No pressure, just clear info and options you can trust.
We include suspension inspections during your regular service intervals, especially around 60K and 90K miles, as part of our maintenance plan.
✅ Let’s Get That Clunk Fixed
Your car shouldn’t sound like it’s falling apart every time you hit a bump. Whether it’s something simple like a sway bar link or something more involved, we’ll walk you through it and get it taken care of.
At Wayside Garage, we treat every car like it’s our own—and every customer like family.
📞 Ready to schedule your inspection?
Give us a call or book online today. Let’s find the source of that clunk and get you back to a quiet, smooth ride.