OK guys now I am stumped...

240 89 DL sedan 255K kilometers mostly highway.

I've had a clunky front driver's side since last summer...
At first I thought the 3 bolts holding down the lower control arm bushing mount were loose... well they were last year, i replaced them new from dealer and torqued them (yes under vehicle weight). Better but still had some clunk...

Note that a few months prior to that I replaced the tie rod end and the ball joint, and the suspension was quiet. No inner tie rod wear as last checked.

All winter I have had a growing clunk. I always just felt it was the bushing, since I can almost feel it at my left foot area as driving - on highway it is pretty much gone, much louder at low speed. Sounds like a hammer hitting the subframe underneath. When braking it's almost gone - tension to suspension i guess.

Last weekend, I jacked it up again. Removed the wheel, no loose caliper or anything brake related. Grabbing the spring I tried to see if I can feel play at the upper strut mount, but nothing obvious, anyhow the clunk is down low.

I looked at the rear control arm bushing through the hole with a light, and really I must say it looks 100% intact, I could not move the arm but then again much couterpressure from spring... but again really it does look 100% intact - I am assuming it's ok.

I put the wheel back and felt for play. There was a but, surely the bearing. Not ideal but I just slightly tightened it up (will replace both front in future) to see. It is somewhat quieter from a clunk perspective thanks to bearing but I still have the main hammer effect at my feet.

Any thoughts?

Greg Mustang
Montreal - Ottawa
Canada