Started clunking when I let off the throttle.

So the Ion is finally on the road. Drove it two hours home the other day no issues. On my way to work yesterday I noticed a clunking noise on the front passenger side when I let off the throttle.

So scenario goes, driving straight, constant throttle, no issue. When I let off it starts going "clunk, clunk, clunk" with the wheel rotation (going faster = faster clunking, etc). When I turn left at constant throttle I feel the clunk more than going straight.

I'm thinking it's either wheel bearing or axel? Is there something I'm missing or can do to narrow it down to one or the other?

Check the motor mounts if it only does it when you let off the throttle.

In reply to captdownshift:

Do you think a motor mount being bad would make the clunk continuously when I'm off throttle or just a single clunk or so when I let off initially?

With it being constant, it's not likely a mount. Does it do it more when turning to one side versus the other?

Tighten the wheel nuts?

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Haha tried this. I just did the brakes so it was a real thought.

I was thinking motor mount until you said it was constant and varied with wheel speed. One "clunk" per lift-off could be a motor mount.

I'm thinking CV joint or wheel nuts. I had the same noise from the back of my Samurai once when the wheel nuts were just a slightly loose.

Sway bar links and ball joints can make that type of noise as you load and unload them. Both are easy enough to check with the car jacked up and wheels off the ground.

MrLittle wrote: In reply to Streetwiseguy: Haha tried this. I just did the brakes so it was a real thought.

Did you tighten/torque the caliper?

+1 on the CV joint.

My guess is Worn engine mounts, that in turn caused damage to CV joints. Issue is aggravated when engine torques on acceleration and then drops back into place off throttle.

My guess is cv joints

Motor mount would absolutely cause multiple shakes. 60s GM boats had this problem. The trans mount would separate and when you did a certain thing (could be turning, decel, accel) it sounded like there was a drummer with two rubber mallets under the seat.

The CV joints are not nice smooth things like many think. There are pretty intense forces every 120 degrees as the bearing speed peaks and falls on each knuckle. Add to that the harmonics carried through the differential and it can make for some wild vibes.