Hello, I'm hoping someone here will know what an "Isolator" is in regards to my front struts. I had the struts replaced early last summer, as well as the sway bar bushings. I've had an intermittent clunking in the front since then when going over speed bumps and pot holes. After having the front realigned today, the mechanic at the dealer suggested it may be an isolator. Of course, they have to drop the sub-frame to get in there to look, so that will involve some labor costs just to determine what it is. I'm getting a side motor-mount replaced tomorrow, so that may take care of some of the clunking, but I'm doubtful.

What are the isolators?

Thanks for the help.

 

Dont know about the isolator, but I just recently had the same clunking (maybe a Clanging) when going over potholes, especially really small bumps in the road, it would just go clank clank clank, less so over speed bumps. I took it in and asked them to figure it out, they were able to determine pretty quickly it was the bushings on the left side. Replaced both sides and it is completely fixed. Costs more for labor than parts, with the alignment it was $475 total. Hope this helps somehow.

 

Thank you for your reply. I had the bushings replaced, yet the clanging kept returning. I had the left motor mount replaced last week, when I had it aligned again (three alignments in 10 months), and that quieted it quite a bit. I bought this car used in 2005, and I'm beginning to think it may have been in an accident that tweaked the front end. A mystery.

It's interesting that one shop told me the sub-frame had to be dropped to check out a possible issue with the front struts, yet another says that isn't true. Everyone has their own approach I guess.

At least the front is quieter.