Hyundai Azera Front End Problems

jmjk

Pat:

My front end problems are not solved - not even close.

BTW I can not see post numbers 414, 415, and 416. How can I retreive them? Based on your post 417 it sounds like I may have missed something important.

Thanks,

JMJK

dallar

I have a very early 2007 (6-7 months old) with 6500 miles. No clunk from the front end.

gamleged

"BTW I can not see post numbers 414, 415, and 416. How can I retreive them? Based on your post 417 it sounds like I may have missed something important."

I believe they were even more off-track than mention of "bud-vases" and were deleted...

richardcot

I have a new 2007 Azera Limited with 600 miles on it. I have not experienced the clunk sound or any other problems.

jaymagic

And you won't. The problem seems really limited to early 06 Azeras. There are always a couple of lemons in any production, but the late 06's and 07's have seen VERY VERY few.

wards

My 2006 Azera was built October 2005. No front end clunk.Have 28000km's still quiet. Wards.

altazera

I checked the torque on most of the front right suspension and found 3 bolts that were under specifications. I brought them in to spec. The ride is gradually getting quieter but I suspect there is a faulty strut assembly to blame.

Ocassionally, I also get a "bo..ing" (sp) noise coming from somewhere. It sounds like a spring suddenly releasing pressure. I suspect an improperly seated spring and insulator pad. Has anyone else heard this noise?

gamleged

"Ocassionally, I also get a "bo..ing" (sp) noise coming from somewhere. It sounds like a spring suddenly releasing pressure. I suspect an improperly seated spring and insulator pad. Has anyone else heard this noise?"

I sometimes get a very muted sound, like two metal coat-hangers clinking together, from the back seat area... that's a kinda spring "boing" sound...

markeggert

I've checked the torque on all the suspension components, including the sub-frame mounting bolts. I've adjusted the hood. But my Azera still has a loud rattling noise coming mostly from the right front of the car. Lately I think I'm starting to hear a very subtle rattle noise coming from the left front too. It sounds like someone tapping the frame with a ball-peen hammer.

Don't anyone tell me this is a normal suspension sound. Believe me, I've had many, many cars in my lifetime and many were very high-mileage vehicles. None ever came close to the noise this Azera makes. Most of those were owned when I lived in Detroit. Anyone who has ever been to Detroit knows how poor the roads are. I could only imagine what this Azera would sound like on really rough northern roads.

My other vehicle is a 2001 Ford Ranger with 140,000 miles on it and it's perfectly silent going over the same exact roads where my 6 month old Azera with 5,000 miles sounds like some component of the front suspension is coming apart.

The same Azera was nearly silent when the ambient temperature was low (below 60). Now that it's warmed up here in Florida, this thing has become very noisy. Mine was assembled in January of 06. Since the newer 06's and the 07's are reported to NOT have any clunking noise, is evident that someone at Hyundai did something to fix this. Someone at Hyundai must know how to resolve this.

altazera

i think they are just hoping this issue will go away. Unfortunately, suspension problems usually get worse with wear and tear.

I noticed that some of the suspension components were ground out to make certain bolts and nuts fit properly. I wonder if there is some problem with the parts that was fixed properly on later models.

Somebody must know what is going on. I will be scheduling another appointment with the local dealer next week. I don't expect any results but I want this documented clearly as a "new" vehicle problem for any future fixes.

It is my first Hyundai, I am not impressed.

filbrooks

I agree with you 100%. Yes, you are correct, the noise is NOT normal suspension noise. The CLUNK as a CLUNK is gone. Now my entire front-end (left and right) sound loose over poor roads. I also live in Florida and with low temperatures the front-end rattle or noise is practically silent. I strongly believe the six (6) rubber bushings that connect the sub-frame to the body are not compress all the way. In other words, the gab between the two components. The sub-frame bolts are tight but are not compressing the rubber portion of the bushing and leaving a gap. I think the metal sleeve inside the bushing is too long and is NOT letting the bolt compress the bushing. Next month I'm taking a week off and I will remove one of this bushing for a close inspection. I will post the result as soon as possible.

altazera

please do post anything you discover.

My car had an excellent ride in the winter (purchased in Feb) but now that it is above freezing, I find the ride much too soft for me. Eventually, I would like to beaf up the suspension, but I want to correct all problems first.

I don't recommend this car for rough or uneven roads here in the north. But then I am probably spoiled with my Volvo and Ford pickup.

cobrazera

My Azera was a May '06 build and the only noise I ever hear on bumpy roads here in Michigan is a little tire thump. This is the quietest and smoothest riding vehicle I have ever been in ( and that includes S-class Mercedes ).

The ride/handling balance is fine for me and was one of the main deciding factors for this car. No, it's not a sports sedan, but I've had those and on smooth southern roads, I prefer them - but not on Michigan roads. Around here, stiff suspensions will beat you to death.

jim101

Detroit, home of super pot holes, frost heaves, Big Boys, Teds, Dalies (sp). Potholes were worse on the west side of town for some reason, specially near Redford.

I would not recommend Azera's for dirt roads, you are absolutely right.

altazera

"I would not recommend Azera's for dirt roads, you are absolutely right."

WHo mentioned anything about dirt roads? Did I miss something?

Brian

gamleged

... but I suppose I can't really blame the car. I ran over a wheel last night on the interstate, hit it doing about 75 and lost and loosened up some of the front fender trim in the passenger-side wheel-well. :sick:

Also scraped one muffler, so I guess I ran over the #$@!! with both front and back wheels. They say they don't see any other damage and when they get the parts in ($180 installed) we shall see. Seems not to have affected steering and no shimmy resulted, completely drivable, but above 60 mph I start to hear the loosened trim rattling in th' breeze...

drdonrs

How sad. Hope everything is put back ship shape. :confuse:

ericonline

I have a 2007, (Nov 06 build), no clunk after 200 miles.

gamleged

The replies on the forums suggest that if you're "clunkless" off the showroom floor, you are clunkless for the indefinite future!...

chilliwack

I still have the right front noise and I have torqued all of the front suspension parts previously mentioned here. I seriously doubt that Hyundai drastically modified the front suspension between early 2006 and now. I think the culprit very well may be the frame to body connections mentioned previously. Some have reported that this HAS corrected the issue. It is reasonable that noise from this area would sound like a suspension issue. OK then. I will pull the wheel and check for gaps and add washers accordingly. I sure hope this does it because this is getting old. For those of us who have this problem, it is embarassing to hit road irregularities and hearing a sound like all of your ball joints are shot. Otherwise "great car". :sick:

grayfox

I am sure happy you are going to lead the way on this possible fix. I have been wanting to do that too but just too old to be a pathfinder. Best of luck in your hunt, chiliwack! It would be wonderful if this turned out to be the answer for so many of us Azera owners.

grayfox

Chiliwack, when you remove the bolts from the subframe to the body, what about probing up in the hole to see if it is a blind hole or if it is straight through? If the bolt can bottom out in a blind hole, the torque readings might be false before the insulators are compressed.

chilliwack

I took the front right wheel off and inspected the body to frame assembly. While I did not take it apart, the bushings appeared to be adequately compressed. Also, there were the same number of threads showing on the bolt on the right and left sides. I did try to slip a credit card between the bushing and body and was unable to. I doubt that this is the reason for my front right suspension noise. Can anyone else elaborate further?

jim101

Good day,

I wrote about this some weeks ago in detail. The car needs to be jacked up in a manner that lifts both the front and rear wheel and then securely held with jack stands. Note the car was not set down on the stands. They were in place under secure frame members just in case the jack slipped.

altazera

"The replies on the forums suggest that if you're "clunkless" off the showroom floor, you are clunkless for the indefinite future!... "

my clunker started after 6,000 km, and the suspension seems to be getting looser with more rattles over time.

hyundai2

adding washers will do NO good unless they are added to the bushing side of the factory washer, AND they have a center hole bigger than the steel sleeve inside the bushing. From the factory, the nut is already against the washer which is against the sleeve, and farther tightening is of no consequence, that is if your intentions is to put more squeeze on the bushing. The sleeve prevents overcompressing the bushing. :confuse: Does that make since to u?

jim101

Let me understand, you say the steel bushing in the rubber bumper goes from one side to the other, correct?

If this is true then the body is 'HARD' mounted to the frame and the rubber part does nothing. If this is not tight then the steel bushing will 'clunk' with every bump, think about it.

If in fact you are talking about the rubber bushing in the bottom of a typical rear shock absorber then yes the steel bushing prevents the bolt and washer from over tightening. But remember the movement is up and down so the load of the shock movement is softened by the rubber bushing and not the bolt.

Body frame mounts are typically a high durometer rubber sandwiched between the frame and body. This rubber mount should be slightly deformed when secured. If it is not tight you will get a 'clunk' of a different tune.

hyundai2

I am talking about the body to subframe mounting bolt directly to the Rr of the axles. If u remove the nut and washer, u will see that the washer is already against the sleeve. The protion of the bushing that cushions the ride is above the sub frame, not below. Once again, if u are attempting to furtheer tighten this bushing, u must use washers with an inside opening bigger than the sleeve or find a way to remove the sleeve and shorten it slightly and then reinstall. Tighenig the blot is only attempting to crush the steel sleeve. justa notta gonna happen!!! :P

chilliwack

So did adding the washer(s) eliminate the sound difference between the right and left front suspension?? I visually inspected my front right frame to body washers and they looked the same as the left side (no issues with left side). My front right sounds loose over certain road irregularities...like a bad ball joint. I went through and torqued the strut assemblies already per previous posts here...

hyundai2

I added a washer, as discussed. The washer was 1/8 inch thick, inside opening diameter 1 1/4", 1/8" thick, and same diameter across as factory washer. Tightened with air impact. It definately changed the noice, seems somewhat deminished, but still not quiet like the left side. :confuse: If the suspension Clunked while hitting upwards bumps, I would be inclind to blame lower strut bolt where it travels through the lower control arm. My Zer only clunks when the suspension "drops", or traveling over a washboard area, never while traveling upwards. That makes me want to point to an internal problem with the strut. There is nothing else left!!! :confuse:

highunday

I have a 06 azera with 17k on it and until last week I was experiencing all of the same "clunking" discussed here. The dealer finally figured it out and ordered a new strut assembly ... once installed the front end is void of all noises and is very tight. Hope is of some help for everyone!!

floridabob1

RE:452
This repair makes the most sense to me. By replacing the strut the tech had the necessity to tighten all of the associated connections and fittings.

altazera

The front end clunk problem is now showing up in the Sonata Forum, now that the rear suspension problem is being dealt with. And there was a problem with the Entourage as well.

I suspect Hyundai is having sporatic problems with it's strut supply or supplier.

jmjk

RE: 452

Interesting. My dealer said that he would not order a new strut assembly (he said this a long time ago) because he was certain that Hyundai would not reimburse him for this type of "warranty" work. Presumably your dealer views the clunk as warranty work . . . this is a step in the right direction but I am curious if other dealers will follow your dealers lead - particularly mine.

Would you kindly provide the name of your dealership so that I may refer it to mine?

Thanks,

JMJK

richardr35

I work at a Hyundai dealer, GSM to be specific just to give you some background. I do not delve too much into the warranty or repairs of these vehicles, I just sell em. That being said, the Hyundai service rep for our region (south central) just stopped by to say hello and ask if any customers were complaining about anything on our cars. So I mentioned this topic and got a smile. So I delved a bit further. There is a repair from Hyundai which is the good news. They have narrowed it down to being based on the build date (after 12/2005 is what I believe he said). The fix is a new strut and housing assembly I believe is what he said. Hope this helps some of you.

grayfox

Richard, this is THE BEST NEWS many of us Azera owners have had since we bought the cars. I am including both some '06 and some '07 cars.
Please let us know when the repair parts become available.
Thank you for your interrest and input.

jmjk

richardr35:

This is great news. My build date is 1/25/2006. While I understand that you "just sell em" your post is inspirational (i.e. there's light at the end of the tunnel). Did your service rep for your region mention a pending Technical Service Bulletin, in other words how do I authenticate that there is a Hyundia approved fix for the Azeras? I don't want to go to my service manager and ask for a fix if he hasn't heard anything about this news - our relationship has been strained given his unwillingness to acknowledge the clunk.

Thanks a million,

JMJK

richardr35

I will try and get the TSB for you today, I'll post it as soon as I get the actual answer.

hyundai2

Good news, Bad News (kinda)for me. My build date is November of '05, and it clunks as bad as any. I also already have an appointment for 15 May, to get it rechecked, (for the 3rd time). Maybe I'll cancel and see what you come up with. :confuse:

roadkingtc88

Richard35,

Thanks SO VERY MUCH for looking into this for us. I'm sure you have several hundred on this forum awaiting an answer...

btw, if you're reading this and have not yet called Hyundai customer service to get a file number about this problem, PLEASE DO SO.

richardcot

How can I find the build date for my azera?

grayfox

The build date can be found on the ID tag located on the pillar between the left front and rear doors.

richardcot

Thanks Grayfox!

chilliwack

By the lack of posts on this thread, it can be assumed that the culprit for the klunk was the front right strut. Is this an accurate statement? If so, I will need to print this thread and get mine changed out also. Thanks

grayfox

I still have the so-called clunk in my '06 Limited and I can't say that it is isolated only to the right side. Seems like the whole front suspension rattles on small bumps.

jmjk

Chilliwack:

Re: 465

My front suspension continues to get worse, including the left side. It is getting hotter here in Texas (Houston) and as the weather gets hotter the clunk gets worse (there have previous posts regarding hot weather and a worsening clunk). I continue to have the radio as loud as necessary to mitigate the clunk. I haven't seen a post from Richardr35 regarding his search for a TSB - richard are out there working on it, if so please let us know - we do appreciate it.

I have an oil change coming up and will again voice my extreme heartburn about the front suspension problems.

Man I wish we I could get this behind us.

JMJK

markeggert

It's getting pretty warm here in St. Petersburg, Florida too and the whole front end of my Azera is making noise. It sounds like it's got 200,000 miles on it. The clunk is still most pronounced coming from the right front, but I can hear the left side clunking now too. It is definitely temperature related. Maybe something to do with the temperature affecting the gas charge in the struts? Maybe the right front strut has less oil than the left?

richardr35

chilliwack,

yes bring it in to my dealership here in Houston (Hub Hyundai West on I10)... we need to check the build date. we can also do the oil change for you while you are here. Look me up, my name is Richard, I'm the only Richard here. At this time there is not a TSB yet. But there is a fix!

grayfox

Can you share the details of this fix? As you know, there are many of us anxiously waiting.

richdag

we need to check the build date But there is a fix!

Richard you said you need to check the build date. does that mean the new Azeras that are coming from the factory with the fix and are OK?