Why would a bad strut bearing make clunking noise

[Grant Lenahan]

>i've read this in numerous places but i can't understand why a plastic part
>(at least the casing is) would casue a clunk when it's bad unless of course
>the casing breaks and the bearings are striking the metal plate.  is that
>the scenario under which a bad strut bearing will clunk?  thanx.
Easy.  The strut bearing acts for all practical purposes as the upper 
ball joint.  It is a ruibber surround that suspends and isolates the 
ball bearing race that allows the strut to turn.  As the rubber 
fails, it moves up, down, side to side.  Ergo, clunk.

The strut literally rattles around, and lacks the initial impact 
damping of the rubber.
Grant
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Grant Lenahan
gfl at erols.com (home)
glenahan at telcordia.com (office)  NEW!
gfl at alum.MIT.edu (MIT)
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