pot hole causes loud clank

[BobSVX96]

Hi forum,
I have a very loud CLANK from underneath the car when I hit a large pot hole. This only seems to happen when traveling 25-35mph. It happens whether the pot hole is on driver or passenger side.
Never happens during parking lot speed bumps (I purposely drove over a medium-sized speed bump 10 times, alternating the wheels to see if it happens on 1 side or the other. Nothing happened.)
Never happens on the highway. Smooth & reasonably quiet.

Thoughts?
Thanks, Bob.

[SVX_MY_BABY]

Callipers?

[irox]

Not sure what is causing your clank, but I've had a couple of 'clanks' in the past I can share.

- One time was a bent stabilizer bar link.

- Another was a worn CV joint.

- Another due to a failed wheel bearing that was spinning it's outer race, this causes the wheel to 'wobble' when hitting pot holes and hit other components.

If everything has been quiet it's probably not the wheel bearing (usually a constant noise) or the CV (you would usually hear clicking on slow sharp turns before it's loose enough to clank about).

[BobSVX96]

Thanks for the responses.

SVX_My_Baby, if it was a caliper, wouldn't I also experience (1) a pull to the left or right under braking...or...(2) leaking brake fluid...or...(3) clanking when brakes engage...or...(4) degraded brake function? I'm not seeing/hearing any of these. The brakes work great.

irox, in the case of a stabilizer bar link or bushing problem, will the issue be obvious with the car up on a lift? Will the stabilizer bar move around by simply grabbing it? (I'm assuming a healthy stabilizer bar system is fairly rigid.)

I genuinely appreciate it, guys. Thanks,
Bob.

[Blacky]

The caliper issue usually causes a constant rattle on bumps and especially washboard dirt roads. The brakes still function normally.
If it's a single clank I would be looking for a something large which is loose and contacting another part when jarred by a large bump.

[Subaru oldtimer]

Mine experienced similar issues and it was a dead strut. Have you checked those?

[irox]

The sway bar links should be completely straight without any bends in it:
https://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/att...9&d=1520325332
(My bad one next to a good one, posted to the forum a few years ago.)