# Door makes a clunk sound when it is opened or closed **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** doors\ **Created:** [June 11, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370 "2011-06-11T16:59:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jerryehr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jerryehr/32/1141_2.png) [@jerryehr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerryehr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/1 "2011-06-11T16:59:09Z")
2005 Chevy Malibu When the driver side door is opened there is a clunk sound about half way through the swing. When the door is closed there is a couple clunks then a thud. The sound is coming from the front of the door. What is causing this and does it mean big trouble soon? ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/2 "2011-06-11T17:11:43Z")
I think your hinge bushings a wearing out. ---
**Author:** ![jerryehr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jerryehr/32/1141_2.png) [@jerryehr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerryehr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/3 "2011-06-11T17:15:20Z")
Thanx! I sprayed lithium grease on the hinges and that arm that goes into the door this morning but no change. ---
**Author:** ![jerryehr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jerryehr/32/1141_2.png) [@jerryehr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerryehr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/4 "2011-06-11T17:17:57Z")
By the way, what is that arm thing anyway? I figured it just keeps the door from flying across the street. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/5 "2011-06-11T17:19:55Z")
but the bushings are wearing out. possibly the pins too. Lubing them won’t change their egg shape. Time for new hinges, probably both, or pin/bushing kits. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/6 "2011-06-11T17:21:34Z")
The arm thing does stop the door from flying accross the street. and it probably has a detent or two as you’ll notince the door will stay about half way open as well. ---
**Author:** ![jerryehr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jerryehr/32/1141_2.png) [@jerryehr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerryehr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/7 "2011-06-11T17:24:45Z")
Thanx for explaining. Are the hinges something I can replace myself? ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/8 "2011-06-11T17:44:29Z")
A fairly big DIY job even though the hinges are just nuts and bolts. A door is quite heavy and the right tools are welcome. A separate jack that will hold the door in alignment should be used. Could also be a two man job. The hardest part is the alignment after installation. Fore/ aft…up/down…AND tilt angle. Although I could myself, This is a job I’d take to my body shop where they have the jig to hold the door in position as they work. My body man Henry would make it a twenty minute job. ---
**Author:** ![jerryehr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jerryehr/32/1141_2.png) [@jerryehr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerryehr)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/9 "2011-06-11T17:47:43Z")
Thanx, Ken! That’s what I was afraid of. ---
**Author:** ![jerryehr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jerryehr/32/1141_2.png) [@jerryehr](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jerryehr)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/10 "2011-07-23T21:40:42Z")
I finally saved up enough to have the door hinges replaced but it turned out to be the “door check assembly” that was making the clunk sound when ever I opened or closed the door. What I earlier called “the arm thing that goes inside the door”. $168 material and 1 hour labor. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/11 "2011-07-26T00:08:41Z")
doesn’t sound like too much, but I’ve never priced out body work before. Glad everything is OK now ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/door-makes-a-clunk-sound-when-it-is-opened-or-closed/65370/12 "2011-07-27T03:29:00Z")
Keep the hinge pins and door check lubed with white lithium when the oil is changed.