I’m getting a clunck on my front end when I hit the brakes as backing up on my 79 cutlass
I have checked my ball joints
but I was watching a few videos and saw it could be lower control arms ? Bushings ?
What is the best way to check this on these cars ?

 

You need to jack the car up at the front lift point and support with a jackstand.
remove the tire.
Do a viisual inspection for loose or missing nuts, torn bushings, loose breake calipers.
Do you have access to tools? and a place to work?

 

yes I have tools
just wondering about the best way to check lower control arms

 

Check motor mounts, too. They can be sneaky!

 

Has there been any recent frond-end work done on the vehicle?

From your description alone, I'd double check ball joints - in the air, on jack stands, off the ground for tightness & torque specifications. Are the current ball joints factory OEM assemblies or have they been changed in the past?

 

Get a friend to watch the left & right front wheel as you back up & going forward & hit the brakes. have him ck to see if the wheel moves back & forth when hitting the brakes, If so, more then likely the bushings are bad or the arm is loose.. LIft the car & use a bar between the arm & frame to ck for any movement.. IF SO BUSHINGS ARE BAD. Second ck the ball joints again. sometimes they will lock up in one position [bind] when they get loose making you think they are tight, especially when the suspension is unloaded. Last option, ck the brake calipers make sure they are tight and ck the brake pads that they are not moving front to back inside the caliper. this can also cause this noise..

 

Loose tie-rod ends or center link / idler arm can also cause clunking.

 

thanks for this