OK, Volvophiles and closet dealer mechanics ---- what's going on here ?

'94 854 - 126,000 mi; AT; had front pads and rotors at 122,000. Never replaced any front end parts.

For the past month, I've experienced what listeners have variously described as a "clunk", "chunk", or "thunk" (depends on what part of the country you're from, I suppose). It's not a hard or brittle "metal to metal" sound, but more muffled and deep. Definitely seems to be coming from the front of the car, and more low than high.

It occurs at a number of various times, but most often seems to occur at times of weight transfer. Immediately upon or during the course of braking; immediately upon or during hard acceleration (actually had it happen once during full-throttle freeway entry, at a 1-2 or 2-3 upshift !); while steering right or left at slow to moderate speed. Most frequently seems to happen when turning the wheel at very low parking lot speeds. Note it does not ALWAYS happen in the above circumstances, but the above is a complete list of when it DOES happen --- except that today, I heard it for the first time over a highway seam at 15-20 MPH.

The interesting thing is, I can FEEL it when it happens, in the gas pedal, in the steering wheel, and in the brake pedal ---- EVERY TIME. Whichever pedal I'm on, I feel it there.

OK --- who's willing to hazard a guess ? I'm leaning, of course, toward front end, and maybe even specifically tie rod ends, but if this sounds familiar to some of you underpaid wrenchers out there, give me a hint -- after all, it's Christmas !!!

Tim

'94 854
'89 744
'80 242GT

"I'm not afraid of dying -- I just don't want to be there when it happens..."......Woody Allen