Our Saturn SW2 doesn't do this, and the suspension systems are not all that different on the Toyotaso it isn't like one car is made to ride much smoother than the other.When I turn into our driveway, there is a tiny bump as you go from the road into the driveway. Our Saturn simply bumps silently onto the driveway, but our Toyota makes a loud WHAM! sound coming from the front left tire. I've bounced the car using it's bumper on that corner, and it doesn't keep moving after I let it go.it seems to spring back and hold nicely.What could this be?
Could also be a ball joint.
Go under your car on the where the noise is coming from, there is a sway bar, on the end of the sway bar, there is a rod that attatches it to the lower control arm, this is probably where the noise is coming from, cheap part and easy to replace.
If these are the original struts on the car then it's definitely time to replace them. They may be holding it from bouncing but they aren't adding any resistance to the wheel going UP thus the thump. Probably holds okay on a down force which would be typical of a worn out shock. They are supposed to offer controlled resistance in the up and down direction to stabilize bouncing. It this car has been hitting that same driveway bump for 17 years (which I suspect it has) then it's finally given up the ghost and needs to be replaced. Good Luck RoyG KC
