[sjnowak]

Have a 2003 town n country van, lots of clunking noise over bumps , rough roads etc, seems to get worse, now steering wheel shakes a bit at lower speeds. Am I looking at new struts as I'm sure they are probably original, or I've read a lot about its just as likely to be the sway bar bushings, hate to spend $ 300 for new struts if that won't help at all. All advice welcome. Thanks.

[talaniman]

A simple inspection by a trusted reputable mechanic can give you facts for a good decision. A 13 year old car could be crying for some maintenance.

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Your minivan likely needs new lower ball joints, struts, sway bar end links, sway bar bushings, wheel bearings, and outer tie-rod ends. Basically, all of these items need to be replaced every 100,000 miles. It's cheaper to get all of the suspension work done at once, rather than piecemeal.

[sjnowak]

Think I'll start with the sway bar bushings and go from there

[TxGreaseMonkey]

Big money is saved in being able to do your own suspension work--even then, it's not cheap. Ultimately, it's a safety issue, too.