Rear suspension clunking
02-24-2021, 05:19 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Rear suspension clunking
Noticed that especially when the car is cold leaving my house, what seems like the right rear clunks quite a bit. It almost sounds like the shock tower nuts in the trunk are loose and it is going up and down. I have checked this and they are tight on both sides, but I am not sure what would be making this sound.
When the car warms up, it is definitely less noticeable or even disappears, but I heard it pulling into work so it might be getting worse. Ideas?
When the car warms up, it is definitely less noticeable or even disappears, but I heard it pulling into work so it might be getting worse. Ideas?
02-24-2021, 05:46 AM
#2
Have you done the axle nut retightening?
-- Chuck
-- Chuck
02-24-2021, 05:56 AM
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
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This sounds like worn sway bar links.
What have you checked thus far?
What have you checked thus far?
02-24-2021, 06:00 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Sway bar links have been replaced. I can check and retighten those if needed. Axles were rebuilt a few years ago and tightened to max. It doesnt sound like the axle nut since I used to have that, and that was more of a going from reverse to forward clunk. This one will happen if I am in neutral going over a speed hump or something similiar. Last time I had the car up, I looked for anything obvious and didnt find anything. It almost sounds like it's in the trunk, which makes me think it was rear suspension tightness, but everytime I check that and even bounce the car, I dont see any obvious movement that would make that noise.
02-24-2021, 06:11 AM
#5
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What other work has been done recently?
Those sway bar links have a torque, BTW (25LB-FT?? IIRC). Don't just crank them down in an effort to make them be quiet. Its a fairly small stud, so you can damage it via over-tightening....even with hand tools.
What did you use as replacements? If they're aftermarket and its been 5K miles or so...it may be time for a replacement again. You can check this theory by disconnecting one of them and going for a drive.
Any loose heat shields?
Spare tyre loose?
Something in the tool tray come loose?
Those sway bar links have a torque, BTW (25LB-FT?? IIRC). Don't just crank them down in an effort to make them be quiet. Its a fairly small stud, so you can damage it via over-tightening....even with hand tools.
What did you use as replacements? If they're aftermarket and its been 5K miles or so...it may be time for a replacement again. You can check this theory by disconnecting one of them and going for a drive.
Any loose heat shields?
Spare tyre loose?
Something in the tool tray come loose?
02-24-2021, 08:41 AM
#6
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Foothills East of Sacramento
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I had a hard to duplicate thunking noise coming from the rear and discovered it was a few items I had stored away on top of the spare tire.
02-24-2021, 02:17 PM
#7
Yeah, rule out junk in da trunk. Take out EVERYTHING.
Doesn't match up with cold related aspect, but easy to rule out.
Then with everything out, have someone else drive over speed bumps while you trunk surf. Try and pinpoint where its coming from.
Doesn't match up with cold related aspect, but easy to rule out.
Then with everything out, have someone else drive over speed bumps while you trunk surf. Try and pinpoint where its coming from.
