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Chasing Clunking sound in rear suspension

7170 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  Wod, 
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Aloha wrenches,

I have this 05 S 110,000 miles with a clunking sound coming from I think the rear as I drive down the road, going over bumps, or turning; it's hard to narrow down. I'm trying to fix it for the owner who is off island. I've turned a few wrenches but I'm worried I'm over my head on this one, or at least standing on my head when I took the photos, and I can't get them rightside!

Owner previously redid the lower control arms, and looks like an aftermarket shock- see Pics-

what am I looking for, the owner thinks it is the Trailing arm Bushings and has ordered polyurethane.

If I use a pry bar at the front of the trailing arm how much should the trailing arm move?

Could there be a washer from the aftermarket shock that is rattling around?

How can I find and fix this clunking sound?

Thanks for any help

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M
Fix for rear suspension knocking noise

I've just resolved a similar issue on a 2004 70k miles R53.

When going over bumps, increasingly loud (over several months) clocking noise from rear off side (UK driver side).

I was convinced initially that it was the shock absorber top bush. I ordered some of these but as soon as I removed the shock absorber, I could see the bush was in good condition. Replaced it anyway.

I was equally convinced that it was the trailing arm bush. I ordered some of these but as soon as I removed the bush mounting, I could see the bush was in good condition. Didn't replace this as it really needs a press.

Whilst reassembling, I noticed that the shock absorber bottom bush (i.e. the one with the whole of the weight of the car on it) mounting hole was off centre. I clamped this in a vice and turned it around 180 degrees. Noise has gone away!

I'm not sure that you can get a new bush for this so a replacement shock absorber required soon.

Hope this helps.

Mike
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Wod
2Manyminis said:
Aloha wrenches,

I have this 05 S 110,000 miles with a clunking sound coming from I think the rear as I drive down the road, going over bumps, or turning; it's hard to narrow down. I'm trying to fix it for the owner who is off island. I've turned a few wrenches but I'm worried I'm over my head on this one, or at least standing on my head when I took the photos, and I can't get them rightside!

Owner previously redid the lower control arms, and looks like an aftermarket shock- see Pics-

what am I looking for, the owner thinks it is the Trailing arm Bushings and has ordered polyurethane.

If I use a pry bar at the front of the trailing arm how much should the trailing arm move?

Could there be a washer from the aftermarket shock that is rattling around?

How can I find and fix this clunking sound?

Thanks for any help
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Did you get to the bottom of this? I've been having bother since I installed the Bilsteins and they've been rebuilt a couple of times so far. Cannot replicate the noise no matter what I do but there's definitely a common link between these Bilstein shocks and noise as I'm not the only one.
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Scudder
Might not cure it but the ARB bushes are a short life item and easily changed out. Always cause a thud over bumps when worn.
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Wod
Scudder said:
Might not cure it but the ARB bushes are a short life item and easily changed out. Always cause a thud over bumps when worn.
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All brand new mate, I did notice though that despite me fitting new Febi top mountings just 10 months ago. They've squished quite a lot! Turns out these aftermarket ones are polyurethane whilst the OEM is impregnated foam so I'm hoping the OEM ones will solve the issue ?
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