Clunking From The Rear

[arwel 43 2 Cars]

Iv owned the car since August and its always made a clunking noise from the back. I though worst case scenario that its the rear beam. Its been checked and is fine. Its had a new exhaust too and its not that. There doesnt appear to be anything loose that could contact anything. Its puzzling me now as it only does it every now and again. Sounds like somethings hitting something else but I cant seem to find anything. Any ideas?

[andyjstone 6]

When you say it does it every now and again, is there any pattern i.e. when you brake, when you accelerate, when you corner?

[swordfish210 20]

Are you sure it's not the beam? Get some mates to jump in the back of the car while you take a look underneath would be my suggestion.

[arwel 43 2 Cars]

No pattern. Completely random. Can be speedbumps then sometimes not then can be going over man hole covers then sometimes not. See where Im going with this. lol. Beam has been checked by 2 mechanics and seems fine. Think I'll just change bits and bobs under there either untill it goes or I end up with a re con beam anyway.

[hengti 2]

are the rubber blocks at the back of the subframe OK?

[andyjstone 6]

are the rubber blocks at the back of the subframe OK?

 

It's unlikely to be the bump stops, sounds more like either the beam or possibly loose struts, but could essentially be any loose part.

 

As suggested above I would get a couple of people to jump up and down on it and have a look underneath, it's gotta be something.

[munster 0]

At the risk of insulting your intelligence - are you sure its coming from the rear?

When my top mounts were creaking, it sounded very much like the noise was from the rear whilst in the car..

 

Just a thought.

[arwel 43 2 Cars]

Cheers people. Will give the bounce test a go. There'll be new shocks on after Christmas too so we'll see if that changes anything. Just puzzles me how random it is.

[happygoron 2]

At the risk of insulting your intelligence - are you sure its coming from the rear?

When my top mounts were creaking, it sounded very much like the noise was from the rear whilst in the car..

 

Just a thought.

 

x2 on this, thought I had a rear issue when it was with the front. I'm deaf as a post though.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

No pattern. Completely random. Can be speedbumps then sometimes not then can be going over man hole covers then sometimes not. See where Im going with this. lol. Beam has been checked by 2 mechanics and seems fine. Think I'll just change bits and bobs under there either untill it goes or I end up with a re con beam anyway.

 

When they say they've checked it, what have they checked?

 

Have they taken it apart and looked at the bearings and stub axles?

 

My guess they've looked at it from under the car while jacked up and moved the arm up and down. I'm sure if there's load on it, it would make a difference from being unloaded.

 

Double check your ARB is tight and the torsion bars are tight also.

Edited December 10, 2009 by paul_xiii

[arwel 43 2 Cars]

When they say they've checked it, what have they checked?

 

Have they taken it apart and looked at the bearings and stub axles?

 

My guess they've looked at it from under the car while jacked up and moved the arm up and down. I'm sure if there's load on it, it would make a difference from being unloaded.

 

Double check your ARB is tight and the torsion bars are tight also.

 

Yeah, just moved it up and down. Only way to find out if its had its chips is to take it apart then? Guess I'll change things as I go along and see how it goes.

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

Yep normally the way of checking, my 306dt beam was knackered and making strange noises, but moved freely.

 

Took it apart and the bearings were pretty much shot and shafts were pitted badly.

[hengti 2]

It's unlikely to be the bump stops, sounds more like either the beam or possibly loose struts, but could essentially be any loose part.

 

As suggested above I would get a couple of people to jump up and down on it and have a look underneath, it's gotta be something.

 

sorry, i meant the rubber blocks that the subframe's mounted on, at the back (are they sometimes called sandwich mounts?). the rubber seperates from the metal plates either end. they're one of the things that'd be worth checking before taking the beam off anyway, as they're easy/cheap to renew and are a common problem

[JackTar 0]

Hi, I have just carried out a rear beam swap and my old beam had quite a lot of wear in the rubber bushes just where the mounting plate meets the underside of the boot. Mine didn't make the clunking noise but it's a possibility.

[marksorrento205 80]

If the dampers where totally shot or the bushes fudged, could they make the clunking sound?

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

If the dampers where totally shot or the bushes fudged, could they make the clunking sound?

 

Good point, the front bushes which the mounts attach to could be shot.

 

Arwel: Do you have a problem with unwanted oversteer?

Edited December 10, 2009 by paul_xiii

[swordfish210 20]

I judt remememberd, one of my old beams used to clunk randomly. I spent ages looking for what was causing it wth no success and eventually found out that one of the damper bolts (the bottom one) had come slightly loose and was allowing the damper to knock on the bolt. It looked fine but i torqued it up and the noise was completly gone

[pike_1.9cti 0]

without insulting your intelligence again, you sure there isnt anything freely moving in your boot or the cavaties in the rear of the car?

 

eg, old spanner etc.

 

Just a thought, sometimes things turn out to be so simple!

[arwel 43 2 Cars]

Good point, the front bushes which the mounts attach to could be shot.

 

Arwel: Do you have a problem with unwanted oversteer?

 

It is a bit twitchy, very easy to shake its ass on wet rounabouts especially. Could be shocks then?

 

Pike, theres nothing loose or moving around, checked all that, even ditched the spare wheel cradle thinking it was that.

[pug_ham 245 3 Cars]

sorry, i meant the rubber blocks that the subframe's mounted on, at the back (are they sometimes called sandwich mounts?). the rubber seperates from the metal plates either end. they're one of the things that'd be worth checking before taking the beam off anyway, as they're easy/cheap to renew and are a common problem

Even if they are split the beam shouldn't be able to move with the weight of the car on it, especially not enough to cause a clunk.

 

Last time I had some failed on my STDT & took it for an MOT the tester said even though they are seperating when the car was jacked, with it back on its wheels they are still doing the job. I had new ones in the car ready though.

 

If the dampers where totally shot or the bushes fudged, could they make the clunking sound?

Yes, I had an odd occasional clunk from the back on one of my old 205 diesels & I expected it to be a dead beam, all it turned out to be was a dead lower rear shock bush. Fixed for free with one from a dead shock in the scrap bin.

 

Another time it was the spare wheel carrier moving because it was done up tight enough & also a friends had the back box hitting the torsion bar when they came off the gas at high rpm due to a weak rubber exhaust mount.

 

Graham.

[Galifrey 1]

Also check your spare wheel cradle is tight

 

[marksorrento205 80]

And the bootlid adjustable rubber stops are correct and the boot lid is not rattling about - I doubt it but you never know

[Veero 1]

Another vote for the bootlid maybe. My bootlid was bent slightly when someone rear ended my 205 years ago, the bootlid has rattled since and adjusting the catch 3mm on the 2 x 10mm hex bolts has silenced it Bliss.

[arwel 43 2 Cars]

Cheers for the reply people. We'll see whats going on after christmas now when the shocks get changed anyway. Will check all other things beteween now and then too. Oh Galifrey, I already ditched the cradle as I thought that was the problem but obviously it wasnt.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

One not mentioned so far

 

ARB plate.

 

If the locking bolt has fallen out or half out it causes an annoying clicking sound.