Radster 0 Posted April 11, 2006 (edited) Well after behaving impecibly of recent times (even a 450 mile round trip to lincoln) my car has decided to start acting up again. First the clutch cable snapped whilst I pulled into a car park space at work, not too much bother, however its the noise coming from the rear beam which is worrying me. Here is the symptons, maybe someone could shed some light on it. Ive looked up about rear beams and my thinking is its on the way out Whilst driving and going over bumps in the road (uneven roads, drain covers etc) the drivers side rear of the car emits a hollowish sounding clank, like a snapping sound almost but its quite loud from within the car. It doesnt always do this however, sometimes nothing happens and its fine. I thought maybe the exhaust had come loose and was banging somehow on the underside hence the loudness in the car but ive checked that out and its secure. I took the wheel off this morn to check for any play and it all seems pretty tight, the arm moves up and down ok and doesnt wobble sideways or anything (im not sure how much you are meant to be able to move them up and down but mine does move) Looking from the back there is no noticeable camber either. I can replicate the noise by standing in the boot on the drivers side and shifting my weight down hard to simulate a bump, a loud hollow cracking noise can be heard. Doesnt do it on the otherside, I also drove over some road bumps with just the drivers side and again noise. So does this sound like a fubared beam, or the beginning of one? I figured it would gradually worsen, this seems to have come quite suddenly, the beams never been bad, the odd creak when you park on a hill and put on the handbrake as the car rolls, or getting in and out of the back but nothing too bad and now suddenly it sounds like its going to snap on me Edited April 11, 2006 by Radster Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spikey_richie 0 Posted April 11, 2006 Could just be a shock wearing/snapped inside... would be worth getting it checked out though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pug309twin40s 1 Posted April 11, 2006 pop round mine when your free mate and i'll take a look and see if i can spot any problems if you want. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pug_ham 244 3 Cars Posted April 11, 2006 Check the lower shock mounting bush, I've had one of these fail before (incorrectly tightened so bush was under stress) & that sounded similar to what you mention when going over bumps etc. If the beam bounces smoothly with no creaking & you have no camber it doesn't look bad but either way if it hasn't been rebuilt before now its due one before it all goes to far. Graham. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radster 0 Posted April 11, 2006 Thanks for the replies gents. Yes the car can be bounced on the rear suspension with no noise, its only when you really give it a sudden jolt it, ie hit a hole or a drain cover which is lower than the road its on etc etc. I did wonder about the mountings but generally I assume the worst, when it comes to this car anyway. Ill take her over pug309twin40s hopefully sometime this week and have a check over of bits. Cheers Rad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radster 0 Posted April 12, 2006 Well, just got back from pug309twin40s, we checked the beam, found out my drivers side rear wheel bearing was knackered and changed it, no change. took off the spare wheel cage and wheel to see whether that was the problem, again no change. Disconnected the shock on the dodgy side and again the sound remained which basically means I guess something internal to the beam is snagging, maybe a bearing or something, everything is totally tight, no free play and nothing lose. Anyone heard of anything like this, there is no seizedness to the beam it moves totally fine, no camber either just when jolted hard makes a sound, its random also, sometimes nothing at all even on bumpy roads and then you hit just the right bump and bang Still after driving it back from his house I can still see why I love it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pug309twin40s 1 Posted April 12, 2006 The noise is a loud like cracking sound. and does sound like its coming from inside the beam. although theres no camber, seizing and beam has plenty of up and down movement. and trailing arm still solid in the beam. doesnt wobble or anything. Could it be one of the bearings on the drivers side starting to break up and be catching? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
