Clunk in the rear

[Khyron]

I have the FK High teck 35/40 kit, installed last year. In the last few weeks, my rear end makes a really horrible noise. At first I thought it was just my tire iron rolling around in the back (thump thump) cause it was intermittent - a large bump at high speed might make no noise, yet the tiniest hole would make a CLUNK at low speeds.

I removed everything from the car thinking it really was a bowling ball or something rolling around in the back, then I drove around with my wife sitting in the trunk to hear where it was coming from. Definately something on the rear axle/suspension. But going up a driveway curb for instance will make a quieter clunk than hitting a tiny rut. It also does it if I steer left and right.

Any thoughts? C1 did my suspension and swaybar, but they can't fit me in till next Tues (25th!!). I jacked up the car and poked around for anything obvious like a dragging sway or a falling off muffler, but nothing seems amiss. And letting it compress when lowering the jack made no noise at all.

I do run ET13 wheels in the back, so I was thinking wheel bearings but don't they get louder the faster you go? The wheel spins just fine when in the air.

Baffled.

Khyron

[Aleks]

Re: Clunk in the rear

Hmm, sway bar mount come loose??? BTW, I think that whole my wife rode in the trunk part is halarious......

[Khyron]

Re: Clunk in the rear

Hmm, sway bar mount come loose??? BTW, I think that whole my wife rode in the trunk part is halarious......

Yah our neighbours were trying not to stare as we were going up and down the driveway/street. I got under the car and shook the exhause, the sway, bounced on the back to try and duplicate the banging - nothing. Something underneath has got to be banging on the spare tire well. I **** you not it's like a bowling ball.

Khyron

[1.8Trip]

Re: Clunk in the rear

Hmmm. I think the cops found some woman trapped in a trunk a few days ago. Was she yours?

[Kor]

Re: Clunk in the rear

99.999% of the time, its the exhaust. You THINK its the suspension, but its not. I had same thing. Its probably the rear axel hitting the exhaust piping as your car comes down. The exhaust pipe bends over this but often on a lowered car, there is not enough clearance. Or alternatively, it could be the piping or muffler hitting the heat shield in that rear area. This is even more likely if C1 installed your exhaust (in my opinion)...

[Tuna]

Re: Clunk in the rear

99.999% of the time, its the exhaust. You THINK its the suspension, but its not. I had same thing. Its probably the rear axel hitting the exhaust piping as your car comes down. The exhaust pipe bends over this but often on a lowered car, there is not enough clearance. Or alternatively, it could be the piping or muffler hitting the heat shield in that rear area. This is even more likely if C1 installed your exhaust (in my opinion)...

Here here....When my exhaust used to bang on my rear bar it sounded like I had a broken spring or something. Plus, I could do 100km/hr and hear nothing, but taking off from a light or around a corner at 5km/hr it would make a bunch of noise. Easiest thing to do is get inside the car and get someone to yank on the tailpipe a bit and see if you recognize the noise. You're exhaust hangers are prolly worn out from dealing with the extra weight of a custom exhaust and occasionally the pipe hits something.

[James]

Re: Clunk in the rear

dude, I can't believe your wife got in the trunk. Thats some pimp **** right there! Thats a keeper for sure haha

[Khyron]

Re: Clunk in the rear

Here here....When my exhaust used to bang on my rear bar it sounded like I had a broken spring or something. Plus, I could do 100km/hr and hear nothing, but taking off from a light or around a corner at 5km/hr it would make a bunch of noise. Easiest thing to do is get inside the car and get someone to yank on the tailpipe a bit and see if you recognize the noise. You're exhaust hangers are prolly worn out from dealing with the extra weight of a custom exhaust and occasionally the pipe hits something.

K, until I can do some tests I'm gonna assume its the exhaust. I did grab the tail and shake it up and down and around with not a peep, but as Kor was saying, it will only do it under certain load conditions.

And yah she's a keeper - "Yo woman! Git in da trunk!"

Khyron

[Stonewall]

Re: Clunk in the rear

And yah she's a keeper - "Yo woman! Git in da trunk!"
Khyron

But I hear your wife is really nice, why stick her in the trunk? I would check for any loose bit inside the wheel well, maybe the tire mount is loose.More then likely it is the muffler hitting but it never hurts to look. BTW did you atleat put the seats down? or did you just leave her back there for an hour or so?

[Khyron]

Re: Clunk in the rear

I hear your wife had fun in Winnipeg last week - top that for odd coincidences. I left the trunk lid open of course!

The noise was getting worse so since I was going to Northland to get the GLI valence (which they mixed up) I asked the service guys to check it out. Paul said no problem and after a quick road test, they put it on the lift and confirmed it was something with the rear swaybar. Not sure why it started now, but they said it's the driver side of the bar making the noise. I have an appointment at C1 next week and as long as I know the axle isn't going to fall off I can deal with it. Paul told me the bill would be 1200 dollars - after a few seconds of stunned silence he laughed and said no charge. Color me impressed with Northland, as usual.

Khyron

[Stonewall]

Re: Clunk in the rear

I hear your wife had fun in Winnipeg last week - top that for odd coincidences. I left the trunk lid open of course!Khyron

For sure, she didn't have all that much fun as it was work as usual and on her days off with very short notice Now that is twice we have had some weird coincidences as our women go to the same meetings. So is C1 going to warranty the install?

[Khyron]

Re: Clunk in the rear

For sure, she didn't have all that much fun as it was work as usual and on her days off with very short notice Now that is twice we have had some weird coincidences as our women go to the same meetings. So is C1 going to warranty the install?

Actually her sister went with your wife to that store opening - weird stuff.

I never asked, but I would assume c1 would warranty it as it is less than a year old, and it's a big metal bar as opposed to something that gets wear and tear.

Khyron

[Mr. Burns]

Re: Clunk in the rear

its only pimp if she did it topless

[Stonewall]

Re: Clunk in the rear

Actually her sister went with your wife to that store opening - weird stuff.

I never asked, but I would assume c1 would warranty it as it is less than a year old, and it's a big metal bar as opposed to something that gets wear and tear.

Khyron

YA she told me that, who knows how they ever figured that out Since it is just a big bar I wonder what went wrong, are any of the bushings toast?

[Kor]

Re: Clunk in the rear

K, until I can do some tests I'm gonna assume its the exhaust. I did grab the tail and shake it up and down and around with not a peep, but as Kor was saying, it will only do it under certain load conditions.

And yah she's a keeper - "Yo woman! Git in da trunk!"

Khyron

Yeah you can't do it with your hands, it happens from the movement of the axle upwards, not the exhaust downwards... the exhaust is held in place pretty good but the suspension moves. If you loaded up your trunk with really REALLY heavy stuff so you were sitting super low, then you might be able to use your arm to move the exhaust and hear it scrape... maybe.. As I said, its impossible to tell when the car is on the lift because the suspension is hanging. But, I guess if NL was sure its the sway, then no need to mention all this.

What rear sway do you have? Thereis nothing really for it to hit, and if its the one that drills into the frame then it can't really move either...? Let us know what it is when you get it nailed down.