candlelit

iTrader: (21)

It's annoying. Very..... annoying. Even over the smallest bump, clunk.
Sounds like a couple of bricks falling in the bed of a pickup.

We changed the rear end almost a year ago. About a month ago, this problems has been happening. It seems like it's getting worse and worse. Also, keep in mind the ride is rougher than it should be. Would the same thing be causing that problem too?

All suspension parts are stock, except the shocks. There is no spare or jack.

So I need some opinions to eliminate the possible causes.

So far, I will look into: (updated list)
-LCA bolts
-Torque Arm bolts
-Brake backing plates
-Shocks & bolts
-Panhard bushings
-Sway bar
-Ball joints

What else could I look at? Thanks!

2001NBMZ28

Shocks/bolts too - maybe one of the top nuts are loose....

shatteredimage

Panhard Bar bushings.

SparkyJJO

iTrader: (11)

Sway bar?

My old car broke its sway bar end link on the one side and it affected handling and clunked. Happened when I hit a pothole or something (broke my spring too, ouch, one of the reasons why I ditched the car and got my f-body because it wasn't worth fixing the old car).

redz_02

iTrader: (4)

What about the ball joints?

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

I remember seeing a long time ago there wasn't a part underneath one side's end link of the sway bar like the other side. But, even then, it didn't make all the racket like it does now. Here was my original topic about it: https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes/684727-ok-what.html

Boodyrider

iTrader: (2)

Check the trans mount. Use a prybar. Bet me.

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

alright I'll check that also. very odd, but it could very well be.

thende

you may think I'm crazy, but check to see if your spare tire is snug and tight. Simple things like this make noise and let us all to think of bigger issues. Just a thought.

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

thanks for the input but as stated in first post...

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

I wonder if the exhaust could be hitting something? We installed the new catback in June and it started making the noise about a month later.

After thinking about the trans mount, I'm almost sure the noise is coming further back on the car.

dragonrage

If I may use this thread, I just developed the same problem. Here are some things I noticed today. I didn't do a thorough inspection but I did some stuff. It happened when I shifted to second at about 4K RPM. I was accelerating moderately from a light - enough to blow by everyone else, but by no means race fast.

-Car clunks from the back (WAY back) over even little bumps and also when I shift (unless I shift low)
-Car does NOT pull
-Springs are intact
-Shocks visually look fine, but I know they could still be blown, not sure how to check them without pulling them
-bushings in the back for panhard and all that stuff seemed fine
-exhaust is on there sturdy
-neither wheel has play in any direction
-I get no clunk if I jack up the rear wheels and give it gas, even at 3.5K RPM

My uncle thinks I have a bum shock. I'm probably going to replace my shocks just in case because I have the crappy stockers. But what else could it be? I want to suspect my transmission mount, but the noise comes from way in the back.

dragonrage

Just replaced my transmission mount because I'd been meaning to anyway, already had the part (from Energy) - the old one was fine, but it was damn wet with some fluid. The whole area was very grimy. Couldn't tell if it was TF or engine oil, assuming TF 'cause it's so far back on the transmission.... The U-joint seemed quite dry.

Got this blurry pic: http://kawaii-shoujo.net/AntiAliased/grimycar.jpg

Edit: Hmm, looking at the pic, I see red leaking out I think....

Edit again: I think the replacement mount made it worse. I put it on with the preload plate, and I used the stock bolts to hold it + the mount to the transmission, then used both types of supplied washers with one of the supplied bolts to go through the crossmember to the mount. I tightened it all pretty good. I can't see any other way I could have done it, so what did I screw up or otherwise uncover?

dragonrage

It was the torque arm mount. The bolt had come completely out.

VIP1

Is it the stock torque arm?
I have plenty of noise in my rear suspension and would like to check that.
Where is the bolt (front or rear of the torque arm)?
Can you post a pic?

dragonrage

It is the stock torque arm and the bolt in my case was at the front. It's to the left (driver's side) of the transmission mount. It's got two rubber halves and a piece of metal that interlocks at the bottom (there's a slot on one piece and like a T on the other, the T goes inside the slot) and a bolt at the top. That bolt came out. Make no mistake though, the noise definitely sounded like it was coming from the rear end area.

http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...sity/index.htm

on the fifth pic down (http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...ount_bolts.jpg), it's towards the upper right of the pic

candlelit

iTrader: (21)

thanks for the info. I didn't look up around the front of the torque arm. But we looked at half of the items on the list & we noticed the catback had been rubbing above the axles. We wrapped it up in thin rubber and the sound got a "little" quieter for the next day. But, the sounds is back in full force. Not sure if the rubber possibly melted or if it's something else.

VIP1

Thanks. I'll have to check it out this weekend.
Was the bolt completely missing or just loose?
Can I get another bolt locally?

dragonrage

Mine was completely out, resting in the metal brake/fuel/whatever lines right under there. I'm sure your local Ace Hardware will have the right size, but I don't know the thread size offhand. It's probably the same size as the transmission mount, which is also the same thread size as the bolts that hold the transmission crossmember in I believe. So if you're missing the bolt, I'd probably take ONE bolt out from the transmission crossmember, try it in the torque arm mount. If it works, measure it, go get a new one from Ace and you're in business.

VIP1

Thanks