Only when going over road irregularities such that the body rocks up and down a bit. Not side specific.
Not noticeable when just running down the road over small bumps and dips.
Pushing up and down on the car while stationary does nothing.
I crawled around and pulled on the guide rod mounts but no obvious movement, ball joints are recent as are steering components.
#1 - Could the guide rod mounts feel tight when stationary on stands but clunk when in motion?
#2 - Front sway bar is original but the bushings feel OK.
Same question as #1.
Shocks and springs are original.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Sounds like rear sway bar links. They usually rattle or clunk at odd times over small bumps. Check yours out. If the boot are gone or torn it's time to replace, and if the ball joints in the links are floppy they are toast, they should be firm and hard to move around.

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New links

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

.....and did they fix the issue, or is this a question?

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Links were replaced before the clunking began.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Check the exhaust system, maybe the muffler hitting the body. It might have loosened at the 2 bolts that hold the rear section to the Down pipe.

Also check the 4 rubber Donuts that hold the muffler up.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Mine was guide rod mounts. Wear was apparent but I couldn't get them to move. A press was required to remove mount from carrier. I had already replaced shocks.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Get a couple of guys and try to bounce test the car on every corner to see if the noise appears. If it does surface it should be easy to locate.

I was leaning towards the guide rod mounts but no obvious movement.
I have not looked into the R&R of them but the car does need new shocks and struts although they do not bounce or clunk.
I can't lay the car up for any length of time to do all that work

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Most times when you have suspension-related bumping noises, it is impossible to find the cause by poking around underneath the car....these components are large, generally tight, and difficult to move by manual force alone. Noises often happen only when driving.

Suspect tie rods, even if they are relatively new....in my experience, I do front end alignment every three years when I replace tires, and I always need to replace tie rods...they often start to "bump" over road bumps or "washboard" surface in about two years after installation (aftermarket suspension parts don't last long...Lemforders are best).

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1984 300TD Wagon, 407,800 mi (current daily driver)
1985 300DT Sedan, 330,000 mi (gone to that great autobahn in the sky)

Which car is this noise on???
VIN# please.

FYI: Even poor/moderately bad guide rod mounts need vehicle mass/chuckhole impact to clunk = unless they are totally demolished you can't check them by hand.
The clunking is distinct, it comes from directly under the driver/passengers feet.


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ASE Master Mechanic
https://whunter.carrd.co/

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

The 82 Auto.
I don't have the vin handy.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily