Rear Clunk: Sway Bar Links
 

I have a clunk that comes from the rear end when the car is placed in drive, as well as when the car is shifting through its gears. I combed through the archives and deduced it to be the sway bar links. Replaced them and the clunk went away for about a day or two. Now the clunk is back? Did I install the sway bar links incorrectly?, they seemed rather straight forward. Anything else I should look at? Thanks in advance.

The sway bar links have an impact on clunks that only happen when you hit a bump in the road. Something like a pothole or an expansion joint. They clunk when there is a fairly sharp up-and-down movement of the wheel.

What you have (clunks happening on shifts) sounds like the rubber differential mount blocks have disintegrated. I don't have any further advice because I haven't replaced those yet - but can at least point you in that direction for diagnosis.

Ken300D

When my sway bar links went bad it sounded more like the exhaust system was loose and hitting the body or a shock was loose and banging on something. It wasn't a definate clunk and as the previous responder said it made noise mostly on rough roads. My 2 cents worth.

Thats exactly what it sounds like, a loose exhaust system. I don't really notice it over bumps, but when the tranny shifts. Can something may have caused a premature failure of the sway bar links. The noise did go away for a day or two after installing them, then the clunking returned?

That really sounds more like something IN the driveline.. have you checked your u-joints,vibration dampners in the power line between the trans and the rear end ? How about the bushings on your trans shifting lever ?

Hi there:
The sway bar links are pretty easy so I am sure you did not mess them up.
I would look at the sway bar bushings. Make sure they are not rotten or their mounting bracket have not corroded apart.

Next You should look at the rubber hagers that hangs the exhaust system. Make sure they are all there. Also there are rubber exhaust buffers- on the chasis- at points where the exhaust is most likely to hit the chasis in case of a big pot hole etc. Check those buffers too.These few steps are easy to do.

I would then follow with the differential mount, then tranny mount, then mid-shaft bearing mounting bracket.

Good luck

MVK