Has anyone had a rear upper shock mount come loose? Or what is this clunking?
 

Okay, I was driving home from a meeting tonight, when I started hearing what almost sounded like a clunking coming from the left rear of the car, kinda following the suspension travel (it doesn't happen all the time, but the car's moving up and down or right-to-left whenever it happens; it's not a wheel rotation issue). It got so bad that I had to pull over and make sure that a wheel wasn't about to come off. All lug bolts were in place, and all were tight (checked with the wrench). I started driving again, only to have the sound come back. This time, I got off the freeway and into a gas station parking lot, and took alook under the suspension...everything, offhand, looked okay. I don't think I could do a more thorough inspection without jacking up the car and pulling the wheel, which I was not prepared to do at that time. However, everything looked to be okay. The noise sounds kinda high up, so my guess at this point is that the upper shock mount either came off or is loose.

Any thoughts? I don't think this is related (at one point, I thought it might have been, but I don't think so now; I had my girlfriend drive while I sat back there to try to pinpoint the nose), but the left rear window won't roll down anymore (but that's another thread)...

Thanks in advance!

Shock could be going bad.

Dave

A shock going bad would make that kinda noise? Wow...

When the shocks get worn, the rod rattles against the outer body of the shock. It is most likely not the mounting which consists only of two rubber mounts.

Remove the upper back seat and you can quickly check to see that the upper mount is tight.

Good luck,

Rear sway bar links.

They are mostly plastic. Make an incredible noise when bad.

Ken300D

I had a similar clunking/rattle on the right rear when I got my car..... I checked everything and never could figure it out. Then, when cleaning and installing new rear speakers I had the back seat out and discovered that the plastic cap that covers the upper shock mount was off and laying under the seat. I don't know if it was the cover clunking around or just the noise let in through the uncapped hole but the clunking is now gone. Maybe it will be something that easy. Good luck.

my muffler and exhaust system will do that occassionally. Check the clearance between the pipe and the rear diff. and the muffler mounts near the bumper.

Sounds like the rear swaybar link to me, as suggested earlier. Left rear on my 300D was shot when I got it, makes a heck of a noise up under there. Hope that's it - quick and easy fix!

f

my sway bar links were shot too, but they never made the magnitude of noise that made me pull over in fear for my life. This sounds like something more.

i think i have the same problem.ive checked the rear shocks and they are good all mounts are tight top and bottom.where are these plastic sway bar bushings located and how do you change out

Sway bar is bolted to the bottom of the trunk. Links between the sway bar ends and wheel carrier are obvious -- about 3-4" long with a "swivel" on each end.

The tygon in the pivot wears out, and this allows the metal ball/bolt and socket to bang. Also if one end is free, it can flail around.

The sway bar bushings up on the trunk floor can go bad and fall out, allowing the sway bar to bang on the metal mount.

Peter

Found it!!
 

Turned out I was right...on the left side, the shock was completely loose. One nut and the rubber bushing are long-gone; I found the other tucked in a corner. THe right side looks fine, and I can't push the left side shock down, so I presume that means it's okay...

Now I just have to find one nut and the bushing...

Make sure you CAN push the shock down, with some pressure. If not, is it sticking (bent)? that will make trouble, too.

You'll find out soon enough when you get the mount back on!

Peter

Same thing just happened on 82 300d but, the right rear corner. Found one nut. Just picked up new bushings and hardware. Weird.

Wow this was an olddddd thread...