Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

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beaconhillkilla
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Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by beaconhillkilla »

For a few months now my car has been making quite a bit of rear end clunking, and while i've managed to fix it substantially it's still there.

Started out of the blue when I was driving with 4 other passengers in my car. When I would accelerate hard the car sounded like I was hitting a pothole, loud and the whole car jerked. I noticed that when I was just by myself it would still happen, but not as often. For the most part it got really bad when I was either going up a hill, or when I had any amount of weight in the car (mainly the rear end, with a passenger in the driver side it was still okay so long as I babied it).

So upon suggestion from mike-tracy, I installed a set of poly rear diff. bushings and also installed some DIY rear subframe bolts. This drastically reduced the clunking, so much to the point where I could actually drive the car around town without it sounding like it was going to blow up. However, when there is still any weight in the car and I try to accelerate hard (or go up a hill fast), it still clunks.

I'm going to just start replacing the rest of the bushings in the rear end starting with the trailing arms and then the mid subframe. I have a set of 2.5rs KYB struts in the back with stock springs, an STI RSB and STI lateral links, so I don't think that those are an issue. Car is also properly aligned (or at least as best as it could be with my setup).

Anyone else had this type of a problem? I know for a fact that my trailing arms are like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klb_iYDAtnE
1992 Legacy SS - Auto to 5MT swap and too much of my free time.
Alphius
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by Alphius »

How are your u-joints in your driveshaft and your rear CVs? Hardly ever a problem on Subarus but hey, you've replaced a lot of other things and still have the problem so it is probably worth investigating.
cj91legss
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by cj91legss »

I vote rear top hats if yours are oem. My white car has some bad clunking, but it always sounds like its above the seats in the car.
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86BRATMAN
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by 86BRATMAN »

One of my friends had a similar clunking noise in his 97 gt, ended up being the exhaust hanger on the midpipe broken loose from the pipe and banging together.
beaconhillkilla
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by beaconhillkilla »

Well that more or less confirms my use of the "keep fixing things till it stops" approach. I'm going to throw in a set of STI springs here before fall hits as well so my struts will get checked out again.
1992 Legacy SS - Auto to 5MT swap and too much of my free time.
Legacy777
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by Legacy777 »

What size wheel & tires are you running?
Josh

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kimokalihi
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by kimokalihi »

Could it be that Sti swaybar hitting your spare tire bump? Did you replace the rear diff bushings or the diff outrigger bushings?
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beaconhillkilla
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by beaconhillkilla »

Running just stock 15" SS rims with appropriate tires, I replaced just the rear diff bushings so I'll order a set of outrigger bushings as well, and I cut the spare tire bump off with an angle grinder so that shouldnt be an issue
1992 Legacy SS - Auto to 5MT swap and too much of my free time.
beaconhillkilla
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by beaconhillkilla »

Also for the outrigger bushings, would you suggest getting a set of the inserts? (http://turninconcepts.com/kartboy-rear- ... -race.html) or replacing the entire bushing. I'm usually more inclined to cut out the old bushing and replace the whole thing.
1992 Legacy SS - Auto to 5MT swap and too much of my free time.
Legacy777
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by Legacy777 »

Just get the poly inserts. Whiteline sells a set as well, and that's what I did. Cutting those rubber metal collar bushings out is NO fun!
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
beaconhillkilla
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by beaconhillkilla »

Ohh yeah, I'm no stranger to cutting out those old bushings.
1992 Legacy SS - Auto to 5MT swap and too much of my free time.
beaconhillkilla
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Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams

Post by beaconhillkilla »

Going to get a set of these, If I'm gonna do it I'm going to drop the whole t-frame and get it all done right.

http://powerflexusa.com/subaruimprezatu ... 9-118.aspx
1992 Legacy SS - Auto to 5MT swap and too much of my free time.
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