Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:08 am
Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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
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.
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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.
-
- Fifth Gear
- Posts: 6322
- Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:17 am
- Location: Lakewood, Wa 98439
- Contact:
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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.
91 L-TW Wagon with a full Swap -RIP
92 SS Prefaced, GD dash swapped, 22T/205 Hybrid 20 psi - BEAST!
93 SS Bone Stock Gone!
94 TW Bone Stock Gone!
91 SS 4EAT Sold!
98 LGT 4EAT
98 LGT Wagon 4EAT
92 SS Prefaced, GD dash swapped, 22T/205 Hybrid 20 psi - BEAST!
93 SS Bone Stock Gone!
94 TW Bone Stock Gone!
91 SS 4EAT Sold!
98 LGT 4EAT
98 LGT Wagon 4EAT
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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.
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:08 am
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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.
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
What size wheel & tires are you running?
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
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
-
- Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8360
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
- Location: Tenino, WA
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
Could it be that Sti swaybar hitting your spare tire bump? Did you replace the rear diff bushings or the diff outrigger bushings?
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:08 am
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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.
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:08 am
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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.
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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
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
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:08 am
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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.
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:08 am
Re: Rear end clunking, I'm starting to hear it in my dreams
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
http://powerflexusa.com/subaruimprezatu ... 9-118.aspx
1992 Legacy SS - Auto to 5MT swap and too much of my free time.