Clunking noise...what to replace? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Retrospekt · 08-30-2009, 10:48 AM

The noise is coming from the back right. The back left was just replaced due to a bent wheel...but the part was taken from a junkyard so it's only a matter of time before it's noisy again.

What do I have to replace to make the clunking stop? My coils are weak as well so I'll change those eventually too.

I heard about the Monroe quick strut. That includes the strut and the coil, but I keep hearing people say thing about stabilizer links and a "knuckle"?

I guess my question is: What parts do I need to do a complete suspension overhaul? And can I install this myself?

Retrospekt · 08-31-2009, 10:55 PM

Bump

murphy390 · 09-01-2009, 12:11 PM

I had a lot of clunking from the rear suspension on my '97 Camry. It was the swaybar bushings...a very easy and inexpensive fix. My '00 Camry started to make a little noise at 100K miles and I changed those bushings...no more noise.

There's also bushings on the front swaybar that can also cause a lot of clunking from the lower front.

Retrospekt · 09-01-2009, 03:26 PM

Is a swaybar bushing something I could change myself?

I can't seem to find the item on rockauto. I see Stabilizer Bar Bushing. Is that it?

Retrospekt · 09-01-2009, 04:28 PM

I took a picture of my sway bar bushing. I'm not sure how you tell if they're bad. Maybe someone can help me out.

http://i26.tinypic.com/205tbhi.jpg

Edit: I just did the "rocking the steering wheel from 11 to 1" test and I hear a thud from both sides. Definitely louder from the right. Does this mean sway bar bushings?

Mike Gerber · 09-01-2009, 06:27 PM

Karl,

That picture is one of your swaybar bushings. Can't tell from the picture if it's from the front or back. If you are complaining about the nosie in the back, the steering wheel should have nothing to do with it. That bushing does look dry-rotted, but it may still be doing it's job. The best way to check is to jack up the rear of the car and support it safely on jackstands. (I DO MEAN SAFELY!) Then get underneath the car and try to move the sway bar up and down. Do you hear the clunking noise? If so you need to replace those bushings. There is one on each side. Also try to move the swaybar from side to side. If you can move it easily, the bushings need to be replaced to fix that. These are cheap parts; about $10-$14 each at any auto parts store. You just have to remove that one bolt, but soak it in a good penetrating oil like PB Blaster for a while first. You don't want that bolt breaking.

Other things back there can cause a clunking noise. A bad strut or the upper strut mount. A bad swaybar end link or even a bad rear lateral control rod. There are 2 rear lateral control rods on each side of the car. It's usually the rear most one (the one with the sleeve for the rear alignment adjustment that goes bad). You might be better to have that friend take a look to determine what is actually bad back there.

Look at this recent thread for a picture and a discussion on the possible noise form the rear lateral control rod:

Rear wheel at passenger side moves. Need Help!!

Mike

murphy390 · 09-01-2009, 08:04 PM

The picture is the rear swaybar/stabilzer bar bushing. The fact that your car is a '96 means its dried out by now and the picture shows how its already cracked.

They are easy to replace but there is one trick. When you remove the bracket, it only has 2 bolts and they're not torqued on very hard, the sway bar will drop. Getting it back in position can be a little difficult as you have to get it lined up properly to start one of the bolts. If you have jack stands and a trolley jack it becomes very easy. I put one side of the car up on a jack stand and then used the trolley jack to support the swaybar when I reinstalled it. Took about 15-20 minutes per side to do and the difference in noise was significant. BTW, mine is a '97 and did the job about a year ago.

Best place to get them is RockAuto.

Manny1337 · 09-02-2009, 11:41 AM

clunking, does it sound like its coming from where the rear speakers are? if so its the strut mounts

Retrospekt · 09-02-2009, 07:57 PM

I got under the car (had to drive over to my brother's to use Jackstands. You happy, Mike?!) and shook the sway bar on both sides. The sway bar bushing on the passenger side might as well not even be there. It's very loose. I shook both sides and heard a "thunk, thunk, thunk" from the passenger side as I did it. I also checked that other part Mike told me to, sort of looks like an arm extending towards the wheel. Looks solid, wasn't shaking at all.

Thanks guys! Looks like I found the problem.