Is Rear strut "clunk" normal??

[joede]

99 Camry 4 cyl

Just replaced rear struts. Put everything back together. Took test drive and all seemed "almost" Ok. I could detect a very small clunk sound if I went over the right sized pot whole.

I put the car back up on jack stands.

While car still up on jacks, I used a large pry bar underneath each rear wheel to move the wheel/strut up verically. As I pry up on wheel, I hear a "clunk" as if something is bottoming out. Same result both sides. Is this normal or is something loose???

Although I torqued the three upper studs on each side per spec, I did not recheck after my first test drive. Is it possible the shock mount is not fully seated and this is what is causing the clunk? I used NAPA's strut assembly (much like the Monroe quick mounts).

Feedback appreciated.

PS Yes, after the first test drive, I went ahead and re-assembled all the rear interior. THEN I tried the pry bar test and discovered the "clunk". So if I should be hearing no clunk with the pry bar test, guess that means tearinf apart that rear interior again.....uugggg!

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

[fenixus]

no clunk is normal. something is loose or worn out. could be rear strut mount causing it (faulty) or the piston rod nut (in center of mount) is not torqued down right.

[Mister_Perkins]

^ +1

[joede]

Thanks fenixus,

Just removed the rear interior again. I will let you know what I find.

[fenixus]

I hope simply re-torquing the rod nut to OEM specs (36ft-lbs) will fix you. it's a common clunk source for new strut installations.

[ohiois350]

have you change the rear sway bar bushings? I just change all four quick struts from monreo, when i do the install I found the rear sway bar bushing was bad, it acually stretch bigger and not hold tight to the bar, that why it cluck? my guest?, but it good to change

[joede]

Yes along with the new rear struts I replaced the rear torsion bar bushings as well as the torsion bar to strut links. Bushings and struts= MOOG

[joede]

hello all...and I apologize for 1st problem description. I got it backwards. I must have been tired yesterday when I described the problem ( ie strut makes noise as I pry up on tire up vertically).

Here is what is REALLY happening today as well as yesterday.

After re-checking everything today what I observed there was NO noise as I pried rear tire up vertically.
On the other hand, as I let tire down with pry bar, when the strut hits its fully extended position stop, it stops with a loud clunk or thud.


Accurate description of my situation:

Tire pry up = NO noise

Tire down = strut makes loud CLUNK /Thud (ie as shock hits stop fully extended).


Note: The car is on jack stands now and therefore all 4 wheels are NOT touching the ground.

Note: Checked upper strut mounts, 3 upper strut mount studs , and shock nut while helper moved tire up and down with pry bar. Everything is solid, nothing loose, no movement topside.


Is a clunk normal when rear strut / shock reaches its fully extended stop point???

I tried the same pry bar test on the front struts and they make NO noise either being pried up or when I let the strut down to its fully extend stop point.

Again, sorry I got the first problem description backwards.

Thanks again in advance for your help

[carsrus]

It might be time to exchange one or both. The pre assembled struts have horrible reputations to have something wrong right out of the box. If their good out of the box though they're great.

[joede]

I'm OK exchanging them, but when they ask "What's wrong with them?", will they accept that if they "clunk" when the shock rod hits its full extend stop the thing is faulty??

I really need to know if it normal for a strut shock to "clunk" when it its its fully extended stop point???

Do you know of any site or reference that says clunk as shock hits its fully extended end point means a faulty shock??