04 Corolla S strange clunk/rattle rear driver side - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Andrewlocke · 11-02-2011, 08:50 AM

My 02004 Corolla S has a weird clunk/rattle in the rear driver side only.

It is very intermittent and started a few months ago.

It occurs when slowing down, never hear it when driving fast, and i had the brakes checked a few weeks back and nothing there was observed as the problem.

It just started again last night and was there again on way to work this morning, probably the worst/most i have heard it.

There's no real pattern to it happening other than at relatively low speeds [>30 mph]. Oh and there is nothign in the trunk at all to make this noice either.

hardtopte72 · 11-02-2011, 12:19 PM

It could be the rear brake shoes have no lube on where they contact the backing plate. I have also seen it where a spring was installed incorrectly and came off its spring seat. Could be any one of several loose parts. Mainly the exhaust as it is on the side and can provide lots of movement. Check around and see what is loose, worn or dry. How many miles on it? Also are you sure it's not the spare tire jack or tools in trunk under the cover.

johnoh · 11-03-2011, 08:29 AM

drive slowly by a friend several times who is positioned on the curb and focussing on the wheel. They should be able to tell if its sounds is coming from the wheel or from somewhere else in the car. My guess is its something inside the brakes.

trailerCaptain · 11-03-2011, 05:55 PM

Check the torque on your brake caliper bolts ASAP!

Andrewlocke · 11-04-2011, 06:32 AM

The brakes were checked a few weeks back and did not appear to be the cause of the noise, plus it is so intermittent [no noise for the past 3 days] that driving by someone to see if they hear the noise ins't really an option.

Also it is the drivers side so it is not the exhaust either [that is passenger side] and it is nothing in the trunk such as spare wheel/wheel jack, they've all been checked.

hardtopte72 · 11-04-2011, 05:19 PM

Noise resonates so an exhaust noise can go to the other side but it is unlikely. You are just going to have to check everything over and over.

rsirois · 11-12-2011, 10:09 PM

You check to see if your spare and jack are bolted down tight? My jack was a bit loose in it's mounting bracket and it made a peculiar sound that took me a while to locate.