[tjdean01]

My rear crossmember/K-frame was rusted through so I bought a new one. Genius me I bought one for a 92-96 so the welding shop had to make some modifications.

Anyway, on each side I see a gap above the newly installed part. See the pics below left and right. One gap seems a touch wider than the other side too. Is this normal?

Second, after replacing this, I'm hearing a CLUNK in the right rear. It sounds just like strut noise. Sway bar bushings were new this year. Lateral arm, tie rod bushings feel tight. That strut is a Monroe (which I'm not fond of but they make simple quickstruts so they get my business) that's only been on there 50,000 miles. Any clue to this clunk?

(PS, I have some cheap ebay struts on the front and Monroe on the rear. The Monroe's are 90% rusted already. The cheapies look very good with only about 10% rust! And I put on a new stainless Walker muffler and resonator. The muffler hits the heat shield but this it definitely not a clunk...I already stuck something in there to stop it.

 

[tjdean01]

Took it back to the shop. They lifted it and saw nothing wrong (I looked too). I'm thinking it's actually the sway bar bushings again! I ordered the greaseable ones because I'm tired of replacing them every year!

 

[awisniewski]

I was under the rear of my 1998 Camry today. I thought of your post. I didn't grab a photo but mine looks similar to yours as I recalled from memory. I'm thinking there is a lip and that gap is supported some how although it does look strange.

What brands of end links (sway bar links) did you go through? I've got replace my rears.

 

[tjdean01]

Hey, thanks for the reply. Glad you told me that. I feel better now. As for the endlinks, I'm not sure what brand I got. That was a while ago. I'll tell you though, I'm mad that I ditched my OEM rear springs! Those Monroe struts are trash. Next time I get quickstruts like that I'm going to try the Moog. Actually, I just found on CL a car the same color as mine for $500 for parts and I have a trailer I can use to go get it. can take the back doors too which are all rusted. Hmm...

 

[awisniewski]

Darn on the Monroe quick-struts....I just installed a set. I'll see how well they hold up. The originals were looking bad around the base of the shocks.

As far as the noise your hearing are you sure its not the rear lateral arms?
I was hearing a noise and it was hard to reproduce and my lateral arms (the ones that are adjustable) had worn out bushings. Here's a thread rear wheel wobble? how to diagnosis and replace a bad lateral control arm
I read somewhere that one way to check them was to use a rubber mallet after the rear end was raised and wack on the arms to see if you hear a clunk. Now I didn't do it that way but read that afterward.....I just push and pulled on the arms with my car raised and was able to create the noise ....only some of the time though so its tricky.

Also check you end links, mine appeared tight but one of the joints was worn out and then I tried to reuse it and thru the stress of removing the nut and heating it I think i pushed it over the edge, it's loose now and clunks where's before it didn't on inspection.

Sounds like some fun with the CL car you found. Where about roughly are you in Michigan?

 

[tjdean01]

Darn on the Monroe quick-struts....I just installed a set. I'll see how well they hold up. The originals were looking bad around the base of the shocks.

As far as the noise your hearing are you sure its not the rear lateral arms?
I was hearing a noise and it was hard to reproduce and my lateral arms (the ones that are adjustable) had worn out bushings. Here's a thread rear wheel wobble? how to diagnosis and replace a bad lateral control arm
I read somewhere that one way to check them was to use a rubber mallet after the rear end was raised and wack on the arms to see if you hear a clunk. Now I didn't do it that way but read that afterward.....I just push and pulled on the arms with my car raised and was able to create the noise ....only some of the time though so its tricky.

Also check you end links, mine appeared tight but one of the joints was worn out and then I tried to reuse it and thru the stress of removing the nut and heating it I think i pushed it over the edge, it's loose now and clunks where's before it didn't on inspection.

Sounds like some fun with the CL car you found. Where about roughly are you in Michigan?

Thank you for the post! I will have to try to jack 'er up tomorrow and go under there and pound on a few things trying to see if I can reproduce the cluck. It makes sense because since I just replaced that K-frame/crossmember I've been hearing it and they didn't even touch the strut. and YES it's been feeling like it's wobbling back and forth back there! So, like, since they took them off and the shop and put them back on, what about that could make them suddenly loose? Maybe they removed some gunk that was keeping them tight? I actually went back to the shop after they did it and they jacked it up and we didn't feel anything loose. We weren't focused on the lateral arms though (which they removed and put back on).

Michigan: I'm back and forth between the tri-cities and Metro for work. You?

 

[tjdean01]

Okay, I jacked it up and everything looks tight. If I lay under the car and kick the right tire with my heel, I can reproduce the cluck. I'd have to say it's coming from the strut because nothing else looks loose after my kicking. The left doesn't make the noise.

 

[awisniewski]

Hi Sorry about the delay. I'm on vacation.
Did you have a chance to look at the end links (sway bar links)?
I just had an issue with one of mine and until i pushed pulled i didn't hear it.
ALso on those lateral control arms you really have to spend some time push/pulling/twisting them... it was hard to generate the noise on mine at first till i figured out what movement created it.

If I was in Detroit i'd try to meetup with you and look at it but I'm out of the city till mid August.
I suppose you could check the two large bolts on the bottom of the strut and also the top 3 bolts behind the rear seats.

 

[tjdean01]

Hi Sorry about the delay. I'm on vacation.
Did you have a chance to look at the end links (sway bar links)?
I just had an issue with one of mine and until i pushed pulled i didn't hear it.
ALso on those lateral control arms you really have to spend some time push/pulling/twisting them... it was hard to generate the noise on mine at first till i figured out what movement created it.

If I was in Detroit i'd try to meetup with you and look at it but I'm out of the city till mid August.
I suppose you could check the two large bolts on the bottom of the strut and also the top 3 bolts behind the rear seats.

Hey, thanks. You know, I considered those bolts, but very unlikely. I do feel like I'm getting some back and forth (L-R) movement but I can't see how a bad strut could cause this. Weird.