Noise from the rear end

[Frenzy13]

About 10 months ago I put on TEIN coilovers. From the day I did it there has been a weird clunking noise coming from the rear. About three months ago I checked the rear struts and found that they were leaking and decided to replace them. I just got new MR's and put them in and the sound is still there. Except now its more prominent and louder. The noise happens whenever I'm driving at any speed, when the wheels hit a bump in the road. Also I noticed that whenever it's really wet outside and the sound happens the backend tends to slide around. Checking around a friend of mine noticed that both axels slide in and out 1-2 inches from the hub. They always go back, with quite a bit of force none the less, and make the same noise. I think that this is it, but I'm not sure.

Nothing else has been done on the rear end except for the coilovers.

She's a a 92 H/B. She's got 194,000 on the clock and is pulling strong and i'm getting iritated with the sound and need to fix it bad. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I've tried searching and have come up with weird noises from blown struts, RUCA's, differential, but not axels. This is not a noise coming from the center of the rear but from the wheel section.

[aznpoopy]

subframe bushings are crapped, get spacers or replace them.

[NIK90s13]

+1 on the bushings, that was my first thought. I put in the spacers helped my car. But I have aluminum bushings in the freezer waiting to go in!!!!!

[spinktodo]

Did you ever figure this problem out? Same exact thing is happening to mine, but the subframe spacers didn't fix it!

[240on430]

Did you ever figure this problem out? Same exact thing is happening to mine, but the subframe spacers didn't fix it!

my car makes a clunking noise in the rear passenger also. I want to make sure I don't change out the wrong parts.

[spinktodo]

Ditto, I'm hoping someone can help us with this stuff... I've already spend days under the car with no luck...

[airforceone451]

subframe bushings

[D1GP]

i believe i got the same noise. i replaced all the bushings including subframe with polyurethane. i never had this noise until i got the coilovers installed. when i shift, there is a clunk sound. when i go over bumps, it would sound a little something like if your rear coils were not tightened all the way up top. someone mentioned in another thread that it may be the exhaust jumping around. havent had time to check that yet.

[IcedOutSoulja13]

ive had this noise also since i put my coils on...i thought it may be my hatch...i replaced the rubber stopper things and lowered my latch all the way...still the same problem i also made sure all my rear arms and the upper nuts for the coils were tight. also installed spacers and stiffer exhaust bushings...no luck though

[spinktodo]

Yea....i dont think it's my subframe bushings because I just put those collars in...

[aznpoopy]

if you hear a clunk when you shift or brake
check your differential bushings if you've done subframe bushings already

if you hear a repeating clunk as you move faster that gets quieter as you go faster
check axles

[spinktodo]

It's not so much when I shift or brake as when the suspension jounces... The faster I'm going, the more the car has a tendency to just shoot right over bumps, but at low speeds when the susupension tops out, it's an annoying CLUNK! The only thing I can compare the noise to would be like if you had a bad tie rod, but coming from the rear... It seems to do it from both sides, but mostly the driver's rear...

Also, where are the diff bushings located? Could the diff be bouncing when I hit bumps? Can the diff hit the underbody of the hatch area, because that's almost where it sounds like it's coming from... It's mostly when hitting bumps at low speeds, as I've said, but it also does it when I turn corners and it comes clearly from one side or the other... That's what makes me thing it's not the diff, because it comes from one side or the other, not just the center... I'm wondering if the axel nuts are just not tight enough, or maybe the nuts on the tops of the coilovers? BAH, I'm so confused... I drove it to work today and there were times when I just cringed at the horrible noise!

[cgguy]

Might just be the pillowball mounts on the coilovers making that "clunking" noise.

My Stance do it all the time. I greased them up hoping it would go away but I guess there's a tiny bit of play in them that still causes the noise. It sounds kinda like I have a midget in my trunk knocking his tiny little fist against the top strut mount when I go over bumps.

I remember other Tein guys complaining about noisy p/b mounts.
If you say that the sound only happened with the coils installed I'd bet this is your problemo.

[spinktodo]

I don't know though... This isn't a quiet noise and it doesn't sound healthy... if I have to live with this noise because the pillowballs are crappy, then I'll be getting different coilovers... I've tried spraying them with lube and also had no luck... But I really don't think that's what it is...

[khmerguy618]

Might just be the pillowball mounts on the coilovers making that "clunking" noise.

My Stance do it all the time. I greased them up hoping it would go away but I guess there's a tiny bit of play in them that still causes the noise. It sounds kinda like I have a midget in my trunk knocking his tiny little fist against the top strut mount when I go over bumps.

I remember other Tein guys complaining about noisy p/b mounts.
If you say that the sound only happened with the coils installed I'd bet this is your problemo.

Yeah u can put a rubber bike tube over the coil of ur spring to reduce the clunking (thats what my friend did anyway).

You might also want to try the energy suspension bushing inserts and the collars. Just like everyone else suggested, THey help a lot.

also if your car is pulling left and right have you gotten an alignment? F'd up toe settings from when u drop the car will do that.

[spinktodo]

I did the collars already, but you're saying to do the energy suspension bushings AND the collars? Just want to clarify....

I didn't get an alignment yet because I want to wait until I get my track wheels on and get the suspension dialed in, but I don't see how an alignment would make this noise...

[khmerguy618]

They have subframe bushing inserts since the stock bushings have gaps.

ermm part number 71113g or something like that. they're like 20bucks for 4.

the inserts made a big difference on my buddies s13, he also regreased his arms and all that too.

[spinktodo]

Well I'll have to look into that, but I don't think that's the problem from where the sound is coming from and what it sounds like... however, for $20 or whatever, i guess it's worth a try...

[D1GP]

if you hear a clunk when you shift or brake
check your differential bushings if you've done subframe bushings already

if you hear a repeating clunk as you move faster that gets quieter as you go faster
check axles

mine did not have any diff bushings lol.

[spinktodo]

Did the lack of diff bushings make the noise ive described? Where are the diff bushings located?

[khmerguy618]

U could also have play in ur pinion gear. My diff is doing that right now. Get under the car and take the car out of gear and ebrake down and wiggle the driveshaft.

[spinktodo]

How would that make a distinct noise coming from the left side and right side independently?

[Roc]

I had a similar problem.. but when i get to high speeds my rear end would swing violently but my hub bearing went to crap... your problem sounds like your bushings are bad...

[spinktodo]

What bushings...?

[240on430]

i still have the same noise. i haven't done anything but just the torque on the rear upper mounts.

i only hear the noise on the rear passenger side on large bumps doing atleast approx. 25mph.

[RedtopTech]

no one has mentioned the rear lower ball joints. Your most likely riding on 16 year old 190,000 mile ball joints. Lift one side at a time with a jack, underneath the lower control arm as close to the ball joint as possible. Take a pry bar and attempt to move the knuckle up. this will show any play in the ball joint.

[wangan_cruiser]

i dont have coils or any of those shit you guys have but i just have the same problem. LOL. when i start to roll ill hear a popping or clunking sound when i start rolling forward or backwards. but i just replaced my diff with a diff one. but sometime it feelsl like your diff is slipping out. just to share not threadjacking but my situation sounds the same as you guys. ill try that lower ball joint and diff bushing but apparently r32 vlsd doesnt have any diff bushing. ill post an update soon

[misfitsfreak81]

"Checking around a friend of mine noticed that both axels slide in and out 1-2 inches from the hub. They always go back, with quite a bit of force none the less, and make the same noise. I think that this is it, but I'm not sure."

how would you not take care of this? this is not right or safe. read the manual and tighten the damn axel nut to spec. hopefully your axels arent fubar already from driving around with them just sitting in the hub. also check your ball joints on both sides, these will for sure make a clunk when they go bad. make sure you check all of the rubber bushings in the stock suspension arms as well. if they are worn or totally missing than you will get shitty noises and shitty controll characteristics. also be sure to check your lug nuts, i know its basic but if a couple are a little loose your wheel will clunk like crazy. hope this all helps out.

mike

[DJ_Sunrise]

Take your car to the Nissan dealership!!! It's sickening to see how many people are driving around in cars that something bad can go in. The Toyota mechanics I work with bring their personal cars to the respective dealerships.. why? Not because they don't have skill, but because until YOU ARE AN EXPERT TECHNICIAN IN A BRAND, some shit you will NEVER be able to fix on your own. Stop being so cheap and bring these problematic cars to a dealership.

From my shop teacher

"I used to own an 93 TT RX7. Owned it for a year before it started to make a noise from the rear. $20,000 later I had a really fast RX-7. The noise was still there though."

-Bart

[all stock]

i'm in the same boat you are bro, subframe bushings, and all bushings were replaced by energy. it sounds like my cage is banging against something, let me know if you fixed it, i'll let you know if i fix mine.

[240on430]

i'm in the same boat you are bro, subframe bushings, and all bushings were replaced by energy. it sounds like my cage is banging against something, let me know if you fixed it, i'll let you know if i fix mine.

thats the sound i hear...it seems to be coming from the RR.

UPDATE: the rear clunk i was hearing was from a leaf spring block spacer in the corner of the trunk, near the sidemarker, and around the wheel well! !!

it's been there since i bought the car 4/30/05. i noticed the noise with s-tech springs.