Thump/clunking Sound Only When Going Over Bumps
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*make sure so pre-soak everything with some WD40, it made a world of a difference in removing all the hardware***EDIT**
Common Reasons For This To Happen:
- Bad Sway Bar Link: A vehicles sway bar or anti-roll bar, helps reduce body roll while cornering. Sway bars can help keep a vehicle from rolling over when going around a sharp corner. If the sway bar breaks or is damaged it may produce a clunking or knocking sound, especially when going over bumps. Your vehicle may also had more difficulty handling when the sway bar is damaged.
- Worn Control Arm Bushings: The control arms on your vehicles suspension allow for movement up and down when driving on uneven terrain. Part of the control arm assembly are bushing, typically made of rubber or polyurethane. The bushings are designed to dampen any noise that might be created when your vehicle goes over a bump. If the bushing wear down, the noise is not dampened and you may hear a resulting bang when driving over bumps.
- Loose Brake Caliper: Your vehicles brake calipers are pistons that engage the brakes when the brake pedal is applied. Calipers are typically secured with bolts and do not move. If a caliper bolt has become loose it may cause the caliper to make a banging noise when driving over bumps.
Diagnosing Worn Or Damaged Control Arms
Control arms tend to wear out on vehicles over time during normal road conditions. Most vehicles are driven on other areas rather than just on roads. Most operators tend to think that cars are like trucks and can take off-road adventures with no problems. This results in wearing out the suspension parts more frequently.
Materials Needed
- Flashlight
Step 1: Grab a flashlight and visually check the control arms of the vehicle. Look for any damaged or broken control arms or related suspension parts.
- Note: If you see any broken suspension parts, you will need to have it repaired prior to test driving the vehicle. This would result is a safety matter that needs to be addressed.
Step 2: Drive the vehicle around the block. Listen for any clunking noises.
Step 3: Drive the vehicle over bumps or potholes. This checks the condition of the suspension as the tires and suspension moves around.
Step 4: Step on the brakes hard and accelerate hard from a stop. This will check for any horizontal movement within the suspension system. A loose control arm bushing may not transmit noise when in normal operation, but can move around during a hard stop and fast take off.
- Note: If your vehicle has been in an accident before, the control arms could be set back on the frame to fix an alignment issue. The set back can result in problems with the control arms coming loose or deteriorating the bushing faster than normal.
Preparing the vehicle to check the control arms
Materials Needed
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Diagnosing Loose Or Damaged Body Mounts
Body mounts are designed to hold the body to the vehicles fame and prevent vibrations from transferring into the cab compartment. Most vehicles have upwards of eight body mounts from the front to the rear of the vehicle. Body mounts can come loose over time or the bushing can deteriorate and break off. Clunking sounds that permit when body mounts are missing or damage is from the body hitting the frame. Usually a vibration or jolt will be felt in the cab along with the sound.
Materials Needed
- Flashlight
Step 1: Grab a flashlight and visually check the body mounts of the vehicle. Look for any damaged or body mounts.
- Note: If you see any broken suspension parts, you will need to have it repaired prior to test driving the vehicle. This would result is a safety matter that needs to be addressed.
Step 2: Drive the vehicle around the block. Listen for any clunking sounds.
Step 3: Drive the vehicle over bumps or potholes. This checks the condition of the body mounts as the body moves around on the frame.
- Note: If you have a unibody vehicle, then the sound will come from the sub-frames that hold up the engine and rear suspension.
Preparing the vehicle to check the leaf spring shackles
Materials needed to perform the job
- Flashlight
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Wheel chocks
Step 1: Park your vehicle on a flat, hard surface. Make sure that the transmission isin park or in first gear .
Checking the condition of the body mounts
Lowering the vehicle after performing the diagnosis
Why Does My Ican Make A Clunking Noise While Driving
One thing to can jump up and down on the suspension and no noise at all One thing tonote is that it will only make the noise while driving, If its parked, Ican jump up and down on the suspension and no noise at all. Then Id think it was something on the rear axle itselfmaybe a loose brake dust shield?
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Why Does My Front End Rattle Over Bumps
If you usually hear a rattling noise when driving over bumps, theres a good chance it could be the sway bar links. Grab the end of the sway bar link with both hands and wiggle it up and down.
Internal shock or strut noise is uncommon. The most common cause for clunking noises over bumps is the mounts or attaching parts. Other suspension and steering components often cause noises that the shocks / struts get blamed for: Ball joints, sway bar bushings & links are common causes.
When I go over bumps I hear the same nose as above or a rattling sound like something is loose. My car has 116800 miles. My car has an automatic transmission.
Why You Should Get It Fixed
When a part of your suspension fails, the car is highly unlikely to collapse onto the road. But if a suspension part does fail, it will put greater strain on other components. Although these might pick up the slack in the short term, it will prompt increased wear.
Whats more, suspension is viewed as an important safety component. If there are problems with it, your car will fail its MOT test.
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Diagnosing The Suspension For Clunking Noise: 6 Things To Check
The most important step in fixing a clunking noise is diagnosis. You can do this on your own, but you will need the help of a strong friend to assist you. Before getting started with diagnosis make sure you have a powerful flashlight, if not heres a good one. Once youre ready to start looking, here are the 6 things you need to check to find the cause of the issue.
Clunking Noise When Going Over Bumps Rear
If you hear those annoying clunking noises when going over bumps, it means that something is wrong with the suspension system. These are the areas to check the next time you hear these sounds on the road. Worn or Damaged Struts. When struts are damaged, the strut shocks fail to perform as they should.Mar 12, 2021
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Rattle/clunking Noise Going Over Bumps
Can anyone help me figure out what is causing this noise. When the rear of my truck goes over bumps it makes a rattle/clunking noise but I cant find where it is coming from. Here is a video of the noise.
The most prominent rattle I hear is the cable hoist for the spare tire. I couldnt hear anything else clearly.
I assume youve checked the shock absorber and leaf spring bushings? Exhaust hangers?
I couldnt get the video to play, butlike Mustangmanthe first thing that came to my mind was the mechanism that suspends the spare tire underneath the rear of the truck.This could be as simple as making sure that the spare is tightly secured to the chassis.
Is Your Car’s Knocking Noise Visible Or Hidden
If your car is making a knocking noise when driving over bumps, here are five components to look at before you bring it in to your mechanic.
Before we dive into the diagnosis, I need to let you know that not all noises are easy to find. Some are hidden in internal components that aren’t easily visible, for example struts and steering racks. Video and pictures tell a thousand words and I will be using them throughout this article.
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Why Does My Cars Suspension Make A Clunking Noise
If you hear a clunk when the suspension works over bumps, you may have excessive clearance in a joint due to wear. It might be as simple as a loose nut on the strut, or something more subtle such as a shrunken, dried-out rubber bushing. First, search online for any Technical Service Bulletins for your car that pertain to the noise.
Diagnosing Worn Or Damaged Leaf Spring Shackles
Leaf spring shackles tend to wear out on vehicles over time during normal road conditions. Most vehicles are driven on other areas rather than just on roads. Leaf springs are located on trucks, vans, trailers, and any type of off road vehicle. Due to the effort of going off-road, vehicles with leaf springs tend to break or bend causing a clunking sound. Usually the shackle on one end of a leaf spring bends or breaks creating a binding sound, which is a loud clunk.
Vehicles with massive suspension lifts are in danger of leaf spring shackles failing. There are lots of suspension parts involved with vehicles that are lifted and require more attention than a standard suspension system.
Materials Needed
- Flashlight
Step 1: Grab a flashlight and visually check the suspension of the vehicle. Look for any damaged or leaf spring shackles.
- Note: If you see any broken suspension parts, you will need to have it repaired prior to test driving the vehicle. This would result is a safety matter that needs to be addressed.
Step 2: Drive the vehicle around the block. Listen for any clunking sounds.
Step 3: Drive the vehicle over bumps or potholes. This checks the condition of the suspension as the tires and suspension moves around.
- Note: If your vehicle has been in an accident before, the leaf spring mounting brackets could be set back on the frame to fix an alignment issue. The set back can result in problems with the suspension coming loose or deteriorating the bushing faster than normal.
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Why Does My Rear Suspension Make A Hard Thumping Noise
Noises Over Bumps and While Turning. The classic symptom of bad ball joints is a hard thumping over bumps, and while entering a corner. Rear suspensions, though, are more likely to have problems with the control arms and linkages that connect them. Sway bar end-links are also suspect, as are strut mounts.
Common Car Noises When Turning The Steering Wheel
When working properly, a vehicle wont make any noise when turning the steering wheel. If you start to hear clunking, popping, creaking, squealing, groaning, screeching, or whining noise, then something is off. While some of these issues can be simple fixes, some are far more serious and require a service appointment for immediate repair.
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What Causes Rattle When Going Over Bumps
Clunking noises that happen when you drive your car over bumps could be from the following: Worn or damaged struts Worn or damaged leaf spring shackles Worn or damaged control arms Damaged or broken ball joints Damaged or broken shock absorbers Loose or damaged body mounts
Q: Clunking noise from the rear passenger side when going over uneven roads or bumps. Hi there! So Ive been hearing clunking noise from my car lately. I went to multiple shops and they cant pinpoint the problem, thats why I diagnose it myself.
What Causes Clunking Sound In Front End When Going Over Bumps
If you hear those annoying clunking noises when going over bumps, it means that something is wrong with the suspension system. These are the areas to check the next time you hear these sounds on the road. Worn or Damaged Struts. When struts are damaged, the strut shocks fail to perform as they should.
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What Might Suspension Trouble Be
Different noises mean different faults. A knocking sound when going over bumps can indicate a problem with the suspension struts. There might be a clanking sound of metal hitting metal when you go over bumps. This could show the rubber bushes that join parts of the suspension have failed.
Alternatively the clanking noise might get faster the quicker the car is going. This might be a wheel bearing, brake rotor or even a drive shaft. Whatever it is, a professional should check it out.
A creaking sound from under the car when you go over an undulation such as a speed hump could indicate worn suspension bushes. And while youre listening for noises, think about the ride. Is it less forgiving and perhaps bumpier than usual?
Noises Over Bumps And While Turning
Actual suspension problems will manifest when the suspension suddenly has to move, either because of a bump or because the weight of the vehicle shifts onto that side while cornering. The classic symptom of bad ball joints is a hard thumping over bumps, and while entering a corner. Rear suspensions, though, are more likely to have problems with the control arms and linkages that connect them. Sway bar end-links are also suspect, as are strut mounts. Generally speaking, the deeper the thud or thunk, the bigger the problem. A light rapping noise might only be a sway bar end-link, whereas a heavy thump is more likely a control arm, control arm bushing or strut mount. If you get a loud thump from one side going over large potholes or speed bumps, and the car seems to roll excessively while you’re turning the other direction, you may have a blown shock. The thump you’re hearing is the suspension bottoming out on the bump stop at the top or bottom of the spring.
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Check If The Clunk Is A Known Issue
First, search online for any Technical Service Bulletins for your car that pertain to the noise. These bulletins are issued by automakers for known problems and often include options to fix your car, such as redesigned suspension parts. There are several sites online where you can search by your cars make and model or VIN for outstanding TSBs. Alternately, you can always call your dealership as they should have all of the up-to-date TSBs for the marques they sell.
Suspension clatter is a common problem which generates quite a few TSBs. Some of these entitle you to get the clunk fixed for free, while others may say that the noise is simply a characteristic of the vehicle and should be accepted as normal. Regardless, this is a good place to start.
Check For Damaged Or Loose Body Mounts
The body mounts of your car are meant to hold the body to the frame of the vehicle to prevent vibrations from transferring to the cab compartment. On average, vehicles have up to 8 body mounts going from the front to the rear of the car. These parts can get loose, damaged, or just wear out and break off over time.
If youre dealing with a clunking noise when going over bumps, it could be due to damaged or loose body mounts. Additionally, you will feel a vibration in the cab compartment. To check if the body mounts are the issue, you want to start with a visual inspection.
Take your flashlight and check the body mounts to see if anything is damaged or broken. If you find thats the care, make sure to repair these parts before you go on a test drive. When youre ready for that test drive around the block, listen for clunking noise and make sure to drive over bumps to check the body mounts condition.
If your car has a unibody, the noise will come from the sub-frames that are holding up the engine and rear suspension. Overall, remember that the symptoms of bad body mounts include excess noise, vibration, and misalignment, among others, so you want to keep an eye on that.
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Clunking Noise From Rear When Turning/going Over Bumps Slowly
ewood said:Hey all, sounds like the problem I was having. I have a 2011 3.8 track and I noticed the sound coming from what sounded like the rear passenger side a few months ago. Pretty much same issue as what you all are describing. Had a scheduled oil change this week so I had them take a look. They agreed that there was definitely something wrong and they actually kept the car for a few days to find the problem. They ended up replacing the right rear shock absorber and bracket . Something to do with the coil I think. Seems to have fixed it but I’ve only drivin it for a day. I’ll know for sure after driving it for a while I guess. Everything was covered under warranty. Hope that helps.
RF86 said:Took my car in to the dealer today to check out the noise. Brand new 3.8 R-Spec with only 300 miles on it purchased 9 days ago.It turns out the clunking noise was a loose differential. They said that the differential was not fully tightened to the frame at the factory. The rocking back and forth warped the seal to the transmission, so that has to be replaced. It will take 1 or 2 days to fix, depending on when the parts come in. Luckily I won’t be paying for the repair or the rental.
ISother seatback TR Spec“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.~Albert Einstein
