Rear End Clunk

[DAK]

THere was a rear-end clunk in my '91. It was from old trapezoidal arm
bushings. The inner bushings (those big ones) hadn't been keeping the
arm in position, so it had worked forward (towards the front of the car)
on one side. I'd hear the clunk over some bumps, but also under heavy
acceleration. It turned out to be coming from the front bushing. One of
the large washers was clunking against the front bushing casting.
Replacing the large bushing and reversing the front were all that was
needed! Anyway, that is the tale of my clunk.

David

benswann at comcast.net wrote:
> Right - I speculated similarly, checking/replacing trans. mounts and worrying
> about the transmission.  Several Type 44's I've had had this same annoying
> clunk.  If you analyse what I'm saying you'll realize that a small amount of
> play/looseness in these bolts holding the subframe to the chassis results in a
> lot of movement.   The noise was definately induced by cceleration/deceleration
> and not bumps, as you say.
>
> It was not easy to find it either as one literally needs to be under the car
> while another is bouncing up and down.  As the car bounces, the wheels rotate
> slightly.  If you put your hands on the nuts, you can feel a small amount of
> play - it is not noticable to the eye.
>
> Check it out, at least to rule out what may be a simple fix and far less
> drastic than you think.
>
> The driveshafts do have some angular play and perhaps 15 deg. is not too far
> out, I'd have to check on that, but they all do this in some degree.
>
> If you find you need a new diff. I have one.
>
> Ben
>
>>thanks, but I'm pretty sure thats not the problem.  I can sit under the
>>car, rotate the driveshaft 15 degrees then it will "thunk".  the subframe
>>and diff housing don't move.  The noise doesn't happen over bumps, just
>>the transition from power to coasting and vice versa.
>>
>>Rob
>>
>>
>>
>>>I'll put my odds on loose rear subframe mounting bolts.  Just tighten up
>>>all 4  a tad, no need to over do it.  You'll know if they are loose.
>>>
>>>I spent months chasing this problem on '87 5ktqa doing things like new
>>>struts,  camberlinks, trans mounts control arm/trap bushings, etc. and
>>>each time got  more frustrated when the noise did not go away.  Tore the
>>>inside of the car  apart, and even in to the gas tank mounting - no,
>>>nothing there.  Got under the  car while freind bounced up and down and
>>>that is when the loose bolts were  revealed.  Easy fix that turns a car
>>>that sounds like it is coming apart into  one that feels like it came
>>>off the factory floor.
>>>
>>>Too bad the car was totaled a few months later when someone pulled in
>>>front of  me and now sitting in the driveway with all these new parts.
>>>
>>>http://www.homestead.com/ben_swann/PearlAvant.html  - yes I am trying to
>>>find  someone who is interested in taking this project off my hands
>>>either before or  after completion - 2 avants!
>>>
>>>Ben
>>>
>>>[My 89 200 makes the same noise.  About 270k.  I did
>>>change the seals and goo at 180k?.  My truck does the
>>>same only much worse.  Tranny also.  Do the quat rear
>>>diffs break?  Anybody break one or know of someone
>>>breaking one?
>>>
>>>Jim Accordino]
>>
>>
>>
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