Drivers Side Rear End "Clunk" Sound???

[webigon]

OK - Please help! I am hearing a "clunk" noise coming from the drivers side rear end. I can reproduce the problem at a higher speed (like 70) and going over a bumpy road. There is some construction going on near me. It's a long downhill (1 mile or so) slight right curve with some bumps in it. As I go over the bumps I hear some quick "clunk clunk clunk" noises. It might even be more between the rear and the driver kind of... It's almost as if the strut/springs are banging on something. I don't know. I have pfadt sway bars, springs and end links. A local shop installed the springs and I installed the rear sway bars and end links... That stuff is all as tight as I can get it!!! Sometimes the clunk happens going over a bump slowly also... I also recently had my headers installed (see signature for all mods). I was thinking that might be it also... I don't know. I have been driving around in circles, looking under my car, trying to tighten everything, and doing the same thing over and over again just in hope!! One thing I did notice is that the rear pfadt sway bar has a raised "lip" where it meets the bushings. On the right side there is a 1/16" to 1/8" or so gap between the lip and the bushing... The left side is flush... I don't see how this could cause a clunk... The clunk sounds more metal to metal like to me... PLEASE HELP!!

[Moorepheus]

Ok, I had this exact same problem. Took service guys a few days to find it, but it was an extra BOLT from the suspension inside the suspension somewhere. I am not sure where exactly it was, but they found it and said it was an extra because everyone looked in place.

[webigon]

WTF An extra bolt inside the suspension somewhere? More info please... please... please...

[Moorepheus]

It was over 2 years ago when it happened, I don't remember exactly where they said, maybe it was the upper or lower control arm that they found a bolt inside, causing the rattling. When I go home, I will look for the paperwork from the dealer to see what exactly they wrote it up as.

[Drew10]

Check your spring. It may have come out of it's pocket. Had this happen on the rear passenger side with my drop springs.

[Moorepheus]

OK, I just did some searching in these forums and I found where I posted my issue on this. Here is what I was told

"an extra nut from the left rear knuckle was in the left rear lower control arm".

So, you might want to look in the control arms on your Camaro for your issue.

[PfadtRacing]

Originally Posted by webigon

OK - Please help! I am hearing a "clunk" noise coming from the drivers side rear end. I can reproduce the problem at a higher speed (like 70) and going over a bumpy road. There is some construction going on near me. It's a long downhill (1 mile or so) slight right curve with some bumps in it. As I go over the bumps I hear some quick "clunk clunk clunk" noises. It might even be more between the rear and the driver kind of... It's almost as if the strut/springs are banging on something. I don't know. I have pfadt sway bars, springs and end links. A local shop installed the springs and I installed the rear sway bars and end links... That stuff is all as tight as I can get it!!! Sometimes the clunk happens going over a bump slowly also... I also recently had my headers installed (see signature for all mods). I was thinking that might be it also... I don't know. I have been driving around in circles, looking under my car, trying to tighten everything, and doing the same thing over and over again just in hope!! One thing I did notice is that the rear pfadt sway bar has a raised "lip" where it meets the bushings. On the right side there is a 1/16" to 1/8" or so gap between the lip and the bushing... The left side is flush... I don't see how this could cause a clunk... The clunk sounds more metal to metal like to me... PLEASE HELP!!

Deep breath! We will get this figured out. Check your PM's.

[ChrisBlair]

Originally Posted by Moorepheus

Ok, I had this exact same problem. Took service guys a few days to find it, but it was an extra BOLT from the suspension inside the suspension somewhere. I am not sure where exactly it was, but they found it and said it was an extra because everyone looked in place.

In 2003, I had my 1970 Buick Skylark Custom Convertible/GS455 clone painted. I had just finished 300 hours of bodywork on it. Looked like a brand new car for about 20 months until it was sideswiped while parked...but that's a different story

I bought the '70 Buick in 1989. There was this random clanging noise from the front end. Nothing wrong with the suspension or steering. I put about 200K miles on the car between 1989 and 2003.

When I was tearing the front end apart to do the bodywork in '03, I lost a socket inside the driver's frame rail, where the bumper bolts on. I had to use a magnet to get it.

I eventually got it out. But first, I found a 1/4" thick steel device about 8 inches long and hooked at each end. They tell me these things had let the front springs stay loaded before installation. Somehow it got into the frame at assembly. That thing had been inside the rail since November of 1969 and had been clanging around randomly for over 40 years

[Lnch Mny]

I have the same thing going on right now!! I never hear it until I go over a rough patch of road. It sounds like rattling, metal on metal. I thought it was my corsa exhaust, but it's not. I ran the car with just headers and it was still there. I'm taking mine to the dealership this week, hopefully they will be able to figure it out. I might look at the control arms tomorrow night.

[Lnch Mny]

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201166

You need to look at this thread. Tramtwo had the same problem and was able to make a video of it. After I watched the video I knew I was having the same issue. Turns out he had a rock in his bottom driver side rear control arm. I went out in my garage last night and guess what I found. A ROCK in my rear control arm!!! It was in the arm between the end and where the shock attaches.

I bet that's ur problem. Didn't you say you had a rock driveway?

[Dznts]

i am having this same "clunking" or metal on metal sound as I drive over patches of rough road. I just had the car lowered so I thought it may be a suspension issue. Guess I will have to check for a rock later after work

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Originally Posted by Lnch Mny

I have the same thing going on right now!! I never hear it until I go over a rough patch of road. It sounds like rattling, metal on metal. I thought it was my corsa exhaust, but it's not. I ran the car with just headers and it was still there. I'm taking mine to the dealership this week, hopefully they will be able to figure it out. I might look at the control arms tomorrow night.

Please let us know how the dealership visit goes! We are here to take any inquiries!

Brandon
Chevrolet Customer Service

[webigon]

My issue is NOT at all like Tramtwo. My clunk noise sounds like suspension bottoming out. A loud thud/clunk a couple of times while going over bumps around 75.

[Dznts]

mine only makes this clunking noise while going at lower speeds over bumpy roads.