Hey fellas.

Over the weekend I replaced the rear shocks and sway bar links on my avant. The shocks were original with 130k miles, long since blown out. The sway bar links were also original, and the "updated" plastic version. I replaced them with heavy duty metal sway bar links. I replaced everything, torqued everything to spec, and now I'm hearing a clunk. Happens when I accelerate, slow down, or go over a bump; pretty much anything that causes the suspension to move. I can reproduce it by pushing up and down on the back bumper.

Could this be caused by not torquing the upper control arm and/or sway bar link bolts with the weight of the car on the suspension? I torqued everything with the car on jack stands.

 

Is the noise isolated to one side or both sides?

I had a clunk when I first replaced my rear sway bar links because I hadn't fully tightened the passenger side. Driving one of the rear wheels over a speed bump causes the bar to twist and the I'd hear the clunk. If both wheels went over the bump at the same no clunk.

 

Chris, how about the sway bar body bushings? Did you replace those two body mounts for the bar as well as the end links? If not, since they're OEM and worn out, forcing more torque on the bar from the metal end links could be causing them to squirm and allow the bar to shift/clunk. Another happy thought - with all the newfound goodies out back, possibly when the suspension responds to input, it's torquing the driveline back down the axles and allowing the diff to move due to a worn diff mount...?

 

So far I've only heard it on the driver's side, I'll attempt to recreate it on the passenger's side today.

Didn't replace those, hadn't really thought of that to be honest. I checked the trans mounts when I was replacing the test pipe, but I didn't check the prop shaft bearing or any of the rear diff mounts. I'll do that this weekend, thanks for the tip. I'm hoping it's just a loose bolt someplace and not a busted mount.


Thanks for the tips fellas, helpful as always!

 

And the winner is bshusted! The lower sway bar link bolt had another turn or turn and a half left in it. Thanks for the tip! I award you 1000 internet points and Ill buy you a beer should we ever meet in person. Thanks man!

 

No prob. Strange that I had the exact same problem.

 

Chris, since you'll see me soon, I'll take his beer. Bshusted, I'll toast you.

 

Fair enough. I'll let you guys keep the carbonated ****.

 

i'm too late to the party. '''' (those are tears of sadness)


on a completely unrelated note, i'm currently drinking budweiser black crown. and enjoying it. its a definate recommendation. pretty smooth overall with a decent 6% kick to it

 

Jeremy, I think we both know that many, MANY beers will be had at the spring meet.

Maybe not all that strange, it sounds like we both made the exact same mistake. In my case that bolt was the very last one I tightened before I put the wheels back on, and I was so excited to drive the car afterwards that I didn't double check it. Lesson learned. Thanks again for the tip!

Haters gon' hate

I know that feel bro.

What would you compare that black crown to? I've been meaning to try it.