HELP: Clunking noise from the back

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:32 pm

Hi guys,

Had my car serviced yesterday and had whiteline sway bars installed for both front and rear (they're fantastic but this is not the reason why i started this thread).

Tonight when i took it out for a drive, I started hearing this clunking metal-on-metal noise coming from the rear whenever i go through any pot holes big or small.

By the time I got home, i took out the torch and started inspecting the suspension and I just wanted to ask the following before i take the car back to the mechanic:

- Would I be wrong to assume that each sway bar comes with 4 bushes? 2 small, 2 larger ones?
- Would I be wrong to assume that the bushes are suppose to be the cushioning between the sway bar and the underbody of the car (so that 2 pieces of metal are not touching each other)

Referring to the diagram here http://www.the370z.com/members/markymark-albums-whiteline-sway-bars-picture11431-img-4507.jpg, I think i'm missing one of the bigger yellow bushes that has a metal ring wrapped around (with 2 holes on the ring so that 2 bolts can go through and secure it to the underbody).

Assuming that I am missing something - is it common for these things to just 'pop out' or is it really just a matter of tightening the bolts better?

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:00 am

If I remember rightly I thought that the drop links and mounts are only supposed to be torqued up with the car on the ground...was this done at the workshop?

Might be worth backing everything off a turn, bouncing each corner and doing it up again.

Si.G · Postby **Si.G** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:04 am

If the whole yellow bush and the metal clip is missing then I would say that this is not normal and I have never heard of one just 'popping off'.

If the metal clip is still in place and there is no bush, then the bush could have failed. I have had this happen with a suspension arm bush before, it bush failed within 500 metres of driving

In either case, I would take it back to the garage.

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:55 am

Not as familiar with the whiteline setup but I have just installed a FM/RB combination in my car.

Are the endlinks length-adjustable? If so, my money is on them being too long. Check for impact damage between the end of your swaybars and the back of your upper wishbones.

EDIT: In hindsight, I may be talking smack as I think this distance would remain fixed by the orientation of the endlinks attached to the lower wishbones... But might be worth checking anyway...

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:15 pm

The sway bar is held to the body by two saddles with a fat yellow D-bush around the bar under each saddle. It would be impossible for a D-bush to disappear if they used the one supplied with the bar by Whiteline and it was assembled correctly.

zossy1 · Postby **zossy1** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:30 pm

manga_blue wrote:The sway bar is held to the body by two saddles with a fat yellow D-bush around the bar under each saddle. It would be impossible for a D-bush to disappear if they used the one supplied with the bar by Whiteline and it was assembled correctly.

I agree - that's why I can't imagine any half decent mechanic stuffing that part of the job up...

mxfive95 · Postby **mxfive95** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:54 am

It's possible that the end links were tightened whilst the car was up on the hoist. As the car is lowered down it puts strain on the bushes and they can tear apart.

Cheyne had a similar problem. Clicky viewtopic.php?f=30&t=45273

Postby **Okibi** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:45 am

If that advice doesn't help take some photos it might make the issue clearer.

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:23 am

Thanks everyone,

I'm taking the car back to the mechanic this Sat morning to have it checked out.

Will keep everyone posted.

P.S. So frustrating that I can't drive the car out to feel more of the changes made by the sway bars :frown: