rear suspension rattle

pass1over

I like it LOW
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Posts
1,510
Reaction score
236
Location
Trenton, FL
I've had repeated clunking from the rear drop link bushings, but they didn't move from horizontal. My attempt to install the Energy Suspension bushings was unsuccessful, so I went another path. Did you torque the drop links to chassis bolts at ride height while links were vertical?

i believe I did, can't remember if it was on or off my lift. I will try torquing them at ride height to see if it makes a difference or not. Going to try removing the bar first to see if it goes away I think.

Last time I messed with it, I centered the sway bar link, then put a hose clamp on the sway bar to prevent it from moving to the outside of the vehicle. It stopped the rattle for about 3-4 days. Started again slowly and I noticed the bushing on the bar has moved over from vertical. So it's a guess again about if this is the cause of my rattle or not.
 

pass1over

I like it LOW
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Posts
1,510
Reaction score
236
Location
Trenton, FL
took the rear sway off completely and went for a test drive, rattle remains. So it's not the rear swaybar at all.

It's not the upper arm, i've been through two of them. Current is non-adj. BMR piece with their mount.

Every other bolt is tight, cant even get any more torque on them with the 4 foot jack handle used as a cheater bar. So every other suspension bolt is tight.

While it was up on my lift, I was inspecting and trying to find where the noise is coming from. Found this ... is this much noise and movement normal? Car was in gear on the lift.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1KejW5peqg&feature=youtu.be


Only other thing I can think of is a bad shock. But they act normal when I compress them on the car. It really sound's like it's coming from the center of the car, which is why I thought it was the upper arm for so long.
 

pass1over

I like it LOW
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Posts
1,510
Reaction score
236
Location
Trenton, FL
cant remember, I havent had a stock UCA in forever. I can't remember when the noise started. I still have the stock UCA, could swap it back in for test.

I'll try that and try taking the shocks out and test drive to see if it's them.

I only hear noise at low speeds and my driveway/road is perfect for it.
 

BMR Tech 2

Kelly's Replacement Lackey
Joined
Sep 3, 2015
Posts
452
Reaction score
7
Location
Tampa, FL
cant remember, I havent had a stock UCA in forever. I can't remember when the noise started. I still have the stock UCA, could swap it back in for test.

I'll try that and try taking the shocks out and test drive to see if it's them.

I only hear noise at low speeds and my driveway/road is perfect for it.

Low speed and 1-2 shift clunks are common after installation of a an aftermarket UCA. The stock rubber junk does a really good job of hiding driveline slop present from the factory. Try throwing the stock one back on and see what happens, or grab a video of the clunk.
 

pass1over

I like it LOW
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Posts
1,510
Reaction score
236
Location
Trenton, FL
I experience the low speed 1-2 clunk, kinda figured it was the slop in the driveline now that everythings tightened up a bit.

I'm pretty sure it's the shocks. Don't know if a metal collar is rubbing on the chassis or maybe the shock bushings are toast. That setup's been on the car for many a mile now. I'll get it on the lift eventually and check it out.
 

08Stangg

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Posts
18
Reaction score
0
Location
Bay Area, CA.
I recently swapped my UCA, did the shocks cause the clunking? I have been trying to figure out aswell.
 

Monkeyporn

forum member
Joined
Nov 14, 2018
Posts
250
Reaction score
51
I've about had it with this rattling from my rear suspension. Turn's out it was two different rattles, one of them I fixed, the other ...

The bushing's in my panhard bar were totally shot, so I replaced it and it solved that rattle.

I recently (last weekend) replaced the bushing on the top of the rear-end housing with a poly prothane unit. The stock rubber unit was totally worn out. I figured this was the cause of my sounds and replacing it would solve my problems. The rattle was totally gone for about a day or two, then it returned.

I hear it when going over bumps or it rattles like crazy when going down my rock/hard pan driveway. Everything's tight, i've checked it numerous times. When messing with the upper arm for the bushing install, the sounds it was making were very similar to what I hear when driving. I also hear the sound emanating from the center of the rear seat.

Did i just not get the bolt tight enough? Didn't check with a torque wrench, just got it tight as I could. Maybe the bushing on the chassis side of the upper arm is worn out?

Steeda adj. upper control arm w/ poly bushing, Steeda upper control arm mount, prothane housing bushing, Steeda billet lower control arms, J&M steel adjustable panhard.
I replaced my UCA too and have the same rattle, someone. told me that it is the bolt that goes through the bushing and that I needed to get step washer to center the bolt and app it from rattling........I haven't try it yet but who knowns that may be the problem.
 

08Stangg

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Posts
18
Reaction score
0
Location
Bay Area, CA.
I replaced my UCA too and have the same rattle, someone. told me that it is the bolt that goes through the bushing and that I needed to get step washer to center the bolt and app it from rattling........I haven't try it yet but who knowns that may be the problem.
Step washer on the bushing that connects to the mount? Also, where would the step washer be installed, both sides of the bushing? Lets me know if anyone figures this out, have a great day my fellow S197 owners
 

Monkeyporn

forum member
Joined
Nov 14, 2018
Posts
250
Reaction score
51
Step washer on the bushing that connects to the mount? Also, where would the step washer be installed, both sides of the bushing? Lets me know if anyone figures this out, have a great day my fellow S197 owners


I hope this clears up where the step washers go.
 
Last edited:

08Stangg

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Posts
18
Reaction score
0
Location
Bay Area, CA.
I hope this clears up where the step washers go.
Yes! I was doing more research and you are correct it is the hole in the OEM upper control arm mount. UMI performance sells these step washers. The hole in the mount is 16mm and the step washer makes the hole 14mm.Thanks for the heads up Monkeyporn!
 

Monkeyporn

forum member
Joined
Nov 14, 2018
Posts
250
Reaction score
51
Yes! I was doing more research and you are correct it is the hole in the OEM upper control arm mount. UMI performance sells these step washers. The hole in the mount is 16mm and the step washer makes the hole 14mm.Thanks for the heads up Monkeyporn!

No Problem I hope it fixes the issue.
 

pass1over

I like it LOW
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Posts
1,510
Reaction score
236
Location
Trenton, FL
AFAIK, those step washers are for installing an aftermarket UCA into a stock UCA mount (or an 11-14 arm into a 05-10 mount, I think). If you bought an aftermarket arm and mount, you shouldn't need the washers. I'm pretty sure you would notice something very wrong when putting M14 bolt into an M16 hole.

It's been awhile since I messed with the UCA, but I believe I found a fractional size bolt that was a better/tighter fit through the mounting holes than the supplied metric bolt.
 

Latest posts

Support us!

Support Us - Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Sponsor Links

Banner image
Back
Top