Klunk/Thump from rear suspension when stopping?

[andrea]

Hey everybody- I have a rather strange issue with my recently aquired toy. When stopping, after the car has come to a full stop, and the car has gone to the 'full up' position (like, you know, even after you stop, there is still some motion- front suspension will move up a bit to the level position), there is a clunk/thump that can be felt & heard from the rear end of the car. I don't quite know what this could be- no ideas, even. My gut tells me it is coming from the passenger side, but I really have no means of verifying this. It is intermittent, however it's a clunk that's severe enough to cause quite a bit of concern for the safety of the vehicle. What's the problem? What do I tell the Ford dealer?

<small>[ January 16, 2003, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: andrea ]</small>

 

[Bizzy]

sounds like a possible broken rear swaybar link. My 95 SE had broke one one day about a week after I bought it. ****** me off cause I thought the car was falling apart. I think the pair of them was $25 took 30 min to replace.

Look from the rear of the car with a flashlight at the wheel well, there should be to bars that are about oh 1/4in thick running almost parallel to the tires. you should be able to see a nud and bushings on them clearly. Mine only made noise when I would backup and then hit the brakes making the car level out.

 

[projectSHO89]

If you're not sure what the rear endlink liiks like, this view of my new swaybar bushing just barely shows the drivers side link on the left side of the picture.

The stock links were prone to breaking. Also, check the bushings (either rubber or polyurethane, for excessive wear.

It is also helpful to have a passenger with you to help pinppoint the source of knocks and road noises. My neighbor usually helps me, except he won't ride in the trunk for some reason....

Steve

<small>[ January 16, 2003, 09:07 PM: Message edited by: projectSHO89 ]</small>

 

[89 Gary]

Also could easily be the sway bar bushings have worn enough to cause this--discovered this on mine today.

 

[Devin]

Could be the rear strut. The struts in my 87 Vulcan were so bad that if you sat in the car there would be a horrendous grating sound. Don't even ask about a full stop...