Strut knocking?

[Devin]

I'm getting this constant knocking/tapping sound coming from the rear passenger quarter panel. I tightened up the amp, removed the back seats and wrapped the bars in tape and tightened everything up to no avail. However after putting my wheel back on, I noticed that if I hit the top of the tire with my palm I could recreate the noise. I checked the underside for rubbing, but it sounds like it's coming directly above the wheel. My strut nuts are tight at the mount.

Could it be the strut mount? I don't do a lot of suspension work, so any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Troywakeling]

Strut mounts will make a knocking noise when they are bad or going bad. Kind of sounds like a board in the trunk. I have brand new struts, springs and mounts all the way around on my car and it still does it some. I think mine is the trunk lid over bumps. The latch doesn't seem to hold it firmly down. If I go to the back I can wiggle it about half an inch up or down and it sounds just like the noise I hear.

 

[spazmoid]

you can adjust the trunk lid by unscrewing the rubber stops to make a tight fit, and check your strut rods for that clunking, or its probably just the mount

 

[Devin]

Well, the car was in an accident at some point, so the trunk is pushed back about an inch on the same side, and the bumper is pushed down a little too, so that complicates things, but it truly does sound like it is coming from the upper strut area. Are rear strut mounts difficult to replace?

By strut rod, are you meaning the control arm or the strut -> swaybar endlink?

 

[spazmoid]

the strut rod is the 3/4ish inch rod that goes from the spindle to the frame of the car, front to back. Its the lowest thing on the spindle. I know in my case the bushings on this are shot and the washers are gone from rust. I got some temporary washers in there but there is still much more play then their should be and i get the clunking over bumps and i just replaced the strut mounts and springs so its not my mounts. Check the washers on yours, particularly on the frame end. Mine pushed through on a road trip recently and i had to rig it up to stay in place for the ride home. The wheel was turned in a few inches, enough for it to hit the body of the car. haha

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

I had the same noise when my rear sway bar end link snapped.

 

[shobote]

strut mount; the OEM rears go bad and that is exactly the symptom as the hole in the rubber gets enlarged.

 

[Slo-Sho]

Is it possible to purchase only the strut mount for a Gen II?

 

[Troywakeling]

Is it possible to purchase only the strut mount for a Gen II?

Yup..