QWKDTSN Posted April 26, 2001 Share Posted April 26, 2001 Hey all.. my car is finally on the road... running.. sounds awesome with the header and exhuast.. takes off like mad with the 3.90 rearend.. but I've got a worrying clunking noise coming from my rear strut. I have sectioned struts, coilovers, and Tokico Illumina cartridges. I've already checked the gland nut, the nut that secures the end of the shaft to the isolator, and the three upper isolator nuts. They're all tight. I checked all the rest of the nuts and bolts that have to do with the right rear suspension, including everything having to do with the diff, and didn't fix it. I made sure the wheel was tight and still clunking. It sounds like a hollow, bouncing sound, like the cartridge is moving up and down inside the strut housing, but I checked the gland nut and it's tight. I was convinced it was the upper nut that secures it to the isolator, but it was also tight. Any ideas? I need to fix this before tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimZ Posted April 26, 2001 Share Posted April 26, 2001 You need to be sure that you have the proper sized spacers underneath the struts - I'm assuming that you are using the front cartridges in the sectioned rear housing. If the spacer is too short, the cartridge will be free to move up and down inside the housing, exactly as you described. This will be the case, no matter how tight the gland nut is, since in this case, the gland nut is only tightening down to the strut housing, and is not actually making contact with the cartridge at all. The only way that I know of to check for this is to remove the spring, and then pull up and down on the strut shaft. If there is any free travel before the strut starts offering resistance, the spacer is probably too short. And ,yes, I do know what a pain in the ass this is to do on the rear suspension with camber plates, but I this is the 'easiest' way I can think of to check for a short spacer - sorry... The spacer should be sized so that the top of the cartridge sits high enough that you can be absolutely sure that the gland nut will cinch it down tight. As I recall, mine are sized so that the top of the cartridge protrudes about 1/16" above the top of the housing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QWKDTSN Posted April 27, 2001 Author Share Posted April 27, 2001 Sigh.. you're right.. I did that check earlier and am convinced that I need a bigger spacer in there. No time to do that tonight.. I guess I'll just go to MSA with a nasty clunk the whole way It's okay, it can't really do any damage, it's just a little worrying, not to mention annoying. Speaking of camber plates, I need a set.. any recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted May 1, 2001 Share Posted May 1, 2001 Did you solve your clunking? Another thing to check is the rear control arms bolts - if the CA can move even 1/16", it makes a terrible clatter when you go over RR tracks, speed bumps, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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