Clunking noise from rear struts

[shadow4478]

Now that I have had the car for a few days I'm starting to notice a clunking noise comming from the rear passenger side. Doesn't always happen but typically when I dive over a larger pot hole or a more aggressive ice bump. Yes this is typical in Canada.
Other times it seems fine, HWY driving is fine.
2002 Jetta TDI
With 258000km/160000 miles
The current struts appear to be original
Is it typical to have to replace them at this mailage and age?
I'm just afraid that it's something else like a mount or bushing!

 

[snakeye]

Clunking in the rear normally comes from worn shock mounts, or worn axle beam bushings. Shock mounts are easy to replace, and ideally should be done at the same time as the shocks themselves. Considering the amount of km on your car, and your mention of potholes, it's what I would do.

 

[davebugs]

My test symptom is usually bridge expansion joints. Often shocks/springs don't make nearly as bad of a noise as axle beam bushings when the car is at speed and hits those expansion joints.

Around here we have bad roads and any MKIV over 100k usually needs rear axle beam bushings. Often followed in another 50k or so by LCA bushings. And strut mount and swaybar bushings I'd expect you have already replaced already - perhaps multiple times.

When someone buys a MKIV we just plan a day and do all the bushings. LCA's, sway bar, strut mount(and add the spacer), axle beam bushings. We have learned that this usually fixes most tissues. Infact we hardly ever replace the shocks/struts/springs. That said often the front springs seem to break at the top and the rears at the bottom both where you can't see them until removed or a very close inspection.

Around here they use salt and calcium on the roads so we usually do the parking brake cables with the updated ones while we're doing this "rubber refresh".

Just to get it all done and be good for another 100k. Get an alignment and you're all set.

 

[LNXGUY]

I would guess rear axle bushings are the OP's issue, not rear strut mounts. With that amount of kms on the car, the rear axle bushing are about due.

 

[shadow4478]

My test symptom is usually bridge expansion joints. Often shocks/springs don't make nearly as bad of a noise as axle beam bushings when the car is at speed and hits those expansion joints.

Around here we have bad roads and any MKIV over 100k usually needs rear axle beam bushings. Often followed in another 50k or so by LCA bushings. And strut mount and swaybar bushings I'd expect you have already replaced already - perhaps multiple times.

When someone buys a MKIV we just plan a day and do all the bushings. LCA's, sway bar, strut mount(and add the spacer), axle beam bushings. We have learned that this usually fixes most tissues. Infact we hardly ever replace the shocks/struts/springs. That said often the front springs seem to break at the top and the rears at the bottom both where you can't see them until removed or a very close inspection.

Around here they use salt and calcium on the roads so we usually do the parking brake cables with the updated ones while we're doing this "rubber refresh".

Just to get it all done and be good for another 100k. Get an alignment and you're all set.

You mention add the spacer?
What spacer are we talking about is there a part#
What the heck il jack the car up soon and check for wear and play
Are there part #'s for all the parts you mentioned, maybe I should just replace them all?

Edit*** are any special tools required? And is there a DIY for all this ?
Thanks

 

[LNXGUY]

He's talking about the front struts, there's no spacer in the rear.

If you want to do a simple test, jack up the car, undo both rear lower shock bolts and see if you can move the rear beam side to side and up and down. It shouldn't take you long to figure out if the rear axle bushings are toast. Like I mentioned, with 250k on the car, the odds are good they'll need replacing.

 

[shadow4478]

He's talking about the front struts, there's no spacer in the rear.

If you want to do a simple test, jack up the car, undo both rear lower shock bolts and see if you can move the rear beam side to side and up and down. It shouldn't take you long to figure out if the rear axle bushings are toast. Like I mentioned, with 250k on the car, the odds are good they'll need replacing.

Thanks Bill !

 

[davebugs]

Yea - sorry. The spacer is for the struts - a lot of other models came with the aluminum spacer. We need all the clearance we can get!

You can check vendors here about "rubber refresh" parts. Usually the LCA set folks seem to have sets. You usually need to specify individually the strut mounts, sway bar, and rear axle beam bushings.

I replaced my rear shocks looking for the clunk before it became apparent that wasn't the solution. The folks at the dealer were well aware at what my problem was and weren't exactly excited to fix it. That's how I came to make the tool. Infact I believe my shocks only had 70-80k when I had them replaced. Not long after I had a clunk - maybe 40k. They were Monroe's so I took them back and had them replaced. Didn't solve the clunk.

 

[LNXGUY]

Like Dave mentioned, the rear axle bushings aren't exactly fun to replace. Not hard, just a pain in the ass. If it were me I'd pull the entire rear axle and get a shop to press out the old ones and press in the new ones.

 

[duwem]

I did the bushings with the brake lines still attached. Just not enough room, even with Davebugs tool. Had to yank way harder than I wanted to on the brake lines to get enough clearance.