Recently I had my front wheel bearings replaced, which made for much nicer driving with one exception, I still have a knock/clunk at the back (which was hard to notice before because of all the noise the front was making). The mechanic that did my front wheels said that he'd checked the exhaust and that's not it, and suggested I check out the shock mount, which was what I had thought it was before bringing it in.
It happens reliably if the driver's side rear wheel goes over a pothole. It also makes the noise nearly constantly if I'm driving on unploughed snow (which is pretty common in this city).
After reading the forums I thought it might also be the axel bushing.
So looking under the car, tried to wiggle the shock, couldn't. Jacked up the car at that rear wheel, tried to wiggle the shock, couldn't. Had hoped it was the shock mount - that's easy.
So I looked at the bushing and found this:
... please forgive the poor quality and the fact that the under side of my car is covered in snow and ice.
Can anybody see how the axel looks like it's kind of twisted out? the bolt passes through the bushing at what does not appear to be it's center. I drew on lines for reference, the key here is that I'm thinking the red and the blue lines should be on top of each other.
What I didn't do is take a picture of the other bushing, where there is no noises combing from, and which DOES look like it's being bolted through it's center.
So my question: Is the above picture what a bad bushing looks like? I'm leaning towards replacing the shock mount anyways.... but in the mean time I'm trying to figure out what I'm seeing in this photo. The noise being generated in that wheel well only happens on snow or at hitting a fairly substancial bump on dry road (which is still pretty much constantly), but it *is* pretty loud when I get it. I'm also not very confident my shock mount inspection was sufficient. My last idea is to take a ride while riding in the back seat and to try and figure out if the noise is coming from behind or below me..... and I'm not even sure I'll be able to tell.
Much thanks in advance! I'm much for of a questioner then an answerer on these forums, but I'm just trying hard to learn!
It happens reliably if the driver's side rear wheel goes over a pothole. It also makes the noise nearly constantly if I'm driving on unploughed snow (which is pretty common in this city).
After reading the forums I thought it might also be the axel bushing.
So looking under the car, tried to wiggle the shock, couldn't. Jacked up the car at that rear wheel, tried to wiggle the shock, couldn't. Had hoped it was the shock mount - that's easy.
So I looked at the bushing and found this:
... please forgive the poor quality and the fact that the under side of my car is covered in snow and ice.
Can anybody see how the axel looks like it's kind of twisted out? the bolt passes through the bushing at what does not appear to be it's center. I drew on lines for reference, the key here is that I'm thinking the red and the blue lines should be on top of each other.
What I didn't do is take a picture of the other bushing, where there is no noises combing from, and which DOES look like it's being bolted through it's center.
So my question: Is the above picture what a bad bushing looks like? I'm leaning towards replacing the shock mount anyways.... but in the mean time I'm trying to figure out what I'm seeing in this photo. The noise being generated in that wheel well only happens on snow or at hitting a fairly substancial bump on dry road (which is still pretty much constantly), but it *is* pretty loud when I get it. I'm also not very confident my shock mount inspection was sufficient. My last idea is to take a ride while riding in the back seat and to try and figure out if the noise is coming from behind or below me..... and I'm not even sure I'll be able to tell.
Much thanks in advance! I'm much for of a questioner then an answerer on these forums, but I'm just trying hard to learn!
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