Clunks from rear when taking off
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
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From: Encino CA
Clunks from rear when taking off
I guess this is a question I should have asked about 10 years ago but I just assumed this was normal. I have a 95 automatic and it seems that as long as I can recall, there was always a noise that sounds like a gear clunk when starting from a stop (doesn't matter if I start gently or hard). Since I have always noticed this I figured it was normal--was I wrong?
Thanks,
Doug
Thanks,
Doug
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 283
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I have the same noise. It isn't loud, but for a fuss bunny like me...its annoying. Looking under the car and rocking it back and forth doesn't produce the noise. And it is only on the right side in the back. I think its either worn shock or u-joint. for me anyway...
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
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From: Sun City West Az
Jack the back of the car up. Grab the wheel at the 6 and 12 o'clock position. Try rocking it back and forth. If there is no movement, I'd suspect u-joints. If it moves inboard and outboard, , probably wheel bearings. all this of course is barring broken parts like shocks, worn bushings, etc.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,931
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From: Fort Lauderdale FL
My 87 vert only does that when i step on it going in reverse. I hear a big clunk as well. However I have new shocks as well as having u joints put in the rear 5 years ago. Probably needs changing by now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Georgia
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TrueBlue ChevyDude----
Where did you here there were no songs about Volvos? I think there are at least 2 or 3, so there! Dana Dane was always singing about his Volvo, and I think Slick Rick did too. Then there is a new rap song about putting huge rims on a Volvo.
Where did you here there were no songs about Volvos? I think there are at least 2 or 3, so there! Dana Dane was always singing about his Volvo, and I think Slick Rick did too. Then there is a new rap song about putting huge rims on a Volvo.
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I'm so glad I don't know that. 
I couldn't name one but I have heard one or two while listening to Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers.
I guess I should respond to the original point of the thread. Ahhhh, the elusive "clunk." There are nearly as many causes as there are clunks themselves. I've heard of them caused the C-beam bolts not tight enough, any of the rear bushings worn, in short most anything back there including what's already been mentioned by others. Sometimes everything is tried to no avail. I'm surprised that I haven't seen a thread on it in awhile. It's a very common C4 complaint as you've no doubt figured out by now. One of those endearing little C4 quirks!
I couldn't name one but I have heard one or two while listening to Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers.
I guess I should respond to the original point of the thread. Ahhhh, the elusive "clunk." There are nearly as many causes as there are clunks themselves. I've heard of them caused the C-beam bolts not tight enough, any of the rear bushings worn, in short most anything back there including what's already been mentioned by others. Sometimes everything is tried to no avail. I'm surprised that I haven't seen a thread on it in awhile. It's a very common C4 complaint as you've no doubt figured out by now. One of those endearing little C4 quirks!
Last edited by Corvette Kid; Mar 4, 2007 at 12:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,029
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From: Nashville TN area
check the tranny mount on the cross member to see if it is broken or torn also..
** note, actually not 100% sure if this applied to c4 automatics, but had this problem on any number of z28's over the years..
** note, actually not 100% sure if this applied to c4 automatics, but had this problem on any number of z28's over the years..
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Thanks for the replies (I just perused them as I had forgotten my post). Various clunks have been there almost as long as I have owned the car. I guess I should have mentioned that there will sometimes be a clunk when gradually slowing or coasting to a stop from about 30mph as the automatic shifts back from 2nd to 1st.
The only other annoying noise I noticed was more like a metallic click from the rear. It was most noticeable from coasting around a parking structure. When I went to the dealer for some other servicing and tried to let the mechanic hear this sound, it did not happen when I was driving and the mechanic was in the passenger seat but did happen when nobody was in the passenger seat. I left the car for servicing and the clicking was gone when I got the car back. I asked what they did and I believe they said that they just tightened up the wheel bearings.
Doug
The only other annoying noise I noticed was more like a metallic click from the rear. It was most noticeable from coasting around a parking structure. When I went to the dealer for some other servicing and tried to let the mechanic hear this sound, it did not happen when I was driving and the mechanic was in the passenger seat but did happen when nobody was in the passenger seat. I left the car for servicing and the clicking was gone when I got the car back. I asked what they did and I believe they said that they just tightened up the wheel bearings.
Doug
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
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same problem doug
im having the same problem with my 95 automatic, when you slow down to turn and then accelerate again. it does it all the time, could it be the u joints? i am really worried that it might be in the rear end. what have u come up with? thanks j.a. layfield
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From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
St. Jude '03 thru 14,'25
...Ahhhh, the elusive "clunk." There are nearly as many causes as there are clunks themselves. I've heard of them caused the C-beam bolts not tight enough, any of the rear bushings worn, in short most anything back there including what's already been mentioned by others. Sometimes everything is tried to no avail. I'm surprised that I haven't seen a thread on it in awhile. It's a very common C4 complaint as you've no doubt figured out by now. One of those endearing little C4 quirks!
I had the same clunk with my previous 96 LT1 for the three years I owned it. Never got any better, never got any worse. Bearings were fine, u-joints replaced, that big old nut was retorqued and still the clunk. The local Corvette guru said it was play in the rear gears themselves, it was within spec and my extended warranty wouldn't pay to have it fixed. The problem was finally resolved when someone ran a red light and totaled it. The LT4 that replaced has an occasional clunk under acceleration too but I'm pretty sure that's just my sloppy clutch work...
